NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF REGISTRATION FOR ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, AND LAND SURVEYORS

Brief Description:  The State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors proposes to update regulations by adding requirements for eligibility for the structural engineering examination, changes to the regulations relating to application for registration as a structural engineer including authorized seal and structural engineer seal on certain plans, defining the term significant structure, and to establish a minimum number of continuing education hours.

The State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (Board) proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 12, Chapter 36 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with engineering education and work experience, application for registration as a structural engineer, seal and use of seals, continuing education requirements, and definitions, including the following:

1. 12 AAC 36.063, Engineering education and work experience requirements, is proposed to be changed to add specific requirements for structural engineer.
2. 12 AAC 36.108, Application for registration as a structural engineer, is a proposed new section that establishes application for registration as a structural engineer.
3. 12 AAC 36.180, Seal, is proposed to be changed to add a structural engineer seal.
4. 12 AAC 36.185, Use of seals, is proposed to be changed to add the requirements for a structural engineer seal on certain plans.
5. 12 AAC 36.510, Continuing education requirements, is proposed to be changed to alter the minimum number of continuing education hours requirements for architect, engineer, land surveyor, or landscape architect registration.
6. 12 AAC 36.990, Definitions, is proposed to be changed to further define terms used in 12 AAC 36.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK  99811-0806.  Additionally, the Board will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-2974 and by electronic mail at jun.maiquis@alaska.gov.  Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System, by accessing this notice on the system at http://notice.alaska.gov/174784, and using the “comment” link.  The comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on January 23, 2015.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK  99811-0806 or by e-mail at jun.maiquis@alaska.gov.  The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period.  The Board will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and response available on the Board’s website at http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofArchitectsEngineersandLandSurveyors.aspx or on the Alaska Online Public Notice System.  The Board may, but is not required to, answer written questions received after the 10-day cut-off date and before the end of the comment period.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Jun Maiquis at (907) 465-2537 no later than January 16, 2015 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

For a copy of the proposed regulation changes, contact Jun Maiquis at the address or phone number above, or go to http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/Portals/5/pub/AELS-0614.pdf

After the public comment period ends, the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors will either adopt these or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action on them.  The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations.  You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.  Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.

Statutory Authority:  AS 08.48.071; AS 08.48.101; AS 08.48.111; AS 08.48.171; AS 08.48.181; AS 08.48.191; AS 08.48.201; AS 08.48.221; AS 08.48.231; AS 08.48.331; AS 08.48.341
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific:  AS 08.48.071; AS 08.48.101; AS 08.48.111; AS 08.48.171; AS 08.48.181; AS 08.48.191; AS 08.48.201; AS 08.48.221; AS 08.48.231; AS 08.48.331; AS 08.48.341
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

DATE: 11/24/14
Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing

For each occupation regulated under the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, the Division keeps a list of individuals or organizations who are interested in the regulations of that occupation.  The Division automatically sends a Notice of Proposed Regulations to the parties on the appropriate list each time there is a proposed change in an occupation's regulations in Title 12 of the Alaska Administrative Code.  If you would like your address added to or removed from such a list, please send your request to the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing at the address above and include your name, address, and the occupational area in which you are interested.


STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, SEAL AND USE OF SEALS, CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, AND DEFINITIONS:
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS NOTICE INFORMATION
(AS 44.62.190(d))

1.   Adopting agency:  State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors – Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.

2.   General subject of regulation:  Engineering education and work experience requirements, application for registration as a structural engineer, seal, use of seals, continuing education requirements, and definitions.

4.   Department of Law file number:  To be assigned.

5.   Reason for the proposed action:  Update and clarification of current regulations.

6.   Appropriation/Allocation:  Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing – #2360.

7.   Estimated costs in the aggregate to comply with the proposed action to:

      a. Private Persons: Information from the Board’s current fees indicates that the requirements of having a professional engineer license before being eligible for structural engineer would cost $350 for applicant by examination and $520 for applicant by comity.   
      b. Other State Agencies: Only if the agencies will cover the expense of their employee’s licenses.
      c. Municipalities: Only if the municipalities will cover the expense of their employee’s licenses.

8.   Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding (in thousands of dollars):  No costs are expected in FY 2015 or in subsequent years.

9.   The name of the contact person for the regulations:

            Richard V. Jones, Executive Administrator
            State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors
            Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
            Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
            Telephone: (907) 465-1676
            E-mail: richard.jones@alaska.gov

10.   The origin of the proposed action:  State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors.

11.   Date: 11/24/14
Prepared by: Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist