January/February 2020

PE Report
Florida Society Opposes Licensing Board Sunset Bill

The Florida Engineering Society is rallying the PE community against legislation that establishes an automatic sunset for all licensing boards, including the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.

The legislation (H.B. 707) sunsets those boards beginning on July 1, 2021, with the PE board scheduled for July 1, 2024. The bill requires specific action to reauthorize a board. Within 60 days after the date a board or occupational regulatory program can expire, the personnel positions will be abolished, and all balances of appropriations, allocations, or other funds can be sent to the state’s general fund.

The Florida Society believes in the importance of engineering licensure and the accountability of the engineering profession and opposes the inclusion of engineering licensure in this bill.

The legislation is a part of Governor Ron DeSantis’ “deregathon” initiative on occupational licensure. He also supports legislation to limit or remove requirements for professionals licensed through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and a “global licensing” bill that would make an individual’s occupational license in a county valid in all other Florida counties. DeSantis believes his initiative will remove unnecessary, burdensome regulations and increase opportunities for Floridians.

NSPE supports the FES in its opposition to the sunset legislation. Although, nearly 30 states have provisions for regular sunset reviews, which require state licensing boards to submit to regular examinations of their statutes and processes, the Society found the legislation poses two problems. First, the legislation is vague and contains no details about the criteria for the sunset reviews. Second, and even more serious, is the default position in the legislation of an automatic elimination of a board and license unless action is completed to preserve it before the deadline. The most common approach is to require a review of the regulatory program, but the license and board remain in place unless and until affirmative action is enacted to modify or eliminate them.

NSPE encouraged members in Florida to contact their legislators to discuss the value of licensing and how PEs protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

For more information on sunset laws access the NSPE report Sunset Review of Engineering Licensing Boards.