California is crippled by a great divide that has nothing to do with tectonic plates.California's professional engineering statute gives civil engineers free reign, allowselectrical and mechanical engineers to work in their disciplines so long as that doesnot conflict with civil engineering, and acknowledges by title only that otherengineering disciplines exist.This division presents problems for engineers whether they have a professionalengineering license or not. For example, Spill Prevention Control andCountermeasure (SPCC) plans are mandated by federal regulations. Such plans areprepared by chemical engineers all over the country, but NOT in California. SPCCplans are part of the exclusive domain of civil engineers.A fire protection engineer was once told he could not design a fire suppressionsystem because that was the exclusive domain of mechanical engineers. A chemicalengineer was once told he could not submit a Risk Management Plan (RMP)(required by Cal EPA) without a civil engineer stamp because even the hazardanalysis on a facility that uses chemicals is the civil engineer's domain. These arejust a few examples where engineers are not allowed to work on projects thatsimilarly trained engineers are expected to do in the rest of the country and the restof the world.So how do engineers in California navigate this regulatory nightmare? And how dowe influence the legislators, engineering board, and others to nudge the statute in theright direction?California's answer included forming a coalition of professional engineering societiesthat work together to present a united voice. The California Legislative Council ofProfessional Engineers (CLCPE) not only represents the interests of engineeringprofessions to the legislature, but serves as a pro bono resource for the legislature ontechnical issues as well.This paper will discuss: (1) our lessons learned from working with legislators; (2)California's professional engineering statute and why it is written as it is; and (3) whyone needs to be engaged in the legislative process. Professional engineers areentrusted with protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Gettingengaged has the benefit of letting legislators understand the impact of their decisionsand allows engineers to serve the communities where they live, and provide a safer,better community for everyone.
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