Overview
Texas State Archives
Texas Board of
Professional Engineers.
Board of Professional
Engineers records
1937, 1952, 1972-2001, 2005-2006, undated
The Texas Board of
Professional Engineers examines and licenses applicants as professional
engineers, and enforces the rules and regulations established and defined by
the Texas Engineering Practice Act; it also recognizes, prepares, and/or
administers voluntary continuing education programs. These records consist of
copies of minutes (plus attachments), the enabling act, an annual report, and
press releases, dating 1937, 1952, 1972-2001, 2005-2006, and undated. The
minutes extensively document the board's meeting activities, and are from
regular quarterly meetings, special meetings of the board, and ad hoc
committees. During its meetings, the board receives reports from the executive
director and assistants, hears board members' activity reports, reviews
correspondence, amends board rules, and issues orders. Orders include the
revocation, suspension, or reinstatement of the licenses of registered
professional engineers, and formal and informal reprimands of engineers who
have violated board rules. Lists of the names of all approved and not approved
applicants are included in the minutes. Minutes also include the monthly budget
activity summaries of the agency. These materials are written in English.
2.5 cubic
ft.
Restrictions on Access
None.
Restrictions on Use
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and
may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received
by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The
researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17
U.S.C.).
Technical Requirements
None.
Agency History
In March 1937, a faulty gas connection caused a school explosion in
New London, Texas that killed an estimated 298 people. Public pressure called
for legislation to register engineers since it was believed that poor
engineering had been at least partly to blame for the accident. The Texas State
Board of Registration for Professional Engineers was created by Senate Bill 74,
45th Legislature, Regular Session, in 1937. This law, named the Texas
Engineering Practice Act, prohibited any person from practicing or offering to
practice as an engineer unless licensed by the board.
The board continues to examine and license applicants as professional
engineers and to enforce the rules and regulations established and defined by
the act. The board has two certification levels: Engineer-in-Training and
Registered Professional Engineer. The education and professional qualifications
of applicants are examined through reviews of documents and records, by written
and oral examinations as needed, and by the evaluation of reference statements.
Graduates with approved engineering degrees are required to pass examinations
and have four years of engineering experience, and graduates of other
engineering-related programs must pass examinations and have eight years of
engineering experience to obtain licenses.
Enforcement activities protect the public by eliminating unqualified
practitioners and by ensuring the performance standards of those with licenses.
Voluntary compliance programs are augmented by legal and license revocation
proceedings, if necessary.
The board prepares a roster, published each biennium, of the names and
places of business of all registered professional engineers. The board may
recognize, prepare, or administer continuing education programs, but
participation in the programs is voluntary.
The policy-making body of the agency is a nine-member board, appointed
by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate for overlapping
six-year terms. Each of the six professional engineer members must have been a
U.S. citizen and a Texas resident for at least ten years before appointment and
must have been engaged in the practice of the profession of engineering or in
engineering teaching for at least ten years. Three members represent the
general public. These are non-salaried positions, and members elect the
chair.
In 1997, the name was changed to Texas Board of Professional
Engineers. Currently, the board has the following committees: Audit Ad Hoc
Committee, Enforcement Committee, General Issues Committee, Legislative Issues
Committee, Licensing Committee, Licensing Waiver Review Committee, Nominating
Committee, Policy Advisory Committee, Policy Advisory Opinion Committee, and
Joint TBPE/TBAE (Texas Board of Professional Engineers/Texas Board of
Architectural Examiners) Committee.
(Sources include: Guide to Texas State
Agencies, 11th edition, 2001; and agency website at
http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/index.htm,
accessed October 2006.)
Scope and Contents of the Records
The Texas Board of Professional Engineers examines and licenses
applicants as professional engineers, and enforces the rules and regulations
established and defined by the Texas Engineering Practice Act; it also
recognizes, prepares, and/or administers voluntary continuing education
programs. These records consist of copies of minutes (plus attachments), the
enabling act, an annual report, and press releases, dating 1937, 1952,
1972-2001, 2005-2006, and undated.
The minutes, dating 1972-2001, 2005-2006, extensively document the
board's meeting activities, and are from regular quarterly meetings, special
meetings of the board, and ad hoc committees. During its meetings, the board
receives reports from the executive director and assistants, hears board
members' activity reports, reviews correspondence, amends board rules, and
issues orders. Orders include the revocation, suspension, or reinstatement of
the licenses of registered professional engineers, and formal and informal
reprimands of engineers who have violated board rules. The board's role in
certifying engineers is reflected in the minutes. Much of the board's meeting
time is taken up with the review of the educational and professional
qualifications of applicants as the board examines documents and records,
conducts written and oral examinations as needed, and evaluates reference
statements. The minutes note the candidates at each meeting who make a personal
appearance before the board to discuss the engineering experience claimed in
their applications. At each meeting, the board grants permission to applicants
to take the examination, rules on applications requiring special consideration,
and approves or rejects the professional registration of applicants. Lists of
the names of all approved and not approved applicants are included in the
minutes. Minutes also include the monthly budget activity summaries of the
agency.
Beginning in 1986, minutes of the Ad Hoc Committees are also included,
filed in separate folders. The committees changed names over time, and include
Ad Hoc Committees (by 1997 just called Committees) on Continuing Education;
Geologist Registration; Legislative Affairs; Sealing Rules Interpretation;
Professional Development; Oversight, Management and Facilities; Enforcement;
Faculty Registration; North American Free Trade Agreement; Rules; Registration;
Legislative and Government Affairs; Operations; Nominations; Professional
Issues; Licensure; and General Issues.
Other records of the Board of Professional Engineers are listed
separately, and include a printed copy of the original enabling act of 1937; a
copy of the annual report to the Governor for 1952; three press releases dated
1980, 1983, and 1996; and an undated addendum to the board's rules.
Organization of the Records
These records have been organized by State Archives staff into two
series. Each of the series is further arranged by State Archives staff
chronologically. Committee minutes are usually grouped together after one
year's board minutes. The series are:
- Minutes, 1972-2001, 2005-2006, 2.5 cubic ft.
- Other records, 1937, 1952, 1980, 1983, 1996, undated,
fractional
Index Terms
The terms listed here were used to catalog the
records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
Corporate Names:
Texas. State
Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.
Texas Board of
Architectural Examiners.
Subjects:
Engineering--Texas--Examinations, questions,
etc.
Engineering--Study and
teaching--Law and legislation--Texas.
Engineering--Vocational
guidance--Texas.
Engineers--Texas.
Document Types:
Minutes--Texas--Engineers--1972-2001,
2005-2006.
Lists--Texas--Engineers--1972-2001, 2005-2006.
Reports--Texas--Engineers--1952, 1972-2001,
2005-2006.
Bills (legislative
records)--Texas--Engineers--1937.
Press
releases--Texas--Engineers--1980, 1983, 1996.
Functions:
Licensing
engineers.
Certification of
engineers.
Regulating
engineers.
Related Material
The following materials are offered as possible
sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the
records. The listing is not exhaustive.
Texas State
Archives
Texas Legislature, Joint Committee to Investigate the New
London Tragedy, 1937, fractional (RESTRICTED)
Texas Secretary of State, Rosters of Professional Engineers,
1963, 1965-1972, 1 cubic ft. (9 paperbound volumes)
[There is no finding aid available for this unprocessed collection. Call number
is 1980/157-95.]
Texas Board of Architectural
Examiners, Records, 1937-2004, 11 cubic ft.
Publications
Roster of active registered professional
engineers, Texas State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.
1939-1962 are in the Texana collection of the Texas State Archives; 1963-1972
are in the archival holdings of the Texas State Archives; 1990-onward are in
the Texas Documents Collection.
Annual reports of the Texas State Board
of Registration for Professional Engineers. 1963-1986 (with possible
gaps) are in the Texas Documents Collection of the Texas State Library and
Archives Commission.
Preferred Citation
(Identify the item and cite the series), Texas Board of Professional
Engineers records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State
Library and Archives Commission.
Processing Information
Paul Beck, May 1998
Tony Black, August 2004, July 2006, October 2006
Accession Information
Accession numbers: 1998/108, 1999/024, 2000/029, 2001/038, 2004/173,
2005/189, 2006/177, 2006/383
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information
Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the
Texas Board of Professional Engineers on May 18, 1998; September 30, 1998;
September 29, 1999; October 18, 2000; August 30, 2005; and July 7, 2006; and by
the Texas Legislative Reference Library on June 23, 2004; and January 26,
2006.
Other Formats for the Records
The Texas Board of Professional Engineers mounts electronic copies of
its agenda and minutes, in PDF format, dating back to February 2002 (as of
October 2006) on the agency web site
(http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/boardmeetings.htm).
Location of Originals
The record copies of minutes and agenda are maintained by the Texas
Board of Professional Engineers.
Accruals
The Texas Board of Professional Engineers regularly transfers copies
of minutes to the Texas State Archives.
Detailed Description of the Records
Minutes,
1972-2001,
2005-2006,
2.5 cubic ft.
1998/108-1
Texas State Board of Registration
for Professional Engineers, Minutes,
1972-1997
1998/108-1
Board,
January
1972
1998/108-1
Board,
April
1972
1998/108-1
Board,
June
1972
1998/108-1
Board,
October
1972
1998/108-1
Board,
December
1972
1998/108-1
Board,
January
1973
1998/108-1
Board,
February
1973
1998/108-1
Board,
March
1973
[July 1973 missing]
1998/108-1
Board,
October
1973
1998/108-1
Board,
January
1974
[April, May, and June 1974
missing]
1998/108-1
Board,
July-August
1974
1998/108-1
Board,
September
1974
[April 1975 missing]
1998/108-1
Board,
July
1975
1998/108-1
Board,
October
1975
1998/108-1
Board,
November
1975
1998/108-1
Board,
January 1976-December
1977
[bound volume]:
1998/108-1
January
1976
1998/108-1
April
1976
1998/108-1
July
1976
1998/108-1
October
1976
1998/108-1
January
1977
1998/108-1
March
1977
1998/108-1
June
1977
1998/108-1
August
1977
[2 meetings]
1998/108-1
September
1977
1998/108-1
October
1977
1998/108-1
Committees,
November
1977
1998/108-1
Committee,
December
1977
1998/108-1
Board,
January 1978
1998/108-1
Board,
April 1978
1998/108-1
Board,
May 1978
1998/108-1
Board,
July 1978
1998/108-1
Board,
October 1978
1998/108-1
Board,
November 1978
1998/108-1
Board,
January
1979
[2 meetings]
1998/108-1
Board,
April
1979
1998/108-1
Board,
July
1979
1998/108-2
Board,
October
1979
1998/108-2
Board,
January
1980
1998/108-2
Board,
February
1980
1998/108-2
Board,
April
1980
1998/108-2
Board,
June
1980
1998/108-2
Board,
July
1980
1998/108-2
Board,
August
1980
1998/108-2
Board,
September
1980
1998/108-2
Board,
October
1980
1998/108-2
Board,
January
1981
1998/108-2
Board,
April
1981
1998/108-2
Board,
July
1981
1998/108-2
Board,
October
1981
1998/108-2
Board,
February
1982
1998/108-2
Board,
April
1982
1998/108-2
Board,
May
1982
1998/108-2
Board,
July
1982
1998/108-2
Board,
October
1982
1998/108-2
Board,
January
1983
1998/108-2
Board,
April
1983
1998/108-2
Board,
July
1983
1998/108-2
Board,
October
1983
1998/108-2
Board,
January
1984
1998/108-2
Board,
April
1984
1998/108-2
Board,
July
1984
1998/108-2
Board,
October
1984
1998/108-2
Board,
January
1985
1998/108-2
Board,
April
1985
1998/108-2
Board,
July
1985
1998/108-2
Board,
October
1985
1998/108-2
Board,
January
1986
1998/108-2
Board,
April
1986
1998/108-2
Board,
June
1986
1998/108-2
Board,
July
1986
1998/108-2
Board,
October
1986
1998/108-2
Board,
December
1986
1998/108-2
Ad Hoc Committee on Law Revisions,
April
1986
1998/108-2
Ad Hoc Committee on Law Revisions,
December
1986
1998/108-3
Board,
January
1987
1998/108-3
Board,
April
1987
1998/108-3
Board,
June
1987
1998/108-3
Board,
July
1987
1998/108-3
Board,
September-October
1987
1998/108-3
Board,
January
1988
1998/108-3
Board,
April
1988
1998/108-3
Board,
July
1988
1998/108-3
Board,
October
1988
1998/108-3
Board,
November
1988
1998/108-3
Ad Hoc Committees,
January and March
1988
1998/108-3
Ad Hoc Committee on Rules Pertaining to Engineer
Seals,
November
1988
1998/108-3
Board,
January
1989
1998/108-3
Board,
April
1989
1998/108-3
Board,
July
1989
1998/108-3
Board,
October
1989
1998/108-3
Ad Hoc Committees,
January, March-April
1989
1998/108-3
Ad Hoc Committees,
July, September,
December 1989
1998/108-3
Board,
January
1990
1998/108-3
Board,
April
1990
1998/108-3
Board,
July
1990
1998/108-3
Board,
October
1990
1998/108-3
Ad Hoc Committees,
January, March-May
1990
1998/108-3
Ad Hoc Committees,
July-August,
November-December 1990
1998/108-3
Board,
January
1991
1998/108-3
Board,
April
1991
1998/108-3
Board,
August
1991
1998/108-3
Board,
September
1991
1998/108-3
Board,
October
1991
1998/108-3
Ad Hoc Committees,
February, June,
August-September, November 1991
1998/108-3
Board,
January
1992
1998/108-3
Board,
April
1992
1998/108-3
Board,
July
1992
1998/108-3
Board,
December
1992
1998/108-3
Ad Hoc Committees,
February, April-June,
September 1992
1998/108-4
Board,
January
1993
1998/108-4
Board,
April
1993
1998/108-4
Board,
July
1993
[2 meetings]
1998/108-4
Board,
October
1993
1998/108-4
Board,
November-December
1993
1998/108-4
Ad Hoc Committees,
January, May-August,
October, December 1993
1998/108-4
Board,
January
1994
1998/108-4
Board,
April
1994
1998/108-4
Board,
June
1994
1998/108-4
Board,
October
1994
1998/108-4
Ad Hoc Committees,
April,
September-November 1994
1998/108-4
Board,
January
1995
1998/108-4
Board,
April
1995
1998/108-4
Board,
June
1995
1998/108-4
Board,
October
1995
1998/108-4
Ad Hoc Committees,
January, April, and
June 1995
1998/108-4
Ad Hoc Committees,
September, October, and
December 1995
1998/108-4
Board,
January
1996
1998/108-4
Board,
April 17,
1996
1998/108-4
Board,
April 29,
1996
1998/108-4
Board,
June
1996
1998/108-4
Board,
October
1996
1998/108-4
Ad Hoc Committees,
January-April
1996
1998/108-4
Ad Hoc Committees,
June and October
1996
1998/108-4
Board,
January
1997
1998/108-4
Board,
April
1997
1998/108-4
Board,
June
1997
1998/108-4
Board,
August
1997
1998/108-4
Committees,
January-June
1997
1998/108-4
Texas Board of Professional
Engineers, Minutes,
1997-2001
1998/108-4
Board,
November
1997
1998/108-4
Committees,
September-November
1997
1998/108-4
Board,
February
1998
1998/108-4
Board,
March
1998
1998/108-4
Board,
June
1998
1998/108-4
Board,
September
1998
1998/108-4
Board,
November
1998
1998/108-4
Committees,
January-February
1998
1998/108-4
Committees,
June
1998
1998/108-4
Committees,
September
1998
1998/108-5
Committees,
November
1998
1998/108-5
Board,
February
1999
1998/108-5
Board,
June
1999
1998/108-5
Board,
September
1999
1998/108-5
Board,
October
1999
1998/108-5
Board,
December
1999
1998/108-5
Committees,
February
1999
1998/108-5
Committees,
June, September, and
October 1999
1998/108-5
Committees,
December
1999
1998/108-5
Board,
January
2000
1998/108-5
Board,
March
2000
1998/108-5
Board,
June
2000
1998/108-5
Board,
December
2000
1998/108-5
Committees,
January
2000
1998/108-5
Committees,
March
2000
1998/108-5
Committees,
May
2000
1998/108-5
Committees,
June
2000
1998/108-5
Board,
March
2001
1998/108-6
Texas Board of Professional
Engineers, Minutes,
2005-2006
1998/108-6
Board,
January
2005
1998/108-6
Committees,
January
2005
1998/108-6
Board of Professional Engineers/Board of Architectural
Examiners: Joint Advisory Committee,
January
2005
1998/108-6
Board of Professional Engineers/Board of Architectural
Examiners: Task Force of Joint Advisory Committee,
February
2005
1998/108-6
Board of Professional Engineers/Board of Architectural
Examiners: Task Force of Joint Advisory Committee,
March
2005
1998/108-6
Board,
November
2005
1998/108-6
Committees,
November
2005
1998/108-6
Committees,
January
2006
1998/108-6
Committees,
February
2006
1998/108-6
Board,
February
2006
1998/108-6
Committees,
March
2006
1998/108-6
Committees,
May
2006
Other records,
1937,
1952, 1980, 1983, 1996, undated,
fractional
2006 Accessions Box 3 (2006/177)
Engineering Registration Act,
1937
2006 Accessions Box 3 (2006/177)
Annual report to Governor for FY 1952,
1952
2006 Accessions Box 3 (2006/177)
Press releases,
1980, 1983,
1996:
2006 Accessions Box 3
(2006/177)
November 1,
1980
2006 Accessions Box 3
(2006/177)
July 22,
1983
2006 Accessions Box 3
(2006/177)
November 18,
1996
2006 Accessions Box 3 (2006/177)
Addendum to Board Rules of Practice and Procedure,
undated