2019 -- H 5679

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LC001787

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - ENGINEERS

     

     Introduced By: Representative Brian P. Kennedy

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Corporations

     (Division of Public Utilities & Carriers)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 5-8-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-8 entitled "Engineers" is

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hereby amended to read as follows:

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     5-8-21. Exemptions.

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     This chapter shall not be construed to prevent or to affect:

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     (1) Temporary certificates of registration.

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     (i) Nonresidents. The practice or offer to practice of engineering by a person not a

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resident of or having no established place of business in this state, when that practice does not

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exceed in the aggregate more than thirty (30) days in any calendar year; provided, the person is

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legally qualified by registration to practice engineering, as defined in § 5-8-2(f), in his or her own

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state or country. The person shall make application to the board, in writing, and after payment of

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a fee set by the board in an amount not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200) may be granted a

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written temporary certificate of registration for a definite period of time to do a specific job;

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provided, no right to practice engineering accrues to an applicant as to any work not prescribed in

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the temporary certificate.

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     (ii) Recent arrivals in state. The practice of a person not a resident of and having no

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established place of business in this state, or who has recently become a resident of the state,

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practicing or offering to practice engineering in the state for more than thirty (30) days in any

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calendar year, if he or she has filed with the board an application for a certificate of registration

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and has paid the fee required by this chapter; provided, that the person is legally qualified by

 

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registration to practice engineering in his or her own state or country. That practice shall continue

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only for the time that the board requires for the consideration of the application for registration.

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     (2) Employees and subordinates. The work of an employee or a subordinate of a person

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holding a certificate of registration under this chapter, or an employee of a person practicing

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lawfully under paragraph (1)(ii) of this section; provided, that work does not include final

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engineering designs or decisions and is done under the direct supervision of or checked by a

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person holding a certificate of registration under this chapter or a person practicing lawfully under

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subdivision (1) of this section.

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     (3) Partnership, limited liability partnership, corporate and limited liability company

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practice. The practice or offer to practice of engineering as defined by this chapter by individual

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registered professional engineers through a partnership, limited liability partnership, corporation,

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joint stock company, or limited liability company, or by a partnership, limited liability

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partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or joint stock company, through individual

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registered professional engineers as agents, employees, officers, or partners or members or

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managers, provided, that they are jointly and severally liable for their professional acts; and

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provided, that all personnel of that partnership, limited liability partnership, joint stock company,

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corporation or limited liability company who act in its behalf as engineers in the state are

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registered under this chapter or are persons practicing lawfully or are exempt under subdivision

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(2) or (3) of this section. Each partnership, limited liability partnership, joint stock company,

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corporation or limited liability company providing engineering services is jointly and severally

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liable with the individually registered professional engineers, and all final plans, designs,

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drawings, specifications, and reports involving engineering judgment and discretion, when issued,

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shall be dated and bear the seals and signatures of the engineers who prepared them.

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     (4) Federal employees. The practice by officers and employees of the government of the

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United States while engaged within this state in the practice of engineering for that government;

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provided, that no right to practice engineering accrues to those persons as to any other

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engineering work. The rights to registration after leaving government employment shall not be

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granted except under the provisions established under § 5-8-11.

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     (5) Railroad, telephone, telegraph, and other public utility companies. The practice of

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engineering, as prescribed in this chapter, by railroad, telephone, telegraph, and other public

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utility companies, and their officers and employees while engaged in the work of those

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companies in this state; provided, that the practice is carried on under the responsible charge of an

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engineer or engineers in this state, or in any other state under requirements equivalent to those

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prescribed in this chapter; provided that all plans for natural gas infrastructure, including, but not

 

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limited to, repairs, maintenance, and construction, shall be built to a set of design standards and

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specifications approved by a certified engineer when the work could pose a material risk to public

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safety; and provided, that no right to practice engineering accrues to any unregistered person as to

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any other engineering work.

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     (6) Manufacturing corporations. The practice of engineering, as prescribed in this

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chapter, by manufacturing corporations, and their officers and employees while engaged in

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manufacturing, research and development activities for those corporations.

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     (7) Research and development corporations. The practice of engineering, as prescribed in

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this chapter, by research and development corporations, and their officers and employees while

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engaged in research and development activities for that corporation.

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     (8) Other professions. The practice of architecture, landscape architecture, or land

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surveying.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - ENGINEERS

***

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     This act would require that plans for natural gas infrastructure be built to a set of design

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standards approved by a certified engineer when the work could pose a material risk to public

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safety.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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