Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 1544 amends provisions of the Texas Engineering Practice Act relating to the registration of engineering firms and the publication of a roster of engineers and firms. The act extends the regulatory requirements of the Texas Engineering Practice Act to include sole proprietorships engaged in the practice of engineering. House Bill 1544 clarifies requirements for the Texas Board of Professional Engineers to prepare and publish a roster of engineers. The board must make the roster available to the public without cost in an online computer database format, but may charge a fee for a physical copy of the roster. The act increases the engineering examination fee from $120 to $200 and creates a $100 fee for the registration of an engineering firm. The act requires an entity engaged in the practice of professional engineering to be registered with the board and to provide certain information to the board related to any person that practices engineering for that entity. The act requires annual registration renewal and establishes provisions for a person claiming certain exemptions from the Act's licensing requirements. The Texas Board of Professional Engineers is required to adopt rules providing for the registration of engineering entities no later than November 1, 1999.