87R4466 JES-F
 
  By: Paxton S.B. No. 1770
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of certain titles by a structural engineer.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter G, Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1001.3085 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1001.3085.  REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER; USE OF
  TITLE. (a)  In this section, "NCEES" means the National Council of
  Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.
         (b)  The board shall authorize an engineer to use the title
  "registered structural engineer" if the engineer submits evidence
  satisfactory to the board showing that the engineer has passed:
               (1)  16 hours of NCEES structural engineering
  examinations, eight hours of which are the Structural II
  examination taken before January 1, 2011;
               (2)  16 hours of state structural engineering
  examinations taken before 2004;
               (3)  the NCEES Structural II examination and an
  eight-hour state structural engineering examination, each taken
  before January 1, 2011;
               (4)  the 16-hour NCEES structural engineering
  examination taken after January 1, 2011; or
               (5)  another 16-hour structural engineering
  examination or a combination of structural engineering
  examinations totaling 16 hours that is substantially equivalent to
  the 16-hour NCEES structural engineering examination, as
  determined by the board.
         (c)  A person may not use the title "registered structural
  engineer" unless the person obtains authorization from the board in
  accordance with this section. 
         (d)  Notwithstanding Section 1001.401(a), an engineer who is
  authorized under this section may:
               (1)  obtain a seal in a design authorized by the board,
  showing the engineer's name and the legend "Registered Structural
  Engineer"; and
               (2)  use the seal for the purposes required by Section
  1001.401.
         (e)  Notwithstanding Section 1001.405(e), a business entity
  that is registered with the board and actively engaged in the
  practice of engineering may use the term "registered structural
  engineer" in the manner provided by that subsection if each
  service, work, or act performed by the business entity that is part
  of the practice of engineering is:
               (1)  personally performed by an engineer authorized
  under this section; or 
               (2)  directly supervised by an engineer authorized
  under this section who is a regular full-time employee of the
  business entity.
         (f)  The board shall adopt rules to implement this section.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2021, the Texas Board
  of Professional Engineers shall adopt rules necessary to implement
  Section 1001.3085, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.