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2002-2003
Legislative Committee Report
LES played a prominent role in defining the outcome of several key legislative
issues. The success of our activities this Session is not only measured
in the passage or defeat of bills but in the perception of how engineers
interacted with the legislators, allies and opponents. Above all, our
membership got involved in contacting legislators during the committee
meetings and on the floor of the House and Senate at the right times.
Our voice was heard.
The close cooperation between LES and the other professional organization
and interested groups greatly benefited our society. Warren Wilder ACEC/L,
Charles Eustis ASCE, Lynn David LAA, Tony Cavell LSPS, Darrell Cohoon
AGC, and Steve Loeb of Brazeale/Sache/Wilson Attorneys were instrumental
in the process. In addition, Brenda Gajan and Gerald Simmons were invaluable
for tracking the bills and for counsel and assistance before and during
the Session.
Following is a list of bills we tracked and the outcome:
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PASSED
House Concurrent Resolution No. 53
REP LAFLEUR
COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS: Amends certain administrative rules relative
to professional land surveyors and professional engineers
LES worked closely with LSPS and other design professionals to
re-write this resolution that would have eliminated engineers
from being able to perform topographic surveys. Primarily a special
interest bill for a few farmers, the original document was wholly
miswritten. The author, after several meetings and contacts by
our members, agreed to amend it to an acceptable fashion.
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PASSED
House Bill No. 453
REP HAMMETT
PRESCRIPTION: Provides for preemptive periods for actions for damages
against an engineer, surveyor and architect.
Supported and worked closely to draft and pass this bill. After
House and Senate amendments, the bill now provides uniform 5-year
peremptive period on professional liability.
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PASSED
House Bill No. 1146
REP HAMMETT
ENGINEERS:Revises certain provisions of the Professional Engineers
and Professional Surveyors Licensing statutes
Housekeeping revisions to registration law. LES testified in
support of this bill.
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DIED IN SENATE
House Bill No. 1202
REP FUTRELL AND MONTGOMERY
LICENSING: Provides for licensing persons who install and service
heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR)
equipment
Successful in getting revisions to delete reference to the design
of HVACR equipment and systems in this “contractor”
licensing bill.
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DIED IN SENATE COMMITTEE
House Bill No. 605
REP DIEZ AND MCVEA
CONTRACTS: Authorizes the DOTD to construct the New Mississippi
River Bridge at St. Francisville using the design-build method
While our LES position has been against design-build in the public
sector, we did not oppose this bill. LES did, however, take an
active role to not allow any amendments to the bill that would
allow for the DOTD to expand this procurement beyond the bridge
and one other unnamed project.
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PASSED
House Bill No. 1629
REP PINAC
FIRE PROTECTION: Provides for licensing fire protection engineers
and mechanical engineers as fire protection systems contractors
and inspectors
Prior to the Session, worked with LES members and State Fire
marshal to reinstate engineers as provider of services related
to the design and inspection of fire sprinkler systems. Prior
legislation had change law to require specialty NICET certification
and precluded qualification by professional engineering registration
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| Governor Foster Signing into Law House Bill No. 453.
Click here to see! |
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