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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of structural engineers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter H-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER H-1. CERTIFICATION OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS |
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Sec. 1001.371. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Structural engineer" means a person licensed to |
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engage in the practice of engineering and certified to practice |
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structural engineering in this state. |
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(2) "Structural engineering" means a specialized |
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branch of professional engineering involving the practice of |
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structural engineering of significant structures. |
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Sec. 1001.372. CERTIFICATE REQUIRED. (a) A person may not |
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engage in the practice of structural engineering unless the person |
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holds a structural engineer certificate issued under this |
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subchapter. |
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(b) A person may not, unless the person holds a structural |
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engineer certificate issued under this subchapter, directly or |
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indirectly use or cause to be used as a professional, business, or |
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commercial identification, title, name, representation, claim, |
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asset, or means of advantage or benefit any of, or a variation or |
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abbreviation of, the following terms: |
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(1) "structural engineer"; |
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(2) "professional structural engineer"; |
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(3) "licensed structural engineer"; or |
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(4) "certified structural engineer." |
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Sec. 1001.373. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. To qualify for |
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a structural engineer certificate, an applicant must: |
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(1) be licensed under this chapter as an engineer; and |
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(2) pass the structural engineering examination |
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prescribed by the board. |
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Sec. 1001.374. APPLICATION. The board by rule shall: |
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(1) prescribe an application form for the issuance or |
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renewal of a structural engineer certificate; and |
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(2) determine the information to be included in the |
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application. |
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Sec. 1001.375. EXAMINATION. The board shall administer a |
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16-hour examination to determine the qualifications of an applicant |
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for a structural engineer certificate. |
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Sec. 1001.376. CERTIFICATE. The board shall issue a |
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structural engineer certificate to an applicant who meets the |
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qualifications prescribed by the board by rule and pays the |
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required fees. |
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Sec. 1001.377. SEAL. (a) On receiving a structural |
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engineer certificate, a certificate holder shall obtain a seal in a |
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design authorized by the board, showing the certificate holder's |
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name and the legend "Structural Engineer." |
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(b) The seal may be used in lieu of a seal obtained under |
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Section 1001.401. |
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Sec. 1001.378. RENEWAL. (a) A certificate issued under |
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this subchapter is valid for one year from the date of issuance. |
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(b) The holder of a certificate may renew the certificate by |
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paying a renewal fee and complying with other renewal requirements |
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prescribed by board rule before the expiration date. |
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Sec. 1001.379. FEES. The board shall establish and collect |
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reasonable and necessary fees in amounts sufficient to cover the |
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costs of administering this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than May 1, 2012, the Texas Board |
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of Professional Engineers shall: |
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(1) establish the qualifications for issuance and |
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renewal of a structural engineer certificate; and |
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(2) adopt the rules necessary to implement the changes |
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in law made by this Act. |
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(b) A person is not required to obtain a structural engineer |
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certificate under Subchapter H-1, Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, |
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as added by this Act, before September 1, 2012. |
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SECTION 3. A person practicing as a licensed engineer in |
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structural engineering on the effective date of this Act is |
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entitled to issuance of a structural engineer certificate and to |
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continue to practice structural engineering without fulfilling any |
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additional education, training, or examination requirements |
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established by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers under |
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Subchapter H-1, Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, as added by this |
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Act, if the person has the other qualifications required by the |
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board and Chapter 1001 and if, before August 31, 2012, the person |
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submits an application on a form prescribed by the board and an |
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affidavit attesting to the person's experience as a structural |
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engineer. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |