Bill Text: TX SB1828 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the regulation of structural engineers.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-24 - Referred to Business & Commerce [SB1828 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-SB1828-Introduced.html
| 82R4907 NC-F | ||
| By: Wentworth | S.B. No. 1828 | |
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| relating to the regulation of structural engineers. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subchapter H-1 to read as follows: | ||
| SUBCHAPTER H-1. CERTIFICATION OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS | ||
| Sec. 1001.371. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: | ||
| (1) "Structural engineer" means a person licensed to | ||
| engage in the practice of engineering and certified to practice | ||
| structural engineering in this state. | ||
| (2) "Structural engineering" means a specialized | ||
| branch of professional engineering involving the practice of | ||
| structural engineering of significant structures. | ||
| Sec. 1001.372. CERTIFICATE REQUIRED. (a) A person may not | ||
| engage in the practice of structural engineering unless the person | ||
| holds a structural engineer certificate issued under this | ||
| subchapter. | ||
| (b) A person may not, unless the person holds a structural | ||
| engineer certificate issued under this subchapter, directly or | ||
| indirectly use or cause to be used as a professional, business, or | ||
| commercial identification, title, name, representation, claim, | ||
| asset, or means of advantage or benefit any of, or a variation or | ||
| abbreviation of, the following terms: | ||
| (1) "structural engineer"; | ||
| (2) "professional structural engineer"; | ||
| (3) "licensed structural engineer"; or | ||
| (4) "certified structural engineer." | ||
| Sec. 1001.373. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. To qualify for | ||
| a structural engineer certificate, an applicant must: | ||
| (1) be licensed under this chapter as an engineer; and | ||
| (2) pass the structural engineering examination | ||
| prescribed by the board. | ||
| Sec. 1001.374. APPLICATION. The board by rule shall: | ||
| (1) prescribe an application form for the issuance or | ||
| renewal of a structural engineer certificate; and | ||
| (2) determine the information to be included in the | ||
| application. | ||
| Sec. 1001.375. EXAMINATION. The board shall administer a | ||
| 16-hour examination to determine the qualifications of an applicant | ||
| for a structural engineer certificate. | ||
| Sec. 1001.376. CERTIFICATE. The board shall issue a | ||
| structural engineer certificate to an applicant who meets the | ||
| qualifications prescribed by the board by rule and pays the | ||
| required fees. | ||
| Sec. 1001.377. SEAL. (a) On receiving a structural | ||
| engineer certificate, a certificate holder shall obtain a seal in a | ||
| design authorized by the board, showing the certificate holder's | ||
| name and the legend "Structural Engineer." | ||
| (b) The seal may be used in lieu of a seal obtained under | ||
| Section 1001.401. | ||
| Sec. 1001.378. RENEWAL. (a) A certificate issued under | ||
| this subchapter is valid for one year from the date of issuance. | ||
| (b) The holder of a certificate may renew the certificate by | ||
| paying a renewal fee and complying with other renewal requirements | ||
| prescribed by board rule before the expiration date. | ||
| Sec. 1001.379. FEES. The board shall establish and collect | ||
| reasonable and necessary fees in amounts sufficient to cover the | ||
| costs of administering this subchapter. | ||
| SECTION 2. (a) Not later than May 1, 2012, the Texas Board | ||
| of Professional Engineers shall: | ||
| (1) establish the qualifications for issuance and | ||
| renewal of a structural engineer certificate; and | ||
| (2) adopt the rules necessary to implement the changes | ||
| in law made by this Act. | ||
| (b) A person is not required to obtain a structural engineer | ||
| certificate under Subchapter H-1, Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, | ||
| as added by this Act, before September 1, 2012. | ||
| SECTION 3. A person practicing as a licensed engineer in | ||
| structural engineering on the effective date of this Act is | ||
| entitled to issuance of a structural engineer certificate and to | ||
| continue to practice structural engineering without fulfilling any | ||
| additional education, training, or examination requirements | ||
| established by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers under | ||
| Subchapter H-1, Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, as added by this | ||
| Act, if the person has the other qualifications required by the | ||
| board and Chapter 1001 and if, before August 31, 2012, the person | ||
| submits an application on a form prescribed by the board and an | ||
| affidavit attesting to the person's experience as a structural | ||
| engineer. | ||
| SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. | ||
