2009 Rhode Island Code
Title 5 - Businesses and Professions
CHAPTER 5-8 - Engineers
§ 5-8-3 - Board – Creation – Duties – Composition – Appointments – Terms.

SECTION 5-8-3

   § 5-8-3  Board – Creation – Duties – Composition – Appointments – Terms. – (a) The duty of the board of engineers is to administer those provisions of this chapter that relate to the regulation of professional engineering and the registration of professional engineers.

   (b) The board of engineers shall establish any rules and regulations for the conduct of its own proceedings, for examination of applicants, for registration of professional engineers and engineers-in-training, for continuing education requirements, for conducting disciplinary proceedings to include investigating complaints to the board and for governing the practice of engineering all that it deems appropriate.

   (c) Members of the board are subject to the provisions of chapter 14 of title 36. The board consists of five (5) persons, who are appointed by the governor, and must have the qualifications required by § 5-8-4. Each member of the board shall receive a certificate of his or her appointment from the governor and shall file with the secretary of state his or her written oath or affirmation for the faithful discharge of his or her official duty. Appointments to the board shall be in the manner and for a period of time that the term of each member expires at a different time. On the expiration of the term of any member, the governor shall in the manner previously provided appoint for a term of five (5) years a registered professional engineer having the qualifications required in § 5-8-4. A member may be reappointed to succeed himself or herself, but shall not serve more than two (2) full consecutive terms. Each member may hold office until the expiration of the term for which appointed or until a successor has been appointed and has qualified.

   (2) The board shall designate and establish a system of registration by discipline not later than December 31, 1994, and shall subsequently administer that registration system.

   (3) The registration system shall provide, at a minimum, for the registration of:

   (i) Civil engineers;

   (ii) Chemical engineers;

   (iii) Electrical engineers;

   (iv) Mechanical engineers;

   (v) Structural engineers;

   (vi) Environmental engineers; and

   (vii) Fire protection engineers.

   (4) The board may establish additional classifications by rule and regulation.

   (5) Classification of disciplines shall conform to the standards established by the NCEES. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the registration of a qualified applicant to only one discipline.

   (d) The board shall annually provide a written report to the director of the department of business regulation presenting a summary of all fees collected, a list of all individuals registered, a summary of all disciplinary actions taken, and the disposition of all complaints made to the board. After reviewing the board's report, the director shall submit a copy of the report with his or her comments on the performance of the board, its compliance with this chapter and the director's recommendations, to the governor, the general assembly, and the board.