SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5065

As Passed Senate, March 11, 2003

Title: An act relating to obtaining a geologist license.

Brief Description: Modifying when a geologist license may be obtained without a written exam.

Sponsors: Senator Swecker.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Commerce & Trade: 1/23/03, 1/31/03 [DP, DNP].

Passed Senate: 3/11/03, 40-5.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Honeyford, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; and Mulliken.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

      Signed by Senators Franklin and Keiser.

Staff: Elizabeth Mitchell (786-7430)

Background: In 2000 the Legislature enacted Senate Bill 6455. This bill created a licensing program for geologists at the Department of Licensing. The bill provided that applicants applying for licensure before July 1, 2002 were not required to take a written examination if they met specified criteria.

Summary of Bill: Applicants who apply for geologist licensure before July 1, 2003 and who meet specified criteria are not required to take a written examination.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: Some people never received notification of the grandparenting period, and some people are now having problems submitting their work to state agencies because they are not licensed.

Testimony Against: The one year grandparenting period was sufficient and should not be extended. CONCERNS: The department's communications plan during the grandparenting period was extensive. There were approximately 500 people contacted, as well as 77 professional organizations, 73 geologist businesses, and there was a letter sent to all the cities and counties in the state. There was also a later marketing push with a news release and a postcard campaign. Under the grandparenting period, 2200 geologists qualified. Six were denied because they did not make the time limit.

Testified: Alan Rathbun, Margaret Epting, Department of Licensing (concerns); Dale McGeer, Western Watershed Analysts (pro); Allen Miller, Connolly, Tacon & Meserve (pro); Kenneth G. Neal, Kenneth Neal & Associates, Housing Board (con); Tom Badger, WA Section, Assn. of Engineering Geologists (con).

House Amendment(s): The state, counties and cities are permitted to use either "soil scientists engaging in the practice of soil science" or licensed geologists to perform geology work until July 1, 2005. "Practice of soil science" is defined.