Threats to Professional Licensure: State List

Rhode Island

» Threat Type: Other: Tracking Software
» Threat Status:  Potential Threat
Legislative/Executive Order/Regulatory: Legislative
Bill Number: HB 5255; SB 125
Status:
Committee recommended measure be held for further study.
Summary:

This tracking software legislation mandates that all state contractors use software to verify the amount of time they are working on a state contract. The software tracks total keystroke and mouse event frequency, and records a screenshot at least once every three minutes. It presents significant privacy and security concerns.

» Threat Type: “Right to Engage in a Lawful Occupation Act.” Seeks to establish the least restrictive means of regulating an occupation. Often proposes the elimination of licensure requirements for certain professions. Professional engineers aren’t specifically targeted, but are included.
» Threat Status:  Potential Threat
Legislative/Executive Order/Regulatory: Legislative
Bill Number: RI H.B. 7359
Status:
Committee recommended measure be held for further study on February 12, 2020.
Summary:

H.B. 7359 requires amendment of existing occupational licensing regulations, using the “least restrictive” model that assumed market competition is sufficient to protect public health and safety.

» Threat Type: Other: Tracking Software
» Threat Status:  Active Threat
Legislative/Executive Order/Regulatory: Legislative
Bill Number: S.B. 125; H.B. 5255
Status:
Held by committee for further study, 5/14/2019
Held by committee for further study, 3/12/2020
Summary:

This tracking software legislation mandates that all state contractors use software to verify the amount of time they are working on a state contract. The software tracks total keystroke and mouse event frequency and records a screenshot at least once every three minutes. It presents significant privacy and security concerns.

» Threat Type: Other: A legislative, regulatory, or executive action that falls outside other threat categories, including proposed elimination of other occupational licenses, that doesn’t directly threaten professional engineers but requires attention.
» Threat Status:  Enacted
Bill Number: HB 7844
Status:
HB 7844 in Rhode Island has been signed by the Governor.
Summary:

Amends statutes governing engineers, land surveyors and landscape architects (design professionals) to eliminate outmoded, inconsistent and unnecessary regulations and would bring Rhode Island in line with neighboring states to level the playing field for business. Signed into law by Governor in July 2016. NSPE and the state society are working together to ensure that this legislation will not negatively impact the PE.