HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 1308

                              As Passed House

                               March 12, 1991

Title:  An act relating to the state board of registration for professional engineers and land surveyors.

Brief Description:  Modifying membership of the state board of registration for professional engineers and land surveyors.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Winsley, Franklin, Haugen, Nelson, Ogden, Mitchell and Ferguson.

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, February 26, 1991, DP;

Passed House, March 12, 1991, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fuhrman, Ranking Minority Member; Lisk, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Franklin; Jones; R. King; O'Brien; Prentice; Vance; and Wilson.

Staff:  Jim Kelley (786-7166).

Background:  The State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors consists of seven members, appointed by the governor.  Five members of the board must be registered professional engineers.  Two members must be registered land surveyors.  Each of the members must have been actively engaged in the practice of engineering or land surveying for at least 10 years subsequent to registration, including at least the five years immediately prior to their appointment to the board.

Membership on the board is for a period of five years and no member shall serve more than two consecutive terms.  There is no public membership on the board.

Summary of Bill:  The State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors consists of nine members.  Five of the members must be registered professional engineers, two must be registered land surveyors, and two must be public members.  The public members have the responsibility of representing the interests of consumers.  One of the initially appointed public members will serve a term of three years.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Over the years we have added public members to professional boards.  It serves the purpose of protecting consumers.  There are people who know the issue and would prove to be a breath of fresh air on the board.

Testimony Against:  The public is well served by the present makeup of the board.  Evaluations and examinations require technical and specialized knowledge.  Public members will not be able to handle these duties.

Witnesses:  Representative Winsley, Prime Sponsor; Cliff Webster and Alfred F. Byrne, Architects and Engineers Legislative Council (opposed); and Alan Rathbun, Engineers and Land Surveyors Board, Department of Licensing (in favor).