HBA-LJP S.B. 1797 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1797 By: Carona Higher Education 5/5/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, certain persons who are not directly or indirectly represented or held out to the public to be legally qualified to engage in the practice of engineering are exempt from the licensure requirements of engineers under The Texas Engineering Practice Act. However, faculty members at an institution of higher education (institution) who perform research or instructional work within the scope of their employment are not specifically exempt from these requirements. As a result, it may be unclear as to whether these persons are exempt. Senate Bill 1797 exempts certain persons employed by an institution who are performing research or instructional work within the scope of their employment from the licensure requirements of engineers under The Texas Engineering Practice Act. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 1797 amends The Texas Engineering Practice Act to exempt from the licensure requirements of engineers under The Texas Engineering Practice Act persons employed by an institution of higher education (institution) or a private or independent institution who are performing research or instructional work within the scope of their employment by the institution and are not directly or indirectly represented or held out to the public to be legally qualified to engage in the practice of engineering. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.