Texas Board of Professional Engineers:

An Inventory of Board of Professional Engineers Records at the Texas State Archives, 1937, 1952, 1972-2001, 2005-2006, undated

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.)

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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.

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Restrictions

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.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

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.

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.

Processing Information

Paul Beck, May 1998

Tony Black, August 2004, July 2006, October 2006

Accruals

The Texas Board of Professional Engineers regularly transfers copies of minutes to the Texas State Archives.

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.

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Detailed Description of the Records

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