Threats to Professional Licensure: State List

Mississippi

» Threat Type: Legislation requiring the review and analysis of licensing requirements, resulting in recommendations to remove any unnecessary or overly burdensome licensing requirements. This piece of legislation does not specifically target professional engineers.
» Threat Status:  Enacted
Legislative/Executive Order/Regulatory: Legislative
Bill Number: HB 1425
Status:
Passed and has been enacted into law.
Summary:

HB 1425 or the “Occupational Board Compliance Act of 2017” states that for occupational regulations promulgated by occupational licensing boards, it is the policy of the State of Mississippi to increase economic opportunities for all its citizens by promoting competition using the least restrictive regulation necessary to protect consumers from present, significant, and substantiated harms that threaten public health and safety. In this goal is the creation of the Occupational Licensing Review Commission which will be responsible for the active supervision of state executive branch occupational licensing boards controlled by active market participants to ensure compliance with state policy in the adoption of occupational regulations.

This Commission will meet quarterly at the request of the Chair. All the meetings will be open to the public unless an executive session is declared. NSPE has reached out to the Mississippi Engineering Society to offer assistance in ensuring that this commission will not undermine the PE license.

» Threat Type: “Right to Engage in a Lawful Occupation Act.” Seeks to establish the least restrictive means of regulating an occupation. Often proposes the elimination of licensure requirements for certain professions. Professional engineers aren’t specifically targeted, but are included.
» Threat Status:  Enacted
Legislative/Executive Order/Regulatory: Legislative
Bill Number: H.B. 1104
Status:
Passed and has been enacted into law.
Summary:

H.B. 1104 requires review and amendment of existing occupational licensing regulations, using the “least restrictive” model that assumed market competition is sufficient to protect public health and safety.

» Threat Type: “Right to Engage in a Lawful Occupation Act.” Seeks to establish the least restrictive means of regulating an occupation. Often proposes the elimination of licensure requirements for certain professions. Professional engineers aren’t specifically targeted, but are included.
» Threat Status:  Potential Threat
Legislative/Executive Order/Regulatory: Legislative
Bill Number: S.B. 2790
Status:
Died upon adjournment.
Summary:

S.B. 2790 requires review and amendment of existing occupational licensing regulations, using the “least restrictive” model that assumed market competition is sufficient to protect public health and safety.

» Threat Type: Sunset Review: Requires review and analysis of licensing boards, associated with a regulatory requirement that the respective board be dissolved. Must result in recommendations to remove any unnecessary or overly burdensome licensing requirements, and recommendation for continuation of the Board. Professional engineers aren’t specifically targeted, but are included.
» Threat Status:  Potential Threat
Legislative/Executive Order/Regulatory: Legislative
Bill Number: H.B. 1260
Status:
Died in committee, 3/3/2020
Summary:

H.B. 1260 would establish a sunset review which would allow for the elimination of redundant and unneeded licenses or boards. Professional engineers aren’t specifically targeted but are often included.

» Threat Type: Other: Tracking Software
» Threat Status:  Potential Threat
Legislative/Executive Order/Regulatory: Legislative
Bill Number: HB 1133
Status:
Died in committee on 2/5/19
Summary:

This tracking software legislation mandates that all state contractors use software to verify the amount of time they are working on a state contract. The software tracks total keystroke and mouse event frequency, and records a screenshot at least once every three minutes. It presents significant privacy and security concerns.