Senate Committee Hearing

AB-69 had a public hearing by committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs in the Senate on February 27, 2008.

The hearing was delayed from the published agenda as the chairman elected to take up the mandatory overtime bill for health care workers first.

Representative Gottlieb was the first to testify and introduce and explain the bill.

The second person to testify represented the technical schools. As expected, they spoke in sport of the bill with an amendment to allow technical school graduates the opportunity to sit for the exam after acquiring sufficient experience.

I spoke third from my position of licensing board and engineering section board chairman. I modified my position slightly. I told the committee that although I disagree with the amendment, I would still support the bill if the amendment we passed. Overall the bill does more good with the amendment than no bill at all. I stressed that the industry is moving toward more education, not less as my reasoning for not supporting the amendment.

Several others testified in support of the bill including Prof. Jeffery Russell, who has lead the work on ASCE's body of knowledge.

We expect the committee will take up the bill next in executive session and take vote on whether to pass it up to the full Senate.

Your continued support by contacting legislators is requested.

Senate Hearing Scheduled

Assembly Bill 69 has been scheduled for a public hearing by Committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs in the Senate. Date/time: February 27, 2008 at 1:05 PM. Location: 300 Southeast.