Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, etc., Board for; exceptions from licensure. (HB634)

Introduced By

Del. Ed Scott (R-Culpeper)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects; exceptions from licensure.  Provides an exemption from licensure for certain conduct related to the design of alternative onsite sewage systems receiving residential wastewater. The bill contains technical amendments. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/12/2010Committee
01/12/2010Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/10 10100970D
01/12/2010Referred to Committee on General Laws
01/15/2010Impact statement from DPB (HB634)
01/19/2010Assigned GL sub: #4 Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process
01/26/2010Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (4-Y 4-N)
02/09/2010Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
02/11/2010Reported from General Laws (19-Y 2-N)
02/11/2010Reported from General Laws (18-Y 3-N) (see vote tally)
02/14/2010Read first time
02/15/2010Read second time and engrossed
02/16/2010Read third time and passed House (81-Y 18-N)
02/16/2010VOTE: --- PASSAGE (81-Y 18-N) (see vote tally)
02/17/2010Constitutional reading dispensed
02/17/2010Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
03/08/2010Left in General Laws and Technology

Comments

Jeff Walker writes:

For rural Virginians without access to central sewerage this is a critical clarification of the Code. Naturally it is also crucial for the established small businessmen and women who have been offering our clients integrated site evaluation, design and permitting services for over 10 years.

I am one of the soil scientists licensed as an AOSE (Advanced On-Site Evaluator)under DPOR; VDH recently handed off administration of this established program. The AOSE and LOSE program is a privatization effort which offers non-subsidized and improved services for landowners supplementing those offered by the VDH through it's Environmental Health Program. Our counterparts in the public sector have worked to improve environmental and public health since the establishment of the programs over 20 years ago. We are licensed to evaluate soil and site conditions and propose solutions leading to the construction of sewage systems predominately serving single family homes in rural Virginia. We also work with PE's in the evaluation of sites for larger or more complex installations.

At present the Code is ambiguous concerning the application of our customary design qualifications. The single most important issue in matching a system to a site is the interpretation of the soil's capacity and limitations. The intent of both DPOR and the VDH has clearly been to allow us to certify sites for on-site wastewater permitting and construction within prescribed limits (1000gallons/day and conveyance restrictions). We have been authorized to propose site specific designs which, after VDH review, are approved for permitting, leading to the installation and operation of pre-engineered systems which serve to reduce the organic loading of the septic system. This may be an economical alternative for owners and builders allowing better use of the land resource for constructing new homes or repairs to existing homes and protecting the environment for our clients and their neighbors.

The proposed amendment allows us to continue to propose conventional and advanced treatment systems for our client's real estate within the limits of the stated exemptions to the practice of engineering.

Thank you for adding your support to the legislators that understand the importance of this Bill for their constituents;
Jeff T. Walker; CPSS/AOSE