HBA-CMT H.B. 3372 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3372 By: Nixon, Joe Licensing & Administrative Procedures 4/11/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The 76th Legislature created new requirements for the registration of engineering firms with the Board of Professional Engineers. For sole proprietors and small businesses, these changes brought about an increased economic burden. Currently, individual professionals are required to pay fees twice, once as a professional engineer and again as a business. House Bill 3372 exempts sole proprietors and firms with fewer than six engineers from registration requirements. 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 House Bill 3372 amends the Texas Engineering Practice Act to exempt a sole proprietorship or firm that employs fewer than six engineers from paying the required registration fees. The bill exempts a sole proprietorship or firm that employs fewer than six engineers from registration requirements with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (board). The exempts a sole proprietorship or firm that employs fewer than six engineers from the requirement that an entity is to be registered with the board to be authorized to engage or offer to engage in the practice of professional engineering in this state. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.