SRC-MWN S.B. 697 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 697 77R5106 SMH-FBy: Wentworth Business & Commerce 3/11/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, licensed professional engineers are one of the few professional or occupational groups without mandatory continuing education requirements. The Board of Professional Engineers is authorized to administer a continuing education program, but participation in the program is voluntary. As proposed, S.B. 697 authorizes the Board of Professional Engineers to adopt rules requiring continuing education and to establish standards for these rules, including activities for which a licensee is authorized to receive credit. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Board of Professional Engineers in SECTION 1 (Section 8, Article 3271a, V.T.C.S.) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 8, Article 3271a (The Texas Engineering Practice Act), V.T.C.S., by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (e), to authorize the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (board) by rule to require, rather than recognize, prepare, or administer, continuing education, rather than continuing education programs, for persons regulated by the board under this Act. Provides that rules adopted under this subsection are prohibited from requiring a license holder to obtain more than eight hours of continuing education in one year; must permit a license holder to certify at the time the licence is renewed that the license holder has complied with the board's continuing education requirements; and must permit a license holder to receive continuing education credit for educational, technical, ethical, or professional management activities related to the practice of engineering. Sets forth activities which might meet those guidelines. Deletes text stating that participation in the programs is voluntary. 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 for purposes of Chapter 2254A (Professional Services), Government Code. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.