Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amend chapter 196-12 WAC, Registered professional engineers; chapter 196-20 WAC, Engineers-in-training; chapter 196-21 WAC, Land surveyors-in-training; and chapter 196-23 WAC, Stamping and seals.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.43.035.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The proposed rule change is needed in response to the national examination vendor modifying how they administer examinations. The national examination vendor is moving to computer-based testing only for the engineer-in-training and land surveyor-in-training exams. There is also a need to clarify existing rules regarding guidelines for use of signatures on electronic documents for engineering and land surveying. (Current guidelines are on the internet program site as determined by the board.) All proposed rule amendments are supported by industry, do not directly impact local government, and meet the exemption criteria outlined in Executive Order 10-06.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

     Process for Developing New Rule: Draft language of rule amendments will be distributed to the board's list of interested persons (listserv).

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting George A. Twiss, Executive Director, Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, P.O. Box 9025, Olympia, WA 98507-9025, phone (360) 664-1565, fax (360) 664-2551, e-mail engineers@dol.wa.gov. Interested parties may send in their comments by mail, phone, fax, or e-mail. Additional information will be posted on the engineers, land surveyors, and on-site web site as it becomes available at http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/engineerslandsurveyors/.

May 1, 2013

Damon Monroe

Rules Coordinator