PRACTICE OF ENGINEERING S.B. 954:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 954 (as introduced 5-4-16)
Sponsor: Senator Darwin L. Booher
CONTENT
The bill would amend Article 20 of the Occupational Code (which regulates the practice and licensure of architects, professional engineers, and land surveyors) to do the following:
-- Provide that the practice of professional engineering would not include the preparation, signing, or submission of shop drawings for a fire alarm system.
-- Exempt from licensure under Article 20 a fire alarm contractor licensed under the Electrical Administrative Act who was submitting fire alarm shop drawings for the purpose of obtaining an electrical or fire alarm permit.
The bill also would repeal Section 2005 of the Code, which prescribes examination requirements for architects, professional engineers, and professional surveyors, but would reenact criteria related to professional experience and education.
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
Fire Alarm System Shop Drawings
Article 20 defines "practice of professional engineering" as professional services, such as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design, or review of material and completed phases of work in construction, alteration, or repair in connection with a public or private utility, structure, building, machine, equipment, process, work, or project, if the professional service requires the application of engineering principles or data.
The bill provides that the practice of professional engineering would not include the preparation, signing, or submission of shop drawings for a fire alarm system, as defined under the Electrical Administrative Act.
("Fire alarm system" means a system designed to detect and annunciate the presence of fire, or by-products of fire, installed within a building or structure. The term does not include a single station smoke detector.)
The bill also would exempt from licensure under Article 20 a person who is not licensed under Article 20, is a fire alarm contractor licensed under the Electrical Administrative Act, and is submitting fire alarm shop drawings for the purpose of obtaining an electrical or fire alarm permit.
Section 2005 Repeal & Reenactment
The bill would repeal Section 2005 of the Code, which establishes requirements for a person to be examined as an architect, professional engineer, a professional surveyor; requires the examinations to be given at least once a year; requires an applicant to be notified in writing of his or her testing results; and provides that all requirements for licensure must be completed within 10 years after the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs receives the application. The bill would reenact requirements related to education and experience in Section 2004, which prescribes licensure criteria for architects, professional engineers, and professional surveyors.
For licensure as an architect, the bill would reenact a requirement that a person provide evidence of completion of a first professional degree or further degree in architecture satisfactory to the Board of Architects. Currently, Section 2004 requires an individual to provide documentation of at least eight years of professional experience in architectural work satisfactory to the Board, including not more than six years of education. The bill, instead, would require a person to provide documentation of professional experience in architectural work satisfactory to the Board.
For licensure as a professional engineer or professional surveyor, the bill would reenact requirements that an individual provide documentation of at least eight years of professional experience of engineering work acceptable to the Board of Professional Engineers or at least eight years of professional surveying acceptable to the Board of Professional Surveyors, as applicable, including not more than six years of education for a professional engineer or not more than five years of education for a professional surveyor. The bill also would reenact requirements that the person provide evidence of completion of a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited program or its equivalent, or a degree in professional surveying, as applicable, acceptable to the relevant Board.
Section 2005 requires an applicant for examination as a professional engineer or professional surveyor to provide at least five references, including three from professional engineers or professional surveyors, as applicable, who have personal knowledge of the applicant's professional experience. The bill would not reenact these requirements, and would delete similar requirements for an architect from Section 2004.
MCL 339.2001 et al. Legislative Analyst: Drew Krogulecki
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.