Senate
PUBLIC HEARING
Committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs
Committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs
The committee will hold a public hearing on the following items at the time specified below:
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
11:00 AM
330 Southwest
State Capitol
.
.
.
Assembly Bill 181
Relating to: continuing education for architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, designers of engineering systems, and land surveyors.
By Representatives Wieckert, A. Ott, Mursau, Albers, Van Roy, Townsend and Bies; cosponsored by Senators Lassa and Cowles.
.
.
.
1 comment:
Testimony
Senate
PUBLIC HEARING
Committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
11:00 AM
330 Southwest
State Capitol
Assembly Bill 181
Martin J. Hanson, PE
Joint Board of Architects, Landscape Architects,
Professional Engineers, Designers & Land Surveyors--Chairman
Professional Engineers Section--Chairman
Chairman Coggs and Honorable Members of the Committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs:
Senator Spencer Coggs (Chair)
Senator Robert Wirch (Vice-Chair)
Senator John Lehman
Senator Glenn Grothman
Senator Alan Lasee
I am sorry that I am unable to appear before you today in-person to present testimony and be able to answer your questions. When I was informed of the hearing date, I already had commitments at the time of this hearing that I was unable to change. I have asked Ms. Rosheen Styczinski, FASLA, vice chair of the Joint Board, to present my testimony to you. Please consider my testimony below, and I would be happy to supply answers to your questions or the committee’s questions in writing at your convenience.
I am presenting testimony on behalf of the Wisconsin Joint Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers & Land Surveyors, where I am chairman, and the Engineers Section of the Joint Board, where I am also chairman; both boards have authorized me to speak on behalf of the respective bodies. I would like to thank the chairman for scheduling the hearing on this important legislation, and I would like to also thank Senators Lassa and Cowles for their sponsorship of this bill. Today, I intend to provide testimony on this legislation to inform and answer your questions to convey the purpose behind Assembly Bill 181.
This bill is enabling legislation. The bill provides the member sections of the Joint Board, the authority to establish Continuing Professional Competency, CPC (commonly referred to as continuing education) requirements for professions licensed under the respective sections.
It is important to note that this bill does not:
1. Require any section to implement requirements
2. Establish any minimum quantity of education
3. Prescribe the content, method of delivery, or approval of any education requirements
4. Establish any timeline for implementation
The Joint Board and the sections purposely crafted the legislation to reserve these decisions to the individual sections. Each profession is in a better position to uniquely establish, maintain, and enforce their own CPC program.
Establishing CPC requirements will enable Wisconsin professionals to compete in wider markets across the county and the world. Having CPC will make it easier for credential holders to obtain a similar credential in other states with similar requirements.
CPC is currently a requirement in 34 states for Professional Engineers, and that number continues to grow.
Increasingly, changes in technology, materials, environmental protection, and performance requirements make continued learning a must for professionals. Some would argue that simple market forces are enough to compel professionals to seek further education. The Joint Board believes this is not sufficient to fulfill its core mission, the protection of public health, safety and welfare.
I believe required continuing education does indeed provide additional protection to the public. Given that we require education for licensure, it is not unreasonable to assume that additional learning throughout a professional’s career will enable him/her to make better decisions. Given the rapid advances in technology, changes in public policy, and ever-changing environmental restrictions, it is imperative that practicing professionals remain current in their field. The Joint Board and I believe this is a step in the right direction.
The purpose of today’s hearing is not to discuss the details of the requirements, but to adopt the philosophy that continuing professional competency inherently adds to the protection of citizens.
Professionals and the public will have opportunities to discuss and debate the specifics of the CPC programs, for each credential during promulgation of the rules. The rules must pass through each section board, the Joint Board Rules Committee, and the full Joint Board before adopted and enacted. There will be ample opportunities for input to ensure an effective and efficient system.
Therefore, I ask you to approve this bill and send it to the Senate for action at the earliest opportunity.
Mr. Chairman, in summary, the Engineer Section of the Joint Board and the Joint Board strongly support Assembly Bill 181 and urge its passage at the earliest opportunity.
This bill is needed to protect the citizens of Wisconsin as well as enable our professionals to compete in the world market.
Thank you again for the opportunity to testify today. I appreciate your consideration of this matter.
I would be happy to answer any questions that may remain from the committee.
Martin J. Hanson, PE
Chairman – Joint Board of Architects, Landscape Architects,
Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors
Chairman – Professional Engineers Section
Post a Comment