By Chavez                                             H.B. No. 2880
         76R4650 SMH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the use of the title "professional engineer" by a
 1-3     professional recording engineer.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 1.2, The Texas Engineering Practice Act
 1-6     (Article 3271a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read
 1-7     as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 1.2.  (a)  From and after the effective date of this
 1-9     Act, unless duly licensed in accordance with the provisions of this
1-10     Act, no person in  this state shall:
1-11                 (1)  Practice, continue to practice, offer or attempt
1-12     to practice engineering or any branch or part thereof.
1-13                 (2)  Directly or indirectly, employ, use, cause to be
1-14     used or make use of any of the following terms or any combinations,
1-15     variations or abbreviations thereof as a professional, business or
1-16     commercial identification, title, name, representation, claim,
1-17     asset or means of advantage or benefit:  "engineer," "professional
1-18     engineer," "licensed engineer," "registered engineer," "registered
1-19     professional engineer," "licensed professional engineer,"
1-20     "engineered."
1-21                 (3)  Directly or indirectly, employ, use, cause to be
1-22     used or make use of any letter, abbreviation, word, symbol, slogan,
1-23     sign or any combinations or variations thereof, which in any manner
1-24     whatsoever tends or is likely to create any impression with the
 2-1     public or any member thereof that any person is qualified or
 2-2     authorized to practice engineering unless such person is duly
 2-3     licensed under and practicing in accordance with the provisions of
 2-4     this Act.
 2-5                 (4)  Receive any fee or compensation or the promise of
 2-6     any fee or compensation for performing, offering or attempting to
 2-7     perform any service, work, act or thing which is any part of the
 2-8     practice of engineering as defined by this Act.
 2-9           (b)  Within the intent and meaning and for all purposes of
2-10     this Act, any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation
2-11     which shall do, offer or attempt to do any one or more of the acts
2-12     or things set forth under Subsection (a) [in numbered paragraphs
2-13     (1), (2), (3) or (4)] of this section [Section 1.2] shall be
2-14     conclusively presumed and regarded as engaged in the practice of
2-15     engineering.
2-16           (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(2) of this section, a
2-17     professional recording engineer may use the title "professional
2-18     engineer" without being licensed under this Act and is not engaged
2-19     in the practice of engineering.
2-20           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-24     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-25     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-26     passage, and it is so enacted.