D.C. Law 24-248. Engineering Licensure Amendment Act of 2022.

AN ACT

To amend Chapter 28 of Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official Code to clarify eligibility requirements for professional engineers and to re-establish an exemption for engaging in engineering work without a license for employees, officers, and consultants of the District government and independent agencies, as well as graduates of accredited engineering programs who work under the supervision of a professional engineer.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Engineering Licensure Amendment Act of 2022".

Sec. 2. Chapter 28 of Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official Code is amended as follows:

(a) Section 47-2853.132 is amended by adding a new subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

"(a-1) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, an applicant for licensure as a professional engineer may establish to the satisfaction of the Board of Professional Engineers that the applicant is licensed or certified as a professional engineer and in good standing in another state or is endorsed or certified by a national certifying organization and presents proof thereof to the Board. An applicant licensed and in good standing in another state must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that, at the time the applicant was issued a license by the other state licensing entity, the licensure standards in that state were at least as high as those required by the laws of the District.".

(b) Section 47-2853.133 is amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 47-2853.133. Certain representations prohibited.

"(a) Unless licensed pursuant to § 47-2853.132, no person shall:

"(1) Undertake responsible charge for the practice of engineering;

"(2) Use the title "professional engineer," "registered engineer," "engineer," or "engineering design" or display or use any words, letters, figures, titles, signs, cards, advertisements, or any other symbols or devices indicating or tending to indicate that the person is a licensed engineer or professional engineer; except, that this subparagraph shall not apply to a person who uses the title "professional engineer" or "registered engineer" or otherwise indicates the person is a licensed engineer or professional engineer in accordance with the laws of another jurisdiction in which the person is licensed as a professional engineer and in good standing, so long as the use or indication also indicates the jurisdiction in which the person is licensed; except also, that any person any person may use the title "engineering aide," "engineering assistant," "engineering technician," or "engineering technologist"; or

"(3) Engage directly in the practice of engineering in the District; except, that this paragraph shall not apply to a person acting as a consultant, officer, or employee of the District government or an independent agency of the District of Columbia, or to a graduate of a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology or another accreditation entity that is acceptable to the Board of Professional Engineers while under the responsible charge of a professional engineer licensed pursuant to § 47-2853.132.

"(b) A professional engineer under whose charge an individual is acting pursuant to subsection (a)(3) of this section shall refrain from affixing the professional engineer's signature to any plans or documents not prepared under the professional engineer's direction or control.".

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 4. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.