HF 288

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/30/2015 09:41am

A bill for an act
relating to professional engineers; clarifying licensing requirements; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 326.02, subdivision 3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 326.02, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Practice of professional engineering.

(a) Any person shall be deemed to
be practicing professional engineering within the meaning of sections 326.02 to 326.15
who holds out as being able to perform or who does perform any technical professional
service, such as planning, design or observation of construction for the purpose of
assuring compliance with specifications and design, in connection with any public or
private structures, buildings, utilities, machines, equipment, processes, works, or projects
wherein the public welfare or the safeguarding of life, health, or property is concerned
or involved, when such professional service requires the application of the principles of
mathematics and the physical and applied engineering sciences, acquired by education
or training, and by experience.

(b) No person other than one licensed under sections 326.02 to 326.15 as a
professional engineer may:

(1) use the term "professional engineer";

(2) use any other abbreviation or term, including the initials "P.E." or "PE" by
signature, verbal claim, sign, advertisement, letterhead, card, or similar means that would
lead the public to believe that the person was a professional engineer; or

(3) use any means or in any other way make a representation that would lead the
public to believe that the person was a professional engineer.

new text begin (c) A professional engineering license satisfies any requirements by the state
or its political subdivisions to perform any actions authorized under the professional
engineering license. A person licensed as a professional engineer under sections 326.02
to 326.15 shall only be required to obtain a license, certification, or other form of
approval for a skill or service in addition to a professional engineering license if the
state or political subdivision has made an affirmative written determination in statute,
rule, or ordinance that such additional license or certification is necessary to safeguard
life, health, or property, or promote the public welfare. This section does not preclude
the state or a political subdivision from including additional requirements when soliciting
public contracts for engineering services.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2015, and does not apply
to practice areas where licenses or certifications are required prior to the effective date.
new text end