Minnesota Session Laws - 2015, Regular Session

CHAPTER 18--S.F.No. 417

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. This paragraph does not apply to practice areas where licenses or certifications are required prior to August 1, 2015. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2015. new text end

Presented to the governor May 6, 2015

Signed by the governor May 7, 2015, 9:23 a.m.