Minnesota Session Laws - 2014, Regular Session

CHAPTER 236--H.F.No. 2670

An act

relating to occupations; modifying licensing provisions for architecture, engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture, geoscience, and interior design professions;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 326.02, subdivisions 3, 4; 326.04; 326.10, subdivisions 1, 2a, 7, 9; 326.107, subdivisions 1, 2, 7; 326.111, subdivision 3; 326.12, subdivision 2; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.107, subdivision 5.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.02, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Practice of professional engineering.

new text begin (a) new text end 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.

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

new text begin (1) use the term "professional engineer"; new text end

new text begin (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 new text end

new text begin (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 end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.02, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Practice of land surveying.

Land surveying means the application of the principles of mathematics, physical and applied sciences and law to measuring and locating lines, angles, elevations and natural or artificial features in the air, on the surface of the earth, underground and on the beds of bodies of water for the purpose of:

(1) new text begin determining, new text end monumenting new text begin , establishing, or reestablishing new text end property boundaries;

new text begin (2) determining, monumenting, or reestablishing the position for any public land survey system corner or line; new text end

deleted text begin (2) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end planning, designing, and platting of land and subdivisions including the topography, alignment and grades of streets; and

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end preparing and perpetuating maps, record plats new text begin , new text end and property descriptions.

Any person who offers to perform, holds out as being able to perform, or deleted text begin who deleted text end does perform land surveying for others shall be practicing land surveying.

Nothing contained in the provisions of sections 326.02 to 326.15, shall prohibit a licensed professional engineer, architect, landscape architect, or professional geoscientist from doing any work included in the practice of engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, and professional geoscience, if the work does not involve the establishment or reestablishment of property corners deleted text begin or deleted text end new text begin , new text end property lines new text begin , or public land survey system corners or lines new text end .

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.04, is amended to read:

326.04 BOARD ESTABLISHED.

To carry out the provisions of sections 326.02 to 326.15 there is hereby created a Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design consisting of 21 members, who shall be appointed by the governor. Three members shall be licensed architects, five members shall be licensed engineers, two members shall be licensed landscape architects, two members shall be licensed land surveyors, two members shall be certified interior designers, two members shall be licensed geoscientists, and five members shall be public members. Not more than one member of the board shall be from the same branch of the profession of engineering. deleted text begin The first professional geoscientist members shall be appointed as soon as possible and no later than October 1, 1995. One of these members shall serve for a term to end January 1, 1997. The other member shall serve for a term to end January 1, 1999. The second licensed landscape architect and certified interior designer members shall be appointed to succeed the two public members whose terms end on January 1, 1996. The second licensed landscape architect and certified interior designer members shall be appointed by the governor no later than October 1, 1995, and shall serve a term to end on January 1, 2000. During the time from the appointment of these members until January 1, 1996, the board shall consist of 23 members. deleted text end Membership terms, compensation of members, removal of members, the filling of membership vacancies, and fiscal year and reporting requirements shall be as provided in sections 214.07 to 214.09. Members shall be limited to two terms. The provision of staff, administrative services and office space; the review and processing of complaints; the setting of board fees; and other provisions relating to board operations shall be as provided in chapter 214.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.10, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Issuance.

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end The board shall on application therefor on a prescribed form, and upon payment of a fee prescribed by rule of the board, issue a license or certificate as an architect, engineer, land surveyor, landscape architect, geoscientist, or certified interior designer. A separate fee shall be paid for each profession licensed.

(1) To any person over 25 years of age, who is of good moral character and repute, and who has the experience and educational qualifications which the board by rule may prescribe.

(2) To any person who holds an unexpired certificate of registration or license issued by proper authority in the District of Columbia, any state or territory of the United States, or any foreign country, in which the requirements for registration or licensure of architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects, geoscientists, or certified interior designers, respectively, at the time of registration or licensure in the other jurisdiction, were equal, in the opinion of the board, to those fixed by the board and by the laws of this state, and in which similar privileges are extended to the holders of certificates of registration or licensure issued by this state. The board may require such person to submit a certificate of technical qualification from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards in the case of an architect, from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying in the case of an engineer, from the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards in the case of a landscape architect, and from the National Council for Interior Design Qualification in the case of a certified interior designer.

deleted text begin (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for one year from the effective date of rules adopted by the board with respect to the discipline of professional geoscience, the board may accept as evidence that the applicant is qualified for licensing in the discipline of professional geoscience: deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) a record of graduation with a baccalaureate degree from a school or college having accreditation defined by the board and a geoscience or associated science curriculum approved by the board; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) at least five years of active professional practice in the discipline of professional geoscience as approved by the board. deleted text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.10, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:

Subd. 2a.

Needs of physically disabled, inclusion in examination.

Examinations for architect, civil structural engineer, landscape architect, and certified interior designer shall include questions which require the applicant to demonstrate knowledge of the design needs of people with physical disabilities and of the relevant statutes and codes. deleted text begin The questions shall be developed by the board in consultation with the Department of Administration. deleted text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.10, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Engineer, land surveyor, geoscientist; in-training.

(1) An applicant for certification as an engineer-in-training who is a graduate with a bachelor of engineering degree from a school or college having an new text begin accredited new text end engineering curriculum deleted text begin accredited by the engineers' council for professional development deleted text end or whose education, in the opinion of the board, is equivalent thereto, shall receive from the board, upon passing an examination in fundamental engineering subjects, a certificate stating that the applicant has passed such examination and that the applicant's name has been recorded as an engineer-in-training.

(2) An applicant for certification as a land surveyor-in-training who is a graduate with a bachelor's degree from a school or college having an accredited engineering or land surveying curriculum or who has equivalent education, in the opinion of the board, shall receive from the board, upon passing a written examination in the fundamentals of mathematics and the basic principles of land surveying, a certificate stating that the applicant has passed such examination and that the applicant's name has been recorded as a land surveyor-in-training.

(3) An applicant for certification as a geoscientist-in-training who is a graduate with a baccalaureate degree from a school or college having accreditation defined by the board and a geoscience or associated science curriculum approved by the board, shall receive from the board, upon passing the appropriate examination in fundamental geoscience subjects for the applicant's discipline as approved by the board, a certificate stating that the applicant's name has been recorded as a geoscientist-in-training with the appropriate geoscientist-in-training legend as approved by the board.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.10, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Reinstatement of expired license or certificate.

A licensee or certificate holder whose license or certificate has expired may reinstate the expired license or certificate by satisfying all prior continuing education requirements new text begin to a maximum of 48 professional development hours new text end , by paying all of the renewal fees due for all prior renewal periods that the license or certificate was expired and the current renewal period, and paying a delayed renewal fee in the amount set by the board. The continuing education requirement must be satisfied with professional development hours completed within the four years immediately prior to reinstatement and may not include any professional development hours that had previously been used to renew the license or certificate being reinstated.

To reinstate an expired license or certificate, the licensee or certificate holder must file with the board an application for reinstatement consisting of a fully completed form provided by the board and the fees specified in this subdivision. The form must be signed, contain all of the information requested, and clearly show that the licensee or certificate holder either has completed the minimum number of required professional development hours, has provided a certification under section 326.107, subdivision 5, to the board, or has been granted an exemption under section 326.107, subdivision 4. An application for reinstatement that does not comply with the requirements of this subdivision is an incomplete application and must not be accepted by the board.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.107, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Requirements.

(a) Architects, professional engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects, geoscientists, and interior designers licensed or certified by this board must obtain the number of professional development hours described in paragraphs (b) to (d) during each two-year period of licensure or certification identified in section 326.105. This requirement must be satisfied during the two-year period prior to biennial renewal except for a carryover permitted from the previous renewal period, which must not exceed 50 percent of the biennial requirement of professional development hours.

(b) Licensed professional engineers must earn a minimum of 24 professional development hours new text begin , of which two must be dedicated to professional ethics, new text end per biennial renewal except for the carryover permitted. new text begin The ethics hours must have been earned during the biennium to which they are applied and shall not be used toward carryover. new text end

(c) Licensed architects, land surveyors, landscape architects, geoscientists, and certified interior designers must earn a minimum of 24 professional development hours new text begin , of which two must be dedicated to professional ethics, new text end per biennial renewal except for the carryover permitted. new text begin The ethics hours must have been earned during the biennium to which they are applied and shall not be used toward carryover. new text end

(d) Dual license or certificate holders who have obtained a license or certificate for two professions must earn professional development hours required by the license or certificate requiring the greatest number of professional development hours and must obtain in each profession a minimum of one-third of the total professional development hours required. The remaining one-third requirement may be obtained in either profession at the sole discretion of the licensee or certificate holder.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.107, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Programs and activities.

Continuing education must consist of learning experiences which enhance and expand the skills, knowledge, and abilities of practicing professionals to remain current and render competent professional services to the public. Practitioners may pursue technical, nontechnical, regulatory, ethical, and business practice needs for a well-rounded education provided the education directly benefits the health, safety, or welfare of the public. Continuing education activities which satisfy the professional development requirement include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) completing or auditing college-sponsored courses;

(2) completing self-study college or non-college-sponsored courses, presented by correspondence, Internet, television, video, or audio, ending with examination or other verification processes;

(3) participation in seminars, tutorials, televised or videotaped courses, or short courses;

(4) attending self-sponsored and prepared in-house educational programs;

(5) completing a study tour with a structured program resulting in a written or visual presentation by the licensee or certificate holder;

(6) presenting or instructing qualifying courses or seminars. Professional development hours may be earned for preparation time for the initial presentation;

(7) authoring published papers, articles, or books. Professional development hours earned may equal preparation time spent, may be claimed only following publication, and shall be given for authorship or presentation, but not for both;

(8) participating in professional examination grading or writing. A maximum of five professional development hours per biennium may be applied from this source new text begin . The hours from this source must have been earned during the biennium to which they are applied and shall not be used toward carryover new text end ;

(9) providing professional service to the public which draws upon the licensee's or certificate holder's professional expertise on boards, commissions, and committees such as planning commissions, building code advisory boards, urban renewal boards, or non-work-related volunteer service. A maximum of ten professional development hours per biennium may be applied from this source new text begin regardless of the number of boards, commissions, and committees the licensee or certificate holder serves. The hours from this source must have been earned during the biennium to which they are applied and shall not be used toward carryover new text end ; and

(10) patents, after they are granted, for a credit of ten professional development hours. new text begin The patent must have been granted during the biennium to which the hours are applied and shall not be used toward carryover. new text end

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.107, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Reports and records.

The licensee or certificate holder shall maintain a file in which records of courses and activities are kept, including dates, subjects, duration of programs, sponsoring organization, professional development hours earned, registration receipts where appropriate, and other pertinent documentation, for a period of deleted text begin two deleted text end new text begin four new text end years after deleted text begin submission to the board deleted text end new text begin the end of the licensure period for which the hours apply new text end . This information may be required to be produced by licensees or certificate holders. The board may require a licensee or certificate holder to produce this information in connection with verification of a renewal application, a random audit conducted by the board, or upon receipt of a complaint alleging noncompliance on the part of a licensee or certificate holder.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.111, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Cease and desist orders.

(a) The board, or the complaint committee if authorized by the board, may issue and have served upon a person an order requiring the person to cease and desist from the unauthorized practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture, geoscience, or the unauthorized use of the deleted text begin title deleted text end new text begin titles architect, professional engineer, land surveyor, landscape architect, professional geologist, professional soil scientist, new text end certified interior designer, or violation of the statute, rule, or order. The order shall be calculated to give reasonable notice of the rights of the person to request a hearing and shall state the reasons for the entry of the order.

(b) Service of the order is effective if the order is served on the person or counsel of record personally or by certified mail to the most recent address provided to the board for the person or counsel of record.

(c) Unless otherwise agreed by the board, or the complaint committee if authorized by the board, and the person requesting the hearing, the hearing shall be held no later than 30 days after the request for the hearing is received by the board.

(d) The administrative law judge shall issue a report within 30 days of the close of the contested case hearing record, notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 1400.8100, subpart 3. Within 30 days after receiving the report and any exceptions to it, the board shall issue a further order vacating, modifying, or making permanent the cease and desist orders as the facts require.

(e) If no hearing is requested within 30 days of service of the order, the order becomes final and remains in effect until it is modified or vacated by the board.

(f) If the person to whom a cease and desist order is issued fails to appear at the hearing after being duly notified, the person is in default and the proceeding may be determined against that person upon consideration of the cease and desist order, the allegations of which may be considered to be true.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.12, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Seal.

Each licensee or certificate holder may, upon licensure or certification, obtain a seal deleted text begin of a design approved by the board, deleted text end bearing the licensee's or certificate holder's name and the legend "licensed architect," "licensed professional engineer," "licensed land surveyor," "licensed landscape architect," the appropriate licensed professional geoscientist legend as defined by the board, or "certified interior designer." Plans, specifications, plats, reports, and other documents prepared by a licensee or certificate holder may be stamped with the seal during the life of the license or certificate. A rubber stamp facsimile thereof may be used in lieu of the seal on tracings from which prints are to be made or on papers which would be damaged by the regular seal. It shall be unlawful for any one to stamp or seal any document with the stamp or seal after the license or certificate has expired, been revoked or suspended, unless said license or certificate shall have been renewed or reissued.

Sec. 13.

new text begin REPEALER. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 326.107, subdivision 5, new text end new text begin is repealed. new text end

Presented to the governor May 9, 2014

Signed by the governor May 13, 2014, 11:59 a.m.