H*2725(Rat #0709, Act #0611 of 1988)  General Bill, By J.W. McLeod, R.B. Brown and 
D.L. Ogburn
 A Bill to amend Section 40-21-10, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to engineers and land surveyors, so as to define resident registered
 engineer, resident registered land surveyor, branch office, and registered;
 and to amend the 1976 Code by adding Section 40-21-405 so as to permit a
 registered engineer and registered land surveyor to maintain a principal place
 of business and branch offices and to provide requirements for these places of
 business.

   03/24/87  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-1396
   03/24/87  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-1396
   05/28/87  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
                     HJ-3304
   06/02/87  House  Debate adjourned until Wednesday, June 3, 1987 HJ-343
   06/03/87  House  Amended HJ-3566
   06/03/87  House  Read second time HJ-3566
   06/04/87  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-3697
   06/04/87  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-2817
   06/04/87  Senate Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry SJ-2817
   05/12/88  Senate Committee report: Favorable Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry SJ-12
   05/17/88  Senate Read second time SJ-13
   05/25/88  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-41
   05/31/88         Ratified R 709
   06/01/88         Signed By Governor
   06/01/88         Effective date 06/01/88
   06/01/88         Act No. 611
   06/21/88         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 40-21-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ENGINEERS AND LAND SURVEYORS, SO AS TO DEFINE RESIDENT REGISTERED ENGINEER, RESIDENT REGISTERED LAND SURVEYOR, BRANCH OFFICE, AND REGISTERED; AND TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 40-21-405 SO AS TO PERMIT A REGISTERED ENGINEER AND REGISTERED LAND SURVEYOR TO MAINTAIN A PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS AND BRANCH OFFICES AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE PLACES OF BUSINESS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Definitions added

SECTION 1. Section 40-21-10 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding at the end:

"(10) 'Resident registered engineer' or 'resident registered land surveyor' means a licensed practitioner who spends a majority of each normal workday in the principal or branch office.

(11) 'Branch office' means a place of business separate from the principal place of business where engineering services or land surveying services are provided. A specific project or construction site office is not a branch office. Nothing contained herein prevents a registered engineer or registered land surveyor from undertaking an engineering or a land surveying project anywhere in the State.

(12) 'Registered' means the engineer or land surveyor is duly registered in the State."

Principal place of business and branch offices allowed

SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 40-21-405. Registered engineers and registered land surveyors engaged in business as sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, or other types of firms involving the practice of engineering or land surveying may maintain a principal place of business as well as branch offices. Each principal place of business as well as each branch office must have a resident registered engineer or registered land surveyor in responsible charge of the field and office surveying or engineering work provided. A registered engineer must supervise the engineering branch office and a registered land surveyor must supervise the land surveying branch office. The resident registered engineer or registered land surveyor is considered in residence in only one place of business at a given time. The provisions of this section do not apply to a registered land surveyor or registered engineer with only one place of business. In this section, engaged in business means holding oneself out generally to the public as qualified and available to perform engineering or land surveying services, or both, for a fee."

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.