Copper-theft bill awaits Barbour’s signature

Copper-theft bill awaits Barbour’s signature

A bill intended to crack down on metal theft is headed to Gov. Haley Barbour’s desk, the second of 11 items resolved so far in a costly special session.

Republican Gov. Haley Barbour had asked them to change a metal theft bill he vetoed after the regular session ended last month. Metal scrap dealers said the original legislation would have required them to either buy more land to store metal or shut down.

House lawmakers voted today to require them to tag and hold metal for three days instead of five. A requirement to gather fingerprints from metal sellers was stripped from the bill.

Clarion Ledger
5/30/8