Senate panel advances bill raising penalties for unlicensed engineering and creating student-loan assistance

Senator Mayfield told the committee that SB 800 strengthens penalties for practicing engineering without a license — including higher administrative fines for repeat offenses — and establishes an engineering student loan assistance program intended to encourage licensed engineers to work for state agencies and water management districts. The program would be funded through an engineering licensing fee and associated fines.

Mayfield offered an amendment (barcode 209924) that specifies eligibility requirements for the loan-assistance program, clarifies that eligibility is not affected by a change in employment so long as the participant remains with a state agency or water management district, and removes conflicting employment-restriction language. The amendment was adopted and the bill was taken up as amended.

Supporters on appearance forms, including Sandra Bucklew, showed support on the record. The committee called the roll and reported CS for SB 800 favorably.

The measure advances to subsequent Senate consideration, and sponsors said the amendment refines program eligibility to make administrative implementation clearer.