Pro Senate’s Amended version of H.3649

Unfortunately, the House non-concurred and this bill went to Conference Committee. The House’s interpretation of the Senate’s amended language is being called “bad for consumers” as they are interpreting it as all projects will need a design professional to sign off on the project. Our interpretation is that in the code in question, there are exemptions given for when you do not need a stamp from a design professional. In order to be exempt, you must follow the International Code Series completely or you do need a design professionals stamp. This is always at the discretion of the building code official. The House version wants to revert the language back to the outdated language of our Practice Act before it was changed. We have told the Senate Conferees that the engineering community only supports the Senate’s amended language that the Engineering and Surveying Registration Board & Architect’s Registration Board, as well as the Building Code Council support. The engineers’ stance is the compromise language is the best way to protect the life, health, and safety of the public.