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PRINTER'S NO. 638
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
642
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY RAFFERTY, GREENLEAF, YAW, SCHWANK, SMITH AND
BROWNE, MARCH 20, 2015
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
MARCH 20, 2015
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 14, 1982 (P.L.1227, No.281),
entitled "An act regulating the practice of architecture in
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; providing for the
examination and licensure of architects by a State Architects
Licensure Board; and providing penalties," further providing
for definitions, for powers of board and for issuance and
renewal of certificates.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 3 of the act of December 14, 1982
(P.L.1227, No.281), known as the Architects Licensure Law, is
amended by adding definitions to read:
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
meanings given to them in this section:
* * *
"Continuing education." Educational activities that:
(1) promote competency of licensees;
(2) are given by providers that are approved by the
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board; and
(3) meet the criteria established by regulations
promulgated by the board.
* * *
"Health, safety and welfare credits." Technical and
professional subjects that the board deems appropriate to
safeguard the public's health, safety and welfare. The subjects
shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Building design.
(2) Environmental or land use analysis.
(3) Life safety systems.
(4) Building programming.
(5) Site and soils analysis.
(6) Accessibility.
(7) Lateral forces and seismic design.
(8) Building codes.
(9) Evaluation and selection of building systems,
products or materials.
(10) Construction methods.
(11) Contract documentation.
(12) Construction administration.
(13) Electrical system considerations.
(14) Mechanical system considerations.
(15) Plumbing system considerations.
(16) Structural system considerations.
(17) Standards of professional conduct and ethics.
* * *
Section 2. Section 6 of the act is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
Section 6. Powers of board.
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* * *
(b.1) The board shall promulgate and enforce rules and
regulations consistent with the provisions of this act
establishing requirements for continuing education to be
satisfied by all individuals holding a certificate to engage in
the practice of architecture as a condition of certificate
renewal.
* * *
Section 3. Section 10(a) of the act is amended and the
section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
Section 10. Issuance and renewal of certificates.
(a) Upon payment of the fees required by section 11, an
individual who has complied with subsection (a.1) and section 8
or 9 shall be entitled to a certificate indicating that [he] the
individual is qualified to engage in the practice of
architecture in this Commonwealth. Each certificate shall
contain the name of the individual to whom it was issued and
shall be valid for [a period of two years.] the applicable
biennial licensure period or the remainder of the applicable
biennial licensure period.
(a.1) The following apply to continuing education:
(1) As a condition for the biennial renewal of a
license, a licensee must provide certification of successful
completion of a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education,
in accordance with regulations established by the board. A
minimum of 12 hours of the continuing education must be in
the areas of health, safety and welfare credits.
(2) A licensee of another jurisdiction in which the
architect's primary practice is located shall be deemed to
have satisfied the continuing education requirement under
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paragraph (1) if the licensee certifies on the biennial
renewal application that the licensee has satisfied the
continuing education requirement of the jurisdiction of
primary practice if that jurisdiction requires an equivalent
amount of credits as required under paragraph (1).
(3) Certification of credit hours submitted by a
licensee must be properly signed as being correct and true.
(4) An individual applying for initial licensure shall
be exempt from the continuing education requirement during
the biennial licensure period in which the individual
obtained initial licensure.
(5) The board may waive all or part of the continuing
education requirement for a licensee who provides evidence
satisfactory to the board that the licensee was unable to
complete the requirement due to illness, emergency, hardship
or active military service.
* * *
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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