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Committee advances two bills on metal recycling, engineering licensure
Summary
The committee approved a cleanup bill tightening rules for secondary metal recyclers and a measure that lets engineering graduates take the professional licensing exam before completing their field experience.
A House committee voted to advance two bills on Thursday: a cleanup measure addressing secondary metal recyclers and a change to the order of requirements for professional engineer licensure.
The first, a cleanup to earlier metal-theft legislation, moves a definition for used catalytic converters, limits cash payments that secondary metal recyclers may make (still capped at $100 per transaction and up to twice per day), and establishes a $200 registration fee for secondary metal recyclers with $100 retained by the county and $100 forwarded to a state registry. Senator Hatchett described the measure as "a cleanup bill" and said it was previously vetted by the committee. The committee approved the bill by voice vote.
The second bill, Senate Bill 125, would allow applicants to sit for the professional-engineer exam immediately after completing the required academic coursework rather than waiting until after a multi-year engineering-in-training work requirement. The presenter said the change "simply allows you to take the professional engineering exam immediately after you complete your academic work" to improve pass rates and help address a shortage of licensed engineers. Committee members had no objections and the bill passed on a voice vote.
Votes at a glance - Senate Bill 40 (secondary metal recyclers, catalytic converters): advanced by voice vote (committee vote count not specified). - Senate Bill 125 (professional engineer exam order): advanced by voice vote (committee vote count not specified).
What remains Both measures were reported out of committee and will move to their next steps in the legislative process (house or other committee referral as applicable). No amendments were reported as adopted for the professional-engineer measure. The metal-recycler bill’s sponsor said the measure was intended only to clarify earlier law and that he was available to answer further questions.
