SB316 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clyde ChamblissSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Engineers and Land Surveyors Board, licensing of professional engineers and land surveyors, definitions, board duties, disciplinary actions, competitive bids based solely on price or fee prohibited, civil enforcement, Secs. 34-11-9.1, 34-11-11.1, 34-11-11.2 added; Sec. 34-11-16 repealed; Secs. 34-11-1 to 34-11-15, inclusive, 34-11-30, 34-11-31, 34-11-32, 34-11-34, 34-11-35, 34-11-35.1, 34-11-36, 34-11-37 am'd

Summary

SB 316 updates Alabama's engineers and land surveyors laws by adding public board members, reforming licensure and enforcement, and changing procurement and funding rules for the profession.

What This Bill Does

It adds two public members to the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and revises board qualifications and terms. It creates new civil penalties and enforcement tools for violations, including unlicensed practice, with fines up to $5,000 per offense and authority for cease-and-desist orders, injunctions, and cost recovery. It allows the board to adopt rules for competitive, qualification-based selection of professional services and prohibits procurement based solely on price, while imposing new firm requirements such as certificates of authorization and branch supervision. It also creates the Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors Fund, provides for possible transfers to the General Fund if balances exceed a specified share of the budget, and updates licensure processes, continuing education requirements, and related duties; it also repeals the old civil penalties against non-licensed persons and adds other structural changes to the board and its operations.

Who It Affects

• Licensed professional engineers and licensed professional land surveyors in Alabama: subject to expanded board composition, revised qualification standards, updated renewal and continuing education requirements, new enforcement powers, and changes in how work must be supervised and certified.
• Engineering and land surveying firms (corporations, partnerships, or firms): required to obtain a certificate of authorization, designate a resident professional and a managing agent for each office, file required information, comply with renewal and fee rules, and follow new rules governing professional practice and supervision.

Key Provisions

• Adds two public members to the board and revises qualifications and terms for board members to improve diversity and public representation.
• Creates new sections for civil penalties (34-11-11.1 and 34-11-11.2), authorizing penalties and cost recovery for violations such as unlicensed practice, misuse of seals, and false statements; repeals 34-11-16 which previously addressed civil penalties against non-licensed persons.
• Authorizes the board to adopt rules for competitive, qualification-based selection of professional services and prohibits procurement based solely on price; includes an exception for boundary surveys meeting ALTA/NSPS standards and notes anti-competitive immunity considerations.
• Establishes the Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors Fund, with monthly transfers to the state treasury and a mechanism to transfer excess funds to the General Fund based on a percentage of the board’s budget; requires separation of fund from General Fund unless biennial licensing is used.
• Implements governance and operational changes for firms: requires certificates of authorization for firms, designation of a resident professional in each branch, a managing agent, filing of officer/director information, and annual or multi-year renewal processes with associated fees.
• Adds enforcement tools and procedures: cease-and-desist orders, injunctions, subpoenas, formal disciplinary hearings, and fines up to $5,000 per count; establishes processes for appeals and oversight by the circuit court.
• Amends licensure and renewal provisions to include duplicate certificates (34-11-9.1) and continuing professional education requirements for engineers and land surveyors, including ethics and standards for surveying.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Engineers and Land Surveyors, State Board of Licensure for Professional