SRC-TBR S.B. 1797 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1797
77R12216 JMM-FBy: Carona
Business & Commerce
4/23/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

During the 76th Legislature, a bill was passed that has lead to the
interpretation that faculty members at a Texas institution of higher
education have to have an engineering license to conduct research or
instructional work.  As proposed, S.B. 1797 exempts faculty members at
Texas institutions of higher education from engineering licensure
requirements in the scope of their employment by the institution for
research or instructional work. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 20(a), The Texas Engineering Practice Act
(Article 3271a, V.T.C.S.), to add certain persons employed by institutions
of higher education to the list of persons who are exempt from the
licensure provisions of this Act, provided that such specified  persons are
not directly or indirectly represented or held out to the public to be
legally qualified to engage in the practice of engineering. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.