Idaho Society of Professional Engineers

           PO Box 170239, Boise, ID 83717-0239  208-426-0636  Fax: 208-426-0639  E-Mail: ispe@idahospe.org

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Idaho Society of Professional Engineers

Friday Update – 02/26/16

 

Important - Legislative Friday Update – Please Read to be Informed

ISPE Member:

The governor’s office has introduced legislation in this session that impacts the composition of all trade and professional boards in Idaho. This action came without much notice to us. We became aware of this within the last three weeks. This has been dropped in the legislative agenda late in the game making an organized reaction difficult.

We invite you to go on-line at the State of Idaho website and review the contents of House Bills #480 and #482. They impact the board positions and staff of the Idaho Board of Licensure of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.

The reason given for this legislative action is a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners v. the Federal Trade Commission. ISPE was aware of this case, but had no idea how Idaho may react to it. In addition, the Idaho Attorney General issued an opinion (16-1) on this subject on 13 January 2016. The case dealt with the practice of teeth whitening in North Carolina and if that practice should only be performed by dentists. The issue generally revolved around the Dental Examiners protecting their business/professions.

House Bill #480 adds language that assures the Board’s executive director does not have to be professionally licensed (but does not prevent it either).

House Bill #482, for Idaho’s engineers and land surveyors, proposes changes to IC sections 54-1203 and 54-1206 with the following results:

    1. Nominations to the governor for the Board may come from any resident of Idaho

    2. Removes a professional engineer member

    3. Adds a general public member

    4. Board members serve at the pleasure of the governor

In light of the Supreme Court decision, ISPE has no issue with placement of a general public member on the Board. Our primary concern is how nominations for Board positions are made. Remember that appointments to the Board have always been made by the governor, but nominations have come from state organized engineering organizations (ISPE).

The bill is moving quickly. A representative of ISPE met with one of the governor’s staff last week to discuss the bills. Staff indicated that there was little time to make any changes to the wording and, in the end, no changes were made.

Both bills were heard this past Wednesday morning in the House Health & Welfare Committee. The only meeting attendees that testified were one Idaho professional engineer, a representative of ISPE and a representative of ACEC of Idaho – no other trade or professional members of other professions provided testimony.

After testimony was given, the Committee voted to send the bills to the floor with a “do pass” recommendation. No modifications to the bills were made. They are moving forward as originally written.

The purpose of this legislative update is to inform you of possible significant changes to the regulation of professional engineering and land surveying in Idaho. Remember that you have a right to comment on these bills as citizens of Idaho. We invite you to become informed and be involved. However be aware that the state’s goal is always to protect the public and not our profession.
 

House Bill 480

 

House Bill 482

 

Board Makeup Letter - ISPE

 

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

 

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March 12, 2016 - ISPE State MATHCOUNTS Competition - Boise State University

 

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May 12 & 13, 2016 - 2016 ISPE Annual Meeting - Boise State University

 

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June 22 - 26, 2016 - NSPE 2016 Professional Engineers Conference - Dallas, Texas

 

NSPE Calendar of Events

 

 

 

 Idaho Society of Professional Engineers
 PO Box 170239
 Boise, ID 83717-0239
 208-426-0636
 Fax: 208-426-0639
 E-Mail: ispe@idahospe.org
 Web Site: www.idahospe.org 
 

 

 

ISPE MATHCOUNTS Program

 

 National Engineers Week - Future City Competition

 

 

Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors

--News Bulletins

--Meeting Minutes

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Last modified: 03/27/15