Mississippi Consumer Protection Laws Should be Stronger

A couple of years ago, we learned that a number of "colleges" and "universities" with questionable credentials had set up shop in Mississippi, especially in the areas of the state nearest the New Orleans metro area. When we did a little investigating, we found that Louisiana had strengthened its consumer protection laws regarding so-called "diploma mills." They were coming here because of the increased pressure from Louisiana, where they had previously been based.

You may or may not know it, but Mississippi law has a glaring loophole in its laws regarding college accreditation standards. All colleges which grant degrees are required to hold accreditation from a recognized accrediting body, such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Yet, the law specifically grants an exemption for private, for-profit institutions. The statute (37-101-241, Mississippi Code of 1972), reads in part, ... (6) The provisions of this section shall not apply to private schools that are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) or to the proprietary schools as defined in Sections 75-60-3, 75-60-4 and 75-60-5.

This is one of many areas in which Mississippi consumer protection laws leave much to be desired. In the wake of Katrina, we have seen evidence of lax licensing laws for contractors. Recently, after the funeral home industry has come under scrutiny, we have found that there are insufficient standards for cemeteries.

While Mississippi has some good and tough requirements for some industries, we are way behind in others. There should be a concerted effort to look at all of Mississippi's consumer protection laws. Contrary to popular belief, consumer protection laws do not hurt business; they help business by ensuring that high standards are enforced. Tough consumer protection laws are good for everyone -- businesses and consumers alike.