HOUSE BILL REPORT
SHB 1161
As Passed House:
March 9, 2001
Title: An act relating to engineers and land surveyors.
Brief Description: Authorizing the department of licensing to establish engineer and land surveyors' certificate and licensing renewal intervals, renewal fees, and renewal dates.
Sponsors: By House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Conway, Clements and Kenney).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Commerce & Labor: 2/2/01, 2/16/01 [DPS].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/9/01, 94-0.
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Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
$The director of the Department of Licensing is authorized to set the renewal intervals, renewal fees, and renewal dates for certificates of registration issued to engineers and land surveyors.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Conway, Democratic Co‑Chair; B. Chandler, Republican Vice Chair; Wood, Democratic Vice Chair; Hunt, Kenney, Lisk and McMorris.
Staff: Sydney Forrester (786‑7120).
Background:
The Department of Licensing, Business and Professions Division regulates the practice of engineering and land surveying. Engineers and land surveyors are granted a certificate of registration based upon their education, experience, and examination performance. A fee is required at initial registration and at renewal.
By statute, certificates of registration for engineers and land surveyors expire on December 31 each year. The director is required to send a written renewal notice 30 days before expiration. If the renewal fee is not paid by December 31, the certificate of registration becomes invalid. If the renewal fee remains unpaid for 90 days, the renewal fee is doubled.
The director is authorized to modify or extend the duration of initial certification periods and renewal certification periods in the interest of efficiency. The department processes approximately 11,500 renewals annually. The current practice of the department is to renew registration certificates for engineers and land surveyors every two years on the registrant=s birthday.
Summary of Bill:
The director of the department of licensing is authorized to set the renewal fees, intervals, and dates for the licenses issued to engineers and land surveyors.
The department is required to send written notice of pending renewal dates.
Certificates becomes invalid if not renewed by the expiration date. If the certificate is not renewed within 90 days after expiration, a penalty fee equal to one year=s renewal fee is required for reinstatement.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: (Original bill) The department has authority to set fees and terms for these licenses. The legislation brings the statute in line with current practices of the department. The department sends notices of pending renewal to the last known address of a licensee. When a licensee moves without informing the department of a new address, the licensee may not receive the notice. The department has an interest in facilitating the timely payment of renewal fees, however, the ultimate responsibility for renewal is upon the registrant.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Alan Rathbun, Assistant Director, Business and Professions Division of the Department of Licensing.