Virginia Society of Professional Engineers

By David T. D. Warriner, P.E., Chairman, VSPE Legislative Committee and Chairman, Joint Legislative Committee

This year’s regular and veto sessions are over and those bills that passed will become state law on July 1^st. This year’s session was fairly calm for Professional Engineers. The summary of the legislation is that we will practice engineering pretty much as we did last year. There were several bills that clarified issues or established alternative means and methods but by and large the status quo remains the status quo. Listed below is a quick look at several bills that passed and will become law.

HB 1709 – Allows local governments to award multi-phase contracts based on the first phase only. This will allow the first phase (which usually determines the scope of work and service for further phases) to be completed before entering into negotiations for later phases.

HB 2529 – Requires the state to come up with regulations and requirements on which new buildings should have emergency communication systems installed in them for use by emergency public safety personnel. There will be public input during the writing of the regulations.

HB 2532 – Prohibits state agencies from entering into contract with firms who do not collect/pay use taxes on out-of-state products.

HB 2602 – Reorganizes the process for review and approval of sewage treatment plants to be all under State DEQ.

SB 879 – Clarifies that professional services may be rendered by either a professional or general business corporation. It also states that foreign corporations have to meet the same requirements as local firms as to the make up of their ownership.

SB 1102 – Establishes an independent Fair Housing Board to ensure compliance with the fair housing laws. This Board has authority over persons regulated by DPOR, except the Real Estate Board.

SB 1229 – Allows localities who solicit proposals under the PPTA to waive application or submission fees.

Successfully defeated were various bills that covered the following:

Additional surtax on corporate earnings.
Restrictions on use of the Transportation Trust Fund.
Requirements of visitability in the design of state or federally funded projects.
Allow certain localities to deny approval of site plans and subdivision plats until public facilities are adequate.

The Joint Legislative Committee (comprised of representatives from VSPE, ACEC/V and VSAIA) and its lobbyists did a good job on protecting the interests of Professional Engineers and Architects this year and is currently working on several issues that will hopefully be submitted as proposed legislation for next year’s assembly. As always, please contact any VSPE member of the JLC, our Executive Director Leigh Dicks, or the VSPE Board of Directors if you have concerns over state law or policies that affect the health, safety and welfare of the public or your ability to render services that accomplish that concept.

The Joint Legislative Committee (JLC) is made up of equal parts of VSPE, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC/V) and the Virginia Society of American Institute of Architects (VSAIA). Together, we review all bills and studies introduced through the General Assembly that may affect our professions. Although we all have somewhat different perspectives and agendas, we know that we agree on 90% of the issues and that jointly we have more power and influence when we talk with various legislators on these issues. Besides each association's Executive Director lobbying in your behalf, the JLC also hires outside counsel each year (lawyer lobbyists) to help fight our battles as well. They are Reggie Jones and Clayton Walton, both with Williams Mullen.

A list of the current bills and their status can be viewed by clicking on the hyperlink - List of Bills (as of 2/11/03). As always, VSPE is working hard in your behalf. If you have any issues that are currently not on our list, and you think they should be, please contact me at dwarriner@brockenbrough.com or Leigh Dicks at LeighDicks@VSPE.org.

NOTE: Whether it is legislation affecting engineers or some other interest you have, you can track legislation yourself by going to the Legislative Information System at http://leg1.state.va.us.