2011 -- H 5470

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LC01442

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2011

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A N A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- ENGINEERS

     Introduced By: Representatives Gallison, Martin, San Bento, Edwards, and Blazejewski

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2011

     Referred To: House Corporations

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 5-8-2 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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     5-8-2. Definitions. -- As used or within the intent of this chapter:

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      (a) "Accredited program" means specific engineering curricula within established

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institutions of higher learning that have both met the criteria of, and have been designated by, the

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Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and

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Technology, Inc. (ABET-EAC).

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      (b) "Board" means the state board of registration for professional engineers subsequently

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provided by this chapter.

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      (c) "Engineer" means a person who, by reason of his or her special knowledge and use of

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the mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences and the principles and methods of

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engineering analysis and design, acquired by engineering education and engineering experience,

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is qualified to practice engineering, as subsequently defined, and as attested by his or her

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registration as an engineer.

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      (d) "Engineer-in-training" means a person who complies with the requirements for

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education, experience, and character, and has passed an examination in the fundamental

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engineering subjects, as provided in sections 5-8-11 and 5-8-13.

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      (e) "National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)" is a

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nationally recognized organization which assists state boards and territorial boards to better

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discharge their duties and responsibilities in regulating the practice of engineering and land

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surveying.

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      (f) (1) "Practice of engineering" means any service or creative work, the adequate

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performance of which requires engineering education, training, and experience in the application

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of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences to services or

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creative work such as consultation, investigation, evaluation surveys, planning and design of

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engineering systems, and the supervision of construction for the purpose of assuring compliance

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with specifications; and embracing those services or work in connection with any public or

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private utilities, structures, buildings, machines, equipment, processes, work, or projects in which

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the public welfare or the safeguarding of life, health, or property is concerned.

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      (2) Any person shall be construed to practice or offer to practice engineering, within the

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meaning and intent of this chapter, who:

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      (i) Practices any branch of the profession of engineering;

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      (ii) By verbal claim, sign, advertisement, letterhead, card, or in any other way represents

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himself or herself to be an engineer, or through the use of some other title implies that he or she is

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an engineer or that he or she is registered under this chapter; or

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      (iii) Holds himself or herself out as able to perform, or who does perform any

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engineering service or work or any other service designated by the practitioner or recognized as

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engineering.

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      (g) "Professional engineer" means a person who has been registered and licensed by the

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state board of registration for professional engineers.

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      (h) "Responsible charge" means direct control and personal supervision of engineering

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work.

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      (i) "Rules and regulations" means that document of the same title, as amended from time

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to time, that has been adopted by the board and filed with the secretary of state in accordance

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with sections 42-35-3(a), 42-35-4(b), and 5-8-8.

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     (j) “Engineering surveys” means a specialty within the broader professional practice of

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engineering that, with the exception of boundary, right-of-way, or other cadastral surveying,

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includes all surveying and mapping activities required to support the sound conception, planning,

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design, construction, maintenance, and operation of engineered projects. Engineering surveying

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does not include surveys for the retracement of existing land ownership boundaries or the creation

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of new boundaries.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01442

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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 add the definition of “engineering surveys” to the provisions of the laws

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regulating engineers.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01442

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