By: Smith of Harris Senate Sponsor-Hegar H.B. No. 1372
       (In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2007;
May 10, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Business
and Commerce; May 19, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0;
May 19, 2007, sent to printer.)
 
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1372 By:  Fraser
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to retention of certain engineering computations made
regarding residential structures located in first tier coastal
counties.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 2210, Insurance Code, is
amended by adding Section 2210.0041 to read as follows:
       Sec. 2210.0041.  ENGINEERING COMPUTATIONS. (a) This
section applies to an engineer who provides professional
engineering services regarding the construction, modification, or
repair of a single-family residential structure that is located in
a first tier coastal county and for which an application for
insurance coverage through the association has been submitted.
       (b)  An engineer shall submit copies, in a format that is
acceptable to the department, of all computations developed in
conjunction with the professional engineering services described
by Subsection (a) to the department in the manner prescribed by
commissioner rule.
       (c)  The department shall maintain the information submitted
to the department under Subsection (b) until the expiration of the
limitations period under Section 16.008, Civil Practice and
Remedies Code.
       (d)  The Texas Board of Professional Engineers shall
cooperate with the department in the implementation and enforcement
of this section. The Texas Board of Professional Engineers shall
adopt rules and post information on the board's Internet website as
necessary to inform engineers licensed in this state of the
requirements of this section.
       (e)  Failure by an engineer to comply with Subsection (b)
constitutes grounds for disciplinary action under Subchapter J,
Chapter 1001, Occupations Code.
       SECTION 2.  An engineer is not required to comply with
Section 2210.0041, Insurance Code, as added by this Act, until
January 1, 2008.
       SECTION 3.  The commissioner of insurance and the Texas
Board of Professional Engineers shall adopt rules and post
information as required by Section 2210.0041, Insurance Code, as
added by this Act, not later than December 1, 2007.
       SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
* * * * *