130th Ohio General Assembly
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Sub. H. B. No. 202  As Passed by the House
As Passed by the House

130th General Assembly
Regular Session
2013-2014
Sub. H. B. No. 202


Representative Blessing 

Cosponsors: Representatives Duffey, Hood, Gonzales, Butler, Beck, Amstutz, Grossman, Smith, Wachtmann, Terhar, Stinziano, Milkovich, Perales, Thompson, Conditt, Anielski, Blair, Brenner, Brown, Buchy, Burkley, Damschroder, Hagan, C., Hall, Letson, Mallory, McClain, Retherford, Sprague, Winburn, Young 



A BILL
To amend sections 4703.30, 4733.01, 4733.09, 4733.11, 4733.12, 4733.13, 4733.15, and 4733.151 of the Revised Code to make changes to the examination, reporting, and educational requirements of professional engineers and surveyors.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1.  That sections 4703.30, 4733.01, 4733.09, 4733.11, 4733.12, 4733.13, 4733.15, and 4733.151 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:
Sec. 4703.30.  As used in sections 4703.30 to 4703.49 of the Revised Code:
(A) "Landscape architect" means a person who has been registered as provided in sections 4703.30 to 4703.49 of the Revised Code.
(B) "Landscape architecture" or "the practice of landscape architecture" includes:
(1) The preparation of master, site, and comprehensive development plans, the preparation of feasibility and site selection studies, and the supervision of the execution of projects thereon, in accordance with the accepted professional standards of public health, welfare, and safety, where the dominant purpose of such service involves:
(a) The preservation, conservation, enhancement, or determination of proper land and water uses, natural land features, ground cover and plantings, naturalistic and aesthetic values, natural systems, reforestation, restoration, and reclamation;
(b) The determination of settings, grounds, and approaches for buildings and structures or other improvements; the determination of environmental problems of land relating to erosion and sediment control, flooding, blight and other hazards; the shaping and contouring of land and water forms; the determination of grades; and the determination of surface and ground water drainage and providing for drainage systems where such systems do not require structural design of system components or a hydraulic analysis of the receiving storm water conveyance system;
(c) The development of roadways and parkways, equestrian, bicycle, and pedestrian circulation systems, sidewalks, parking, planting, pools, irrigation systems, and other ancillary elements, for public and private use and enjoyment.
(2) The preparation of construction documents, provided that these are limited to and are necessary for projects within the scope of the practice of landscape architecture as defined in divisions (B)(1)(a), (b), and (c) of this section;
(3) The following services as they relate to the practice of landscape architecture:
(a) Construction observation;
(b) Project coordination and review of technical submissions, plans, and construction documents;
(c) Collaboration with architects and professional engineers in the design of streets, highways, bridges, buildings, and structures with respect to the functional and aesthetic requirements of the area in which such facilities are to be placed.
(4) This practice shall include the location and arrangement of such tangible objects and features as are incidental and necessary to the purposes outlined in this section, but shall not include the design of structures or facilities with separate and self-contained purposes for habitation or industry, or the design of streets and highways, utilities, storm and sanitary sewers, and water and sewage treatment facilities, such as are exclusive to the practice of engineering or architecture. A landscape architect shall undertake to perform professional services only when the landscape architect is qualified by education, training, and experience in the specific technical areas involved. This division shall not be construed to prohibit a landscape architect from engaging individuals performing services outside the scope of the landscape architect's qualifications as consultants.
(5) The practice of landscape architecture does not include the practice of surveying as defined in division (F) of section 4733.01 of the Revised Code.
(C) "Board" means the state board of landscape architect examiners.
Sec. 4733.01.  As used in this chapter:
(A) "Professional engineer" means a person registered as a professional engineer under this chapter.
(B) "Engineer" means a graduate of an accredited engineering curriculum or a person registered as a professional engineer under this chapter, or both.
(C) "Accredited engineering curriculum" means an engineering curriculum accredited by the engineering accreditation commission of ABET, Inc.
(D) "ABET, Inc." means the accreditation board for engineering and technology.
(D)(E) "The practice of engineering" includes any professional service, such as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design, or inspection of construction or operation for the purpose of assuring compliance with drawings or specifications in connection with any public or privately owned public utilities, structures, buildings, machines, equipment, processes, works, or projects in the proper rendering of which the qualifications of section 4733.11 of the Revised Code are required to protect the public welfare or to safeguard life, health, or property.
(E)(F) "Professional surveyor" means a person who is registered as a professional surveyor under this chapter.
(F)(G) "Practice of surveying" means any professional service that requires the application of special knowledge of the principles of mathematics, the related physical and applied sciences, and the relevant requirements of law for the adequate performance of the art of surveying, including, but not limited to, measuring the area or the contours of any portion of the earth's surface, the lengths and directions of the bounding lines, and the contour of the surface, for their correct determination and description and for conveyancing for recording, or for the establishment or re-establishment of land boundaries and the platting of lands and subdivisions; and like measurements and operations involved in the surveying of mines, commonly known as "mine surveying."
Sec. 4733.09.  The state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors shall keep a record of its proceedings and a record of all applications for registration.
On an application provided by the board, applicants shall provide information under oath, including the applicant's education and experience sufficient for the board to evaluate the credentials of the applicant pursuant to section 4733.11 of the Revised Code.
The records of the board shall be prima-facie evidence of its proceedings and a transcript thereof, duly certified by the executive director under seal, shall be admissible in evidence as if the original were produced.
Annually, as of the first day of July following the end of the fiscal year, the board shall submit to the governor a report of its transactions activities of the preceding year, and shall also transmit to the governor include a complete statement of the receipts and expenditures of the board, attested by affidavits of its chairperson and its executive director.
Sec. 4733.11.  (A) The state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors shall consider an applicant to be qualified for registration as a professional engineer if an applicant satisfies all of the requirements listed in either division (A)(1) or (2) of this section as follows:
(1)(a) Graduation from an accredited engineering curriculum of four years or more;
(b) A specific record of four years or more of practical experience in engineering work completed in addition to, and not overlapping in time, any school work completed under division (A)(1)(a) of this section that is acceptable to the board, not more than two years of which may be before graduation but after the completion of the second year of college, indicating that the applicant is competent to be placed in responsible charge of such work;
(c) Passing the prescribed written or written and oral examinations under divisions (A) and (B) of section 4733.13 of the Revised Code.
(2)(a) Graduation from a college curriculum in engineering of four years or more that is not approved by the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology accredited, whose curricula is evaluated by the board and found to be of a high quality essentially equal to the curricula that are accredited by ABET, Inc., or graduation from a college curriculum in engineering technology of four years or more that is accredited by the engineering technical accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology ABET, Inc.;
(b) Eight years or more of practical experience in engineering work completed in addition to, and not overlapping in time, any school work completed under division (A)(2)(a) of this section that is acceptable to the state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors, not more than two years of which may be before college graduation but after completion of the second year of college, indicating that the applicant is competent to be placed in responsible charge of such work;
(c) Passing the prescribed written or written and oral examinations under divisions (A) and (B) of section 4733.13 of the Revised Code.
(B) The state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors shall consider an applicant to be qualified for registration as a professional surveyor if the applicant satisfies all of the requirements listed in either division (B)(1) or (2) of this section as follows:
(1)(a) Graduation from an approved curriculum in surveying of four years or more;
(b) A specific record of four years or more of surveying office and field experience completed in addition to, and not overlapping in time, any school work completed under division (B)(1)(a) of this section that is of a character acceptable to the board, at least two years of which shall be after college graduation, with at least two of the four years of work in the surveying of land boundaries under the direct supervision of a professional surveyor, who may indicate in writing that the applicant is competent to be placed in responsible charge of the work;
(c) Passing the prescribed written or written and oral examinations under divisions (A) and (C) of section 4733.13 of the Revised Code.
(2)(a) Graduation from an accredited curriculum in civil engineering of four years or more in a recognized school or college;
(b) Successful completion of at least twenty-four quarter sixteen semester hours, or equivalent semester quarter or trimester hours, of approved surveying courses in surveying and mapping arts and sciences, except that courses successfully completed as prior studies may be credited by the board toward this requirement, of which at least eight quarter six semester hours, or equivalent semester quarter or trimester hours, are in surveying of land boundaries;
(c) A specific record of four years or more of surveying office and field experience completed in addition to, and not overlapping in time, any school work completed under division (B)(2)(a) of this section that is of a character acceptable to the board, at least two years of which shall be after college graduation, with at least two of the four years of work in surveying of land boundaries under the direct supervision of a professional surveyor, who may indicate in writing that the applicant is competent to be placed in responsible charge of the work;
(d) Passing the prescribed written or written and oral examinations under divisions (A) and (C) of section 4733.13 of the Revised Code.
(C) Engineering experience, for a professional engineer's practical experience requirement, or surveying experience, for a professional surveyor's practical experience requirement, in any of the armed forces of the United States or civilian war services may be credited for registration, if the experience is acceptable to the board.
(D) As used in this section, "an approved curriculum in surveying" is one which has been accredited by the related accreditation committee of the accreditation board for engineering and technology ABET, Inc., or one which has been approved by the state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors.
(E) No person is eligible for registration as a professional engineer, or professional surveyor, who is not of good character and reputation.
(F) In considering the qualifications of applicants, responsible charge of engineering or surveying teaching may be construed as responsible charge of engineering or surveying work, respectively. No applicant shall receive credit for more than six years of engineering or surveying experience because of educational qualifications. The mere execution, as a contractor, of work designed by a professional engineer or professional surveyor, or the supervision of the construction of such work as a superintendent is not deemed to be practical experience in engineering or surveying work.
(G) Every person applying for registration as a professional engineer or professional surveyor shall be required to pass the fundamentals examination and the principles and practice examination as provided in section 4733.13 of the Revised Code. In addition to passing each requisite examination, each applicant must submit evidence, satisfactory to the board, that the applicant has completed the practical experience required in this section.
(H) The board shall require the applicant for registration as a professional engineer or professional surveyor to take two examinations. The first examination, known as the fundamentals examination, may be taken by the applicant at any time after the applicant has completed the required education under division (A) or (B) of this section, or, at the discretion of the board, an applicant may be permitted to take the first examination during the applicant's concluding term of an approved curriculum in engineering or surveying of four years or more.
(I) When the applicant has passed the fundamentals examination, the The board shall give an applicant shall be given an appropriate certificate by the board showing the applicant's status as an engineer intern or surveyor intern upon the occurrence of all of the following:
(1) The applicant provides proof to the board that the applicant has passed the fundamentals examination as described in division (A) of section 4733.13 of the Revised Code.
(2) The board believes the applicant meets the requirements of this chapter based on verified evidence.
(3) The applicant applies for registration in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
(4) The applicant pays the fee required pursuant to section 4733.12 of the Revised Code.
Each applicant applying for registration as a professional engineer or professional surveyor shall first be certified as an engineer intern or surveyor intern in this state.
(J) The applicant is not eligible to take the second examination, known as the principles and practice examination, until the applicant has passed the fundamentals examination.
(K) Any person having the necessary qualifications to entitle the person to registration is eligible for registration though the person may not be practicing the person's profession at the time of making application.
Sec. 4733.12.  (A) Applications for registration as a professional engineer or professional surveyor shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors, shall contain statements made under oath setting forth the applicant's education and a detailed summary of the applicant's engineering or surveying experience as appropriate, and shall contain not less than five references, of whom three or more shall be professional engineers or professional surveyors having personal knowledge of the applicant's engineering or surveying experience. The application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee, which shall be established by the board at an amount adequate to cover the costs of processing the application.
A nonrefundable examination fee for professional engineers or professional surveyors, which shall accompany the "notice of intention" for each scheduled fundamentals or principles and practice examination, shall be established by the board at an amount adequate to cover the expense of procuring, administering, and grading the examinations. A nonrefundable registration fee, which shall be paid after the applicant has passed both examinations, shall be established by the board at an amount adequate to cover the expense of registration.
(B) The board shall establish a fee for a certificate of authorization issued under section 4733.16 of the Revised Code in an amount not to exceed fifty dollars and a fee for annual biennial renewal of a certificate of authorization, not to exceed twenty-five fifty dollars. The fee for a duplicate certificate of authorization is five dollars.
Sec. 4733.13.  (A) When written or written and oral examinations are required as provided by section 4733.11 of the Revised Code, they shall be held at a time and place specified by the state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors. The examinations shall test the applicant's knowledge to perform professional engineering or surveying services which shall insure the safety of life, health, and property. An examination referred to as the fundamentals of engineering or as the fundamentals of surveying examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of the fundamentals of engineering or surveying as appropriate.
(B) An examination referred to as the principles and practice of engineering examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of the branch of engineering in which the applicant specializes. For the purpose of this section, the branches of engineering are all those branches in which engineering examinations are offered by the board or the national council of examiners for engineering and surveying.
(C) A principles and practice of surveying examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of surveying and the laws and practices applicable to the state of Ohio.
(D) An applicant failing an examination may apply for re-examination. The fee for each re-examination shall be the same as the regular examination fee.
Sec. 4733.15.  (A) Registration expires on the last day of December 2011, and becomes invalid on that date unless renewed. For renewals after that date, registration expires biennially on the last day of December following initial registration or renewal of registration and becomes invalid on that date unless renewed. Renewal may be effected by the applicant's payment to the treasurer of state of a fee of forty dollars for a renewal of registration as either a professional engineer or professional surveyor and demonstration of completion of the continuing professional development requirements of section 4733.151 of the Revised Code. When notified as required in this section, a registrant's failure to renew registration shall not deprive the registrant of the right of renewal within the following twelve months, but the fee to renew a registration within twelve months after expiration shall be increased fifty per cent, and the registrant shall certify completion of continuing professional development hours as required in section 4733.151 of the Revised Code.
The state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors may, upon request, waive the payment of renewal fees or the completion of continuing professional development requirements for a registrant during the period when the registrant is on active duty in connection with any branch of the armed forces of the United States.
(B) Each certificate of authorization issued pursuant to section 4733.16 of the Revised Code shall authorize the holder to provide professional engineering or professional surveying services, through the registered professional engineer or professional surveyor designated as being in responsible charge of the professional engineering or professional surveying practice, from the date of issuance until the last second immediately succeeding thirtieth day of June next succeeding the date upon which the certificate was issued, unless the certificate has been revoked or suspended for cause as provided in section 4733.20 of the Revised Code or has been suspended pursuant to section 3123.47 of the Revised Code. Thereafter, the certificate shall expire biennially on the thirtieth day of June.
(C) If a registrant fails to renew registration as provided under division (A) of this section, renewal and reinstatement may be effected under rules the board adopts regarding requirements for reexamination or reapplication, and reinstatement penalty fees. The board may require a registrant who fails to renew registration to complete the required hours of continuing professional development as a condition of renewal and reinstatement if the registrant seeks renewal and reinstatement under this division.
Sec. 4733.151. (A) For registrations expiring on the last day of December 2011, each registrant for renewal shall have completed, in calendar year 2011, at least fifteen hours of continuing professional development for professional engineers and surveyors. Thereafter, each registrant shall complete at least thirty hours of continuing professional development during the two-year period immediately preceding the biennial renewal expiration date.
(B) The continuing professional development requirement may be satisfied by coursework or activities dealing with technical, ethical, or managerial topics relevant to the practice of engineering or surveying. A registrant may earn continuing professional development hours by completing or teaching university or college level coursework, attending seminars, workshops, or conferences, authoring relevant published papers, articles, or books, receiving patent awards, or actively participating in professional or technical societies serving the engineering or surveying professions.
In the case of the board disputing the content of any credit hours or coursework, then the board shall presume as a matter of law that any credit hours submitted by a registrant, or any coursework or activity submitted for approval, complies with this section if submitted and if a statement signed by a current registrant not otherwise participating in the event affirms that the material is relevant to the registrant's practice and will assist the registrant's development in the profession.
Credit for university or college level coursework shall be based on the credit established by the university or college. One semester hour as established by the university or college shall be the equivalent of forty-five hours of continuing professional development, and one quarter hour as established by the university or college shall be the equivalent of thirty hours of continuing professional development.
Credit for seminars, workshops, or conferences offering continuing education units shall be based on the units awarded by the organization presenting the seminar, workshop, or conference. A registrant may earn ten continuing professional development hours for each continuing education unit awarded. Each hour of attendance at a seminar, workshop, or conference for which no continuing education units are offered shall be the equivalent of one continuing professional development hour.
A registrant may earn two continuing professional development hours for each year of service as an officer or active committee member of a professional or technical society or association that represents registrants or entities composed of registrants. A registrant may earn ten continuing professional development hours for authoring relevant published papers, articles, or books. A registrant may earn ten continuing professional development hours for each such published paper, article, or book. A registrant may earn ten continuing professional development hours for each patent award.
(C) A person registered as both a professional engineer and professional surveyor shall complete at least ten of the thirty hours required under division (A) of this section in engineering-related coursework or activities and at least ten of those thirty hours in surveying-related coursework or activities.
(D) A registrant is exempt from the continuing professional development requirements of this section during the first calendar year of registration.
(E) A registrant who completes more than thirty hours of approved coursework or activities in a biennial renewal period may carry forward to the next biennial renewal period a maximum of fifteen of the excess hours.
(F) A registrant shall maintain records to demonstrate completion of the continuing professional development requirements specified in this section for a period of four calendar years beyond the year in which certification of the completion of the requirements is obtained by the registrant. The records shall include all of the following:
(1) A log specifying the type of coursework or activity, its location and duration along with the instructor's name, and the number of continuing professional development hours earned;
(2) Certificates of completion or other evidence verifying attendance.
(G) The records specified in division (F) of this section may be audited at any time by the state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors. If the board discovers that a registrant has failed to complete coursework or activities, it shall notify the registrant of the deficiencies and allow the registrant six months from the date of the notice to rectify the deficiencies and to provide the board with evidence of satisfactory completion of the continuing professional development requirements. If the registrant fails to provide such evidence within that six-month period, the board may revoke or suspend the registration after offering an adjudication hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
Section 2.  That existing sections 4703.30, 4733.01, 4733.09, 4733.11, 4733.12, 4733.13, 4733.15, and 4733.151 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
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