HBA-MPA H.B. 2300 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2300
By: Hunter
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
4/13/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers publishes a paperback
roster of engineers once every two years and sends a free copy to each
engineer who requests one.  Section 11 of the Texas Engineering Practice
Act is written in a manner that appears to limit the roster to this type of
printed format.  Because the vast majority of the regulated community of
engineers regularly use the Internet, the board believes that it can
provide a higher level of service and more up-to-date information by
placing the roster "on-line."  Additionally, the board can reduce the
number of paperback rosters printed each biennium, which will help defray
the costs of putting the roster on-line.  Printed copies and floppy disks
will continue to be available at a nominal reproduction fee for those who
are unable to use the Internet format. 

H.B. 2300 allows the Texas Board of Professional Engineers to provide the
public with direct access to the most up-to-date copy of the roster by
making it where the most users can access it -- on the Internet.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 11, Article 3271a, V.T.C.S. (The Texas
Engineering Practice Act), as follows: 

Sec.11. New title: ENGINEER ROSTER.  Requires the Texas Board of
Professional Engineers (board) to publish a roster of persons or business
entities licensed, registered, certified or enrolled by the board.
Requires the roster to include names, business addresses and other
identifying information, and be made available without cost to the public
in an online computer database format.  Authorizes a reproduction and
shipping fee to be charged for physical copies.  Deletes previous language
requiring that the roster be provided without charge to a licensed
engineer, and a copy be placed on file with the secretary of state.  Makes
conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: January 1, 2000.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.