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.