BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 320
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Date of Hearing: May 6, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
320 (Wood) - As Amended April 23, 2015
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|Policy |Business and Professions |Vote:|14 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This bill adds the title "environmental engineer" to the list of
professional engineers given Title Act protection and prevents a
person from using that title unless licensed by the Board for
AB 320
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Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists (BPELSG).
The bill also authorizes a professional engineer licensed as a
civil, electrical, or mechanical engineer to use the title
"environmental engineer" without obtaining additional
qualifications.
FISCAL EFFECT:
One-time costs in the range of $60,000 to $150,000 to BPELSG
(special funds) to perform an occupational analysis. Actual
costs will depend on whether the study is performed through the
Department of Consumer Affairs' Office of Examination Services
or through a private vendor.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, "With the proliferation of
the teaching and practice of environmental engineering, it is
necessary to recognize and regulate environmental engineers
with their own title act since the profession is currently not
listed under the Business and Professions Code. Currently, an
environmental engineer is licensed as a civil, electrical, or
mechanical engineer and uses the principles of engineering,
soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to
address environmental problems. AB 320 would create an
environmental engineer title act that would license and
regulate environmental engineers. The profession is involved
in efforts to improve recycling, waste disposal, public
health, and water and air pollution control that would ensure
the safety of the public."
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)
AB 320
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319-2081