Section 73-63-55 - Preference given to resident professional geologists(1) In awarding public contracts for professional geological services, preference shall be given to resident registered professional geologists over those nonresident professional geologists domiciled in a state having laws which grant a preference to the professional geologists who are residents of that state. Nonresident registered professional geologists shall be awarded Mississippi public contracts only on the same basis as the nonresident professional's state awards contracts to Mississippi registered professional geologists under similar circumstances. When a nonresident professional geologist submits a proposal for a public project, that person shall attach a copy of the resident state's current statute, resolution, policy, procedure or executive order pertaining to that state's treatment of nonresident professional geologists. Resident registered professional geologists actually domiciled in Mississippi, be they corporate, individuals or partnerships, shall be granted preference over nonresidents in the awarding of contracts in the same manner and to the same extent as provided by the laws of the state of domicile of the nonresident. As used in this section, the term "resident registered professional geologist" includes a nonresident person that has been qualified to do business in this state and has maintained a permanent full-time office in the State of Mississippi for not less than two (2) years prior to submitting a proposal for a public project, and the subsidiaries and affiliates of that person.(2) This section shall not apply to any contract for any project upon which federal funds would be withheld because of the preference requirements of this subsection.(3) Any contract, agreement or arrangement for professional geological services negotiated, made or entered into, directly or indirectly, by the state, counties, municipalities or any political subdivision thereof, or by any special districts, which is in any way in violation of this section, is declared to be void as contrary to the public policy of this state and shall not be given effect or enforced by any court of this state or by any of its officers or employees.(4) Nothing in this section shall affect the validity of any contract in existence before July 1, 1997.(5) For purposes of this section, "professional geological services" means the practice of geology or those services performed by any registered professional geologist in connection with professional employment or practice. Laws, 1997, ch. 522, § 28, eff. 7/1/1997.