HBA-TBM S.B. 697 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 697
By: Wentworth
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
4/11/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, licensed professional engineers are one of the few professional
or occupational groups in Texas that do not have mandatory continuing
education requirements.  Under current law, the Texas Board of Professional
Engineers (board) is authorized to administer a continuing education
program, but participation is voluntary.  Senate Bill 697 authorizes the
board by rule to require continuing education for a licensed professional
engineer.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Board of Professional
Engineers in SECTION 1 (Section 8) of this bill.   

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 697 amends The Texas Engineering Practice Act to authorize the
Texas Board of Professional Engineers (board) by rule to require continuing
education for persons regulated by the board.  The bill prohibits rules
adopted from requiring a license holder to obtain more than eight hours of
continuing education in one year.  The bill requires that rules adopted
permit a license holder to certify at the time the license is renewed that
the license holder has complied with the board's continuing education
requirements. The bill requires that rules permit a license holder to
receive continuing education credit for education, technical, ethical, or
professional management activities related to the practice of engineering.
The bill authorizes the board at the request of any person to review a
proposal for the procurement of services issued by a governmental entity
and issue a finding regarding whether the services are within the scope of
the practice of professional engineering.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.