SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2715

BYRepresentatives Vekich, Smith and R. King; by request of  Department of Licensing

Pertaining to the registration of engineers.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 19, 1990; February 21, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Lee, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; McMullen, Murray, Saling, Smitherman, Warnke, West, Williams.

Senate Staff:Jonathan Seib (786-7427)

                  February 26, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & LABOR, FEBRUARY 21, 1990

BACKGROUND:

By statute, Washington requires the registration of professional engineers and land surveyors.  Some sections of this law have not been amended since 1947.

If an applicant for registration fails an examination, he or she may retake the examination one time after six months without payment of an additional fee.

A nonresident may practice in Washington an aggregate of 30 days or less per year if he or she is legally qualified by registration to practice in his or her own state or country.

An applicant for registration as a professional engineer must pay a registration fee upon application and an additional fee before issuance of the certificate.

SUMMARY:

The director of the Department of Licensing may charge a fee for the first reexamination after an applicant for registration fails an examination.

A nonresident may practice in Washington an aggregate of 30 days or less per year only if the Board of Registration, upon receipt of an application and fee, determines that the nonresident is registered to practice in his or her own state or country.  In that case, the board will issue a permit authorizing temporary practice.

An applicant for registration as a professional engineer must pay only one registration fee.

The following housekeeping changes are made:  (1) gender specific language is eliminated; (2) inconsistent language is made consistent; and (3) surplus language is deleted.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

Beginning July 1, 1991 the requirement that 20 percent of the fees collected under the engineering registration statute be paid into the state general fund is removed.  Fees and fines collected shall be paid in their entirety into the professional engineers account.

Senate Committee - Testified: Alan Rathbun, Robert Cray, Department of Licensing Engineering Registration Board