Mark C. Kriss, Esq. Legislative & Legal Counsel

The NYS legislature has recessed and completed the lion’s share of its calendar for 2023. Fortunately, from the Society’s perspective, with the exception of a bill dramatically broadening damages in wrongful death cases (A6698 / S6636 – 2023), no significant legislation opposed by NYSSPE is poised to reach Governor Hochul’s desk.  Additionally, no significant bill opposed by the Society has been enacted to date.

The Society has urged that the wrongful death bill be amended to include a statute of repose barring claims against a design professional, when by virtue of the passage of a significant period of time a project has withstood the test of time. [See A4549 (Assemblyman Pretlow) establishing a ten-year statute of repose for design liability claims.]  A prior version of the wrongful death bill reached the Governor’s desk last year and was vetoed due to the substantial cost associated with an expansion of damages in wrongful death cases to include emotional and related damages suffered by loved ones. Under current law pain and suffering experienced by a decedent prior to death is compensable.

The Society again will urge that the bill be vetoed in the absence of an amendment to add a statute of repose similar to the law in 48 states wherein design professionals are protected against claims alleged to arise from latent design defects long after a building or other improvement has been completed.  The amendment adding a statute of repose would apply to all claims for personal injury and property damage, not just wrongful death claims.  New York laws pertaining to the design professions should be consistent with the laws in nearly every other state in the nation.

S5664 / A4720 ( Senator Kennedy / Assemblyman McDonald)
Governmental Oversight Design Build Contracts

This bill, which has passed both houses, requires that public employees be on site for the duration of design build contracts, and that such employees review the contractor’s work to ensure it is performed in a manner consistent with the requirements set forth in the design build contract. Critics of the bill argue that employment of additional personnel is unnecessary in light of the professional oversight responsibilities falling to the design professionals retained as members of the design build team and the employment of inspection protocols.

S1049 / A5051 (Senator Cooney / Assemblyman Jean-Pierre)
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Technology 

Pursuant to Chapter 465 of the Laws of 2021 licensure as a professional engineer in NYS requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering as a prerequisite. However, the Commissioner of Education has authority to permit candidates with alternative educational backgrounds to qualify for licensure. Moreover, it has long been the policy of the State Education Department to recognize the importance of providing a licensure pathway to parties holding a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology.  A party holding a four-year engineering technology degree, from an approved institution, is eligible for licensure upon completion of two additional years of design experience beyond the experience otherwise required for licensure candidates holding a bachelor’s degree in engineering.

NYSSPE successfully opposes this bill, since it would divest the Commissioner of Education of authority to determine whether or not there exists equivalency in the curricula pertaining to engineering and engineering technology baccalaureate program. However, the Society has authorized the appointment of a committee to further examine the issue, and determine whether to support a change in the current disparate treatment of these degrees.

S 6059 / A 7610 (Senator Kennedy / Assemblyman Zebrowski)
Prohibits Inclusion of Overly Broad Indemnification Provisions in State and Municipal Contracts

NYSSPE strongly supports this legislation, which bars the use of overly broad indemnification terms requiring design professional firms to indemnify municipalities and state agencies notwithstanding the absence of fault on the part of the design professional. A number of sister states have enacted legislation to prevent overreaching by state and local governments consisting of the mandatory use of indemnification terms which are fundamentally unfair in so far as they require identification in the absence of fault. A similar bill was passed by both houses, and was vetoed by Governor Andrew Cuomo.  The Society continues to work with allied design professional organizations to secure adoption of this legislation. It is our hope that the new administration will be more receptive to the design community’s concerns.

A8504  Comptroller’s Program Bill (2022)
Qualifications Based Selection 

This legislation requires the use of Qualifications Based Selection by Public Authorities and Public Benefit Corporations, in addition to state agencies.   Expanded utilization of QBS has been a long sought-after goal of NYSSPE. In fact, due in substantial part to the Society’s efforts, similar legislation previously passed the Assembly. QBS assures that price is not the sole criteria in the selection of professional engineering services by affording due consideration to the respective qualifications of consulting firms participating in the procurement process.  Adoption of QBS also helps to avoid steering of service contract to politically favored firms.  Since former Governor Cuomo opposed expanding QBS, his departure from office has enhanced our assessment of the prospects for this bill. In fact, last year NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli advanced  QBS legislation with the goal of to preventing some of the abuses identified under one or more prior administrations.  NYSSPE, along with our design professional allies, continues to advocate for adoption of this legislation. 

S3312 (Senator Skoufis)
Emergency Responder / Good Samaritan

NYSSPE has joined a broad-based coalition, including other design professional organizations and the construction community, in support of S3312 which combines enhanced Good Samaritan protection with a proposal offering liability protection for emergency responders hired in the wake of a natural or man-made disaster. (The coalition includes the Associated General Contractors of New York, ACEC New York,

AIA-NY and a litany of other organizations representing the construction and design communities.)

In essence, this bill is designed to ensure that the liability for services rendered under emergency conditions (whether voluntary or based on contract) rests with the governmental bodies which are principally charged with restoring normalcy following a disaster.  Under the proposal, service providers are held harmless in the absence of gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing for services rendered in the wake of a disaster. The governmental entity securing services will stand in the shoes of the design professional or contractor in instances of ordinary negligence thereby affording the injured party a source of recovery.  The measure does not apply to businesses whose primary business is responding to disasters fully cognizant of the risks such as a company routinely advertising its emergency response services.

A4327 (Assemblyman Gunther)
Expands Exemption Requiring Employment of Professional Engineer Pertaining to Municipal Projects

This bill authorizes the practice of professional engineering by persons lacking the rigorous education, examination and experience requirements prescribed by the NYS Education Law.  It would substantially increase the size of projects exempt from the PE requirement to $50,000 and is strongly opposed by NYSSPE.

A4549 (Assemblyman Pretlow)
Establishing a 10-year Statute of Repose for Design Liability Claims

As noted above, the Society is advocating for inclusion of this legislation in a bill currently before the Governor broadening damages in wrongful death cases.

S1818-A / A 4870 (Senator Stavisky / Assemblyman McDonald)
The Offering of Geology by Grandfathered Engineering Firms

The profession of geology was first licensed in New York in 2014.  Prior to passage of the 2014 statute grandfathered engineering firms were permitted to provide geological services. This bill will enable grandfathered engineering firms to offer professional geology services, per se, provided at least one office or director is a licensed professional geologist. In sum and substance, the bill will treat grandfathered corporations in a manner similar to professional engineering firms operating as professional service corporations, design professional service corporations, professional limited liability companies, and registered limited liability partnerships. 

S5614A  / A 4202A (Senator Martinez / Assemblyman Stern)
Permits the Issuance of Building Permits by Professional Engineers and Registered Architects

This legislation, opposed by NYSSPE, would permit building permits to be issued without the employment of building code officials. The bill applies to Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester County as well as the city of Yonkers.

A7136 (Assemblyman Pretlow)
Expanding the Use of Design Build to Westchester County

In 2019 the NYS legislature authorized specific NYC agencies to use design build. The implementing legislation did not include safeguards recommended by NYSSPE, as well as the NYS Board for Engineering and the NYS Board for Architecture. This proposal similarly does not include these recommended safeguards and amendments are needed to prevent the proliferation of design, build projects, lacking, proper oversight. 

S3295 / A3389 (Senator Breslin / Assemblymember Fahy); (see also A377 Assemblyman Bronson)
Fire Suppression System Contractors / Inspectors

S3295 / A3389  provide for licensure of fire suppression system contractors and among other provisions permits layouts by licensees “in accordance with the provisions of water-based fire protection design standards and design criteria as provided by the engineer of record”.

The legislation listed above includes key bills currently before the legislature or under consideration by Governor Hockul.  The list is not exhaustive.  Please let us know if you have any particular concerns regarding any of these proposals or other bills impacting the profession.  All comments will be shared with NYSSSPE’s Legislative Committee and given careful consideration.  (Address all comments and recommendations to: mkriss@krisslaw.com.)

By: Mark Kriss, Esq., Legislative Counsel

Legislation strongly endorsed by the Society has been re-introduced for the 2023 Legislative Session. Key bills include:

Indemnification Reform Senate 6059 (Senator Kennedy)  This legislation will prevent governmental entities (state and local level) from contractually shifting the burden of defense costs and indemnification payments to design consulting firms based solely on contract terms.  As a matter of law contract provisions requiring indemnification in the absence of wrongdoing on the part of the design professional will be unenforceable.

Emergency Responder Senate 3312 (Senator Skoufis) the Emergency Responder Act, combines Good Samaritan protection with a proposal offering liability protection for emergency responders hired in the immediate wake of a natural or man-made disaster. In essence, design professionals are held harmless in the absence of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

Statute of Repose Assembly Bill 4549 (Assemblyman Pretlow) codifies a 10-year Statute of Repose barring claims arising against a design professional long after a building or other project has been completed and withstood the test of time. The Society is working to tie our bill to a strong push by the plaintiff personal injury trial lawyers for adoption of legislation to broaden recovery in wrongful death cases. We are coordinating our legislative efforts with other organizations representing the design community.

• Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

by Mark Kriss Esq., Legislative Counsel
PREVIEW – 2023 NYS Legislative Session

The 2023 New York State Legislative Session is just underway with Governor Hochul’s State of the State Address held on January 10^th 2022.  The first-time elected governor detailed an ambitious housing plan and focused on creating economic opportunities and combating crime.

“My goals are straightforward and clear. We will make New York safer. We will make New York more affordable. We will create more jobs and opportunities for the New Yorkers of today and tomorrow,” Hochul said as she addressed a joint session of the state Legislature at the Capitol.  Her vision includes significant focus upon the need for affordable and environmentally friendly housing, as well as the need for an investment in programs aiding those challenged by a range of mental health and addiction issues, including the decades long failure of the state to devote adequate resources for mental health programs from inpatient beds to housing and provider services.

While the Governor’s focus is broad, the Society in contrast remains vigilant in protecting both the professional engineering community and the public by preventing the erosion of professional engineering licensure and advocating for public health safety and welfare as the circumstances require.  Following are key proposals requiring the Society’s attention and intervention.

1. Statute of Repose – Support A1706/S4127 Assemblyman Pretlow/Senator Griffo This legislation creates a 10-year Statute of Repose requiring that lawsuits for personal injury and wrongful death against a design professional be commenced not more than 10 years after a project is completed.  Forty-eight (48) states have Statutes of Repose in place protecting professional engineers and architects after a project has withstood the test of time.  New York and Vermont are the only states which fail to protect design professionals against claims via a true Statute of Repose.

Recently the association of lawyers who represent plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death cases, secured passage of legislation in both houses to expand damages available to survivors in cases of wrongful death (see S74A / A6770 – 2022).  The trial lawyer bill would add more than a half a billion dollars to their fees annually if the legislation is signed by Governor Hochul.

Supporters for the bill argue that these types of expanded damages are available in forty-one (41) states and that New York should join the majority of other states in allowing for expanded wrongful death recoveries.  Despite the fact that an argument can be made in favor of a properly circumscribed wrongful death bill, the Society has intervened, calling upon the Governor to veto the wrongful death expansion bill, unless and until the legislature incorporates a Statute of Repose into the legislation and provides a complete defense once a reasonable number of years have passed after a design professional has completed work on a project and the improvement has withstood the test of time.  As of this writing we believe the Governor is likely to veto  this bill.  A veto would substantially aid our long-term efforts to secure passage of a Statute of Repose.  If New York is out of step with its failure to offer a recovery for emotional losses suffered by loved ones, it is profoundly out of step with a failure to afford design professionals the benefit of a Statute of Repose found in every other state, with the sole exception of Vermont.

2. Indemnification Reform –

This legislation, which was previously vetoed by ex-Governor Cuomo, addresses the issue of design professional contractual indemnification on public sector projects (state and local) and is strongly supported by NYSSPE.  The legislation addresses public sector contracts wherein municipalities, state agencies and other governmental entities have inordinate leverage over the terms of indemnification.  Presently, governmental entities can and do unfairly shift the burden to design consulting firms for the cost of future contingent events such as property damage, personal injury and attendant attorneys’ fees.

Broad form defense and indemnification provisions subject design professionals to liability arising out of the circumstances that are well beyond the design professional’s scope of work and for matters over which the design professional has no control.  Design professionals in many instances are unable to secure insurance to cover the scope of claims these provisions can generate.  Many of the most highly qualified engineering firms simply refuse to participate in RFQs when confronted with adhesion contracts of this nature.  As a result, both public owners and taxpayers are deprived of the opportunity to benefit from their participation.

This bill addresses indemnification inequity by voiding contractual provisions requiring defense and indemnification involving a public work to the extent that a design professional is required to defend and indemnify a municipality, state agency, and other governmental entity or other parties for damages that are not the result of the negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct of the design professional.  Responsibility for losses related to the actions or failures of other parties that are unrelated to the design professional services rightfully rest with the at-fault party or parties.  Design professions simply should not be compelled to provide indemnification for such conduct.

3. QBS – Support A8504 –Comptroller’s Program Bill

This legislation requires the use of Qualifications Based Selection by Public Authorities and Public Benefit Corporations, in addition to state agencies.   Expanded utilization of QBS has been a long sought-after goal of NYSSPE. In fact, due in substantial part to the Society’s efforts, similar legislation passed the Assembly in 2010. QBS assures that price is not the sole criteria in the selection of professional engineering services by affording due consideration to the respective qualifications of consulting firms participating in the procurement process.  Adoption of QBS also helps to avoid steering of service contract to politically favored firms.  Since former Governor Cuomo opposed expanding QBS, his departure from office has enhanced our assessment of the prospects for this bill. In fact, NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has advanced the legislation with the goal of to preventing some of the abuses identified under one or more prior administrations. 

4. Gas Transmission Lines (Public Safety Enhancement) – Support
   A1939/S544 – Assemblyman Cusick/Senator Kaminsky
   This bill will require that plans and services relating to gas transmission lines which are determined to pose a material risk to public safety must be provided or overseen by a licensed professional engineer. The New York State Public Service Commission is required by the legislation to promulgate rules and regulations addressing the foregoing requirement.

[Read more…]

by Mark Kriss Esq., Legislative Counsel
2022 NYS Legislative Session

The 2022 New York State Legislative Session is moving toward its traditional June recess and legislators are focusing upon the upcoming primary elections to be held on June 28th and August 23rd (Congressional and NYS Senate), as well as the general elections on November 8th. The primary elections for U.S. Congress and NYS Senate were moved to August 23rd due to challenges to the original district maps, drawn by NYS lawmakers, which were held to be invalid by the courts and judicially redrawn to eliminate widespread gerrymandering. Notwithstanding the legislative focus on election year politics, the Society has remained vigilant in protecting both the professional engineering community and the public by preventing the erosion of professional engineering licensure and advocating for public health safety and welfare as the circumstances require. Following are key proposals requiring the Society’s attention and intervention

1. Indemnification Reform –
This legislation, which was previously vetoed by ex-Governor Cuomo, addresses the issue of design professional contractual indemnification on public sector projects (state and local) and is strongly supported by NYSSPE. The legislation addresses public sector contracts wherein municipalities, state agencies and other governmental entities have inordinate leverage over the terms of indemnification. Presently, governmental entities can and do unfairly shift the burden to design consulting firms for the cost of future contingent events such as property damage, personal injury and attendant attorneys’ fees.

Broad form defense and indemnification provisions subject design professionals to liability arising out of the circumstances that are well beyond the design professional’s scope of work and for matters over which the design professional has no control. Design professionals in many instances are unable to secure insurance to cover the scope of claims these provisions can generate. Many of the most highly qualified engineering firms simply refuse to participate in RFQs when confronted with adhesion contracts of this nature. As a result both public owners and taxpayers are deprived of the opportunity to benefit from their participation.

This bill addresses indemnification inequity by voiding contractual provisions requiring defense and indemnification involving a public work to the extent that a design professional is required to defend and indemnify a municipality, state agency, and other governmental entity or other parties for damages that are not the result of the negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct of the design professional. Responsibility for losses related to the actions or failures of other parties that are unrelated to the design professional services rightfully rest with the at-fault party or parties. Design professions simply should not be compelled to provide indemnification for such conduct.

The Society, together with others in the design community, have been examining the developments in sister states regarding indemnification reform. A number of states have adopted meaningful reforms and our internal discussions with sister design organizations have focused upon these states with the goal of refining a model bill for New York. The process has taken longer than we had hoped, but we are optimistic that model legislation to be put forward later this year will provide the best chance for passage in New York.

2. Design Professional Service Corporations –
ESOP Ownership Liberalization S5261B/A1891-B Senator Kennedy/Assemblyperson Lupardo
Approximately ten years ago NYSSPE was instrumental in securing legislation liberalizing the ownership structure of design firms (Design Professional Service Corporations) in New York State. Prior to the Society’s intervention, with the exception of grandfather corporations, ownership in design firms was completely limited to licensees (professional engineers, architects, land surveyors, etc.). This paradigm created a unequal playing field giving grandfather corporations an enormous advantage in attracting talented employees in fields such as IT and marketing. Legislation has now passed both houses which again addresses Design Professional Service Corporations and will permit all of the shares of a firm to be owned by an ESOP vesting membership interests in bona fide employees of the firm without limitation as to the percentage of stock owned by the ESOP. (Currently the ESOP is limited to a maximum ownership of 24.99 % of the firm.) However, the legislation vest control of the ESOP in a Board of Trustees or a Management Committee with a key provision requiring that 75% of the members of the Board of Trustees or Management Committee be licensees. This new structure will ensure that professionals retain control of the key decision-making respecting professional practice and allow local engineering firms to flourish and not exacerbate the acquisition of local firms by grandfather corporations as has historically taken place.

3. QBS – Support
A8504 –Comptroller’s Program Bill
This legislation requires the use of Qualifications Based Selection by Public Authorities and Public Benefit Corporations, in addition to state agencies. Expanded utilization of QBS has been a long sought-after goal of NYSSPE. In fact, due in substantial part to the Society’s efforts, similar legislation passed the Assembly in 2010. QBS assures that price is not the sole criteria in the selection of professional engineering services by affording due consideration to the respective qualifications of consulting firms participating in the procurement process. Adoption of QBS also helps to avoid steering of service contract to politically favored firms. Since former Governor Cuomo opposed expanding QBS, his departure from office has enhanced our assessment of the prospects for this bill. In fact NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has advanced the legislation with the goal of to preventing some of the abuses identified under one or more prior administrations.

4. Statute of Repose – Support
A1706/S4127 – Assemblyman Pretlow/Senator Griffo
This legislation creates a 10-year Statute of Repose requiring that actions for personal injury and wrongful death against a design professional and construction contractors be commenced not more than 10 years after a project is completed. The bill continues to face strong opposition from the New York State Trial Lawyers Association. NYSSPE has been assisted in its fight by other organizations including associations representing general contractors and AIA. [Read more…]

The State Budget adopted late last week rejected the Governor’s proposed transfer of the health professions to DOH, and rejected several other proposals that would have had serious implications for OP’s work and for NYS licensed professionals. With the strong support of the Board of Regents and the Commissioner, OP remains intact and firmly embedded in the important work of the State Education Department. The enacted budget also increases OP’s spending authority, which will enable us to hire some much needed staff to handle our growing workload. While it will take time to rebuild OP’s staffing to a more sufficient level, we are thankful for the support and confidence demonstrated by the legislature, professional associations and other stakeholders.

The Board of Regents also appointed two new Executive Secretaries:
• Evan Seiden, LCSW, was appointed as the Executive Secretary to the State Board for Social Work and the State Board for Mental Health Practitioners. Evan has capably served OP as a social worker in the Professional Assistance Program for several years and will be transferring to the Board office to take on this new leadership role.
• Eric Greppo, PE, was appointed as the Executive Secretary to the State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology and the State Board for Interior Design. Eric brings to OP his professional experience in the private sector, as well as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYSDOCCS). Since 2009, Mr. Greppo has served as a Professional Engineer for the NYSDOCCS Office of Facilities Planning and Development, handling a wide variety of management and regulatory responsibilities.
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Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

By: Mark Kriss, Esq.
NYSSPE Legislative and Legal Counsel

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING
(Threatened Regulatory Restraints on Professional Practice)

Earlier this month NYSSPE, at the direction of the Society’s Executive Committee, submitted testimony in opposition to efforts by the Department of Environmental Conservation to require that all personnel working on environmental remediation projects overseen by professional engineers, including, for example, those conducting field observations and data collection, work for a single engineering company.  This one shop proposal if adopted would adversely impact a sizable segment of the professional engineering community consisting of numerous solo and small to intermediate size engineering firms who traditionally have worked collaboratively with environmental consulting firms with regard to projects of this nature.  Notwithstanding that the New York State Education Law clearly envisions that professional engineers may utilize the services of both employees and other qualified third-party consultants in the delivery of professional engineering services, the new DC regulation would eliminate this practice. A copy of the Society’s testimony is set forth below.

In the event that this type of restrictive regulation moves forward other areas of professional engineering currently practice by solo and small or intermediate sized engineering firms, could face similar constraints.

See letter wrote to DEC from NYSSPE 

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Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

2022 NYS Legislative Session
by Mark Kriss Esq., Legislative Counsel

Preliminarily, the Society’s leadership wants to again thank all of our members who helped advocate for legislation to require that an applicant seeking licensure as a professional engineer in New York State have a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (BDE).  After a prolonged effort, over multiple legislative sessions, the bill has been signed into law, and the state has joined the majority of other states with similar licensure requirements.  (The law does have a transition provision allowing those currently seeking licensure via the 12-year experience ladder to continue on their career path, provided a timely application is pursued with the State Education Department.  In addition, the Commissioner of Education is authorized to permit exceptions to the BDE requirement including, for example, an applicant holding a bachelor’s degree in physics or mathematics and a master’s degree in engineering.)

1. Indemnification –   To be introduced early 2022

This legislation, which was previously vetoed by ex-Governor Cuomo, addresses the issue of design professional contractual indemnification on public sector projects (state and local), and is strongly supported by NYSSPE.  The legislation addresses public sector contracts wherein municipalities, state agencies and other governmental entities have inordinate leverage over the terms of indemnification.  Presently, governmental entities can and do unfairly shift the burden to design consulting firms for the cost of future contingent events such as property damage, personal injury and attendant attorneys’ fees.

Broad form defense and indemnification provisions subject design professionals to liability arising out of the circumstances that are well beyond the design professional’s scope of work, and for matters over which the design professional has no control.  Design professionals in many instances are unable to secure insurance to cover the scope of claims these provisions can generate.  Many of the most highly qualified engineering firms simply refuse to participate in RFQs when confronted with adhesion contracts of this nature.  As a result both public owners and taxpayers are deprived of the opportunity to benefit from their participation.

This bill addresses indemnification inequity by voiding contractual provisions requiring defense and indemnification involving a public work to the extent that a design professional is required to defend and indemnify a municipality, state agency, or other governmental entity or other parties for damages that are not the result of the negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct of the design professional.  Responsibility for losses related to the actions or failures of other parties that are unrelated to the design professional services rightfully rest with the at-fault party or parties.  Design professions simply should not be compelled to provide indemnification for such conduct.

2. Emergency Responder – Support

(A5769/Englebright and S6377/Savino)     Combines Emergency Responder  / Good Samaritan

As previously reported NYSSPE has joined a broad-based coalition, including other design professional organizations and the construction community, in support of this measure which combines enhanced good Samaritan protection with a proposal offering liability protection for emergency responders hired in the wake of a natural or man-made disaster. (The coalition includes the New York Building Congress, Associated General Contractors of New York, ACEC New York, AIA New York, and a number of other organizations representing the construction and design communities.)

In essence, this bill is designed to ensure that the liability for services rendered under emergency conditions (whether voluntary or based on contract) rests with the governmental bodies which are principally charged with restoring normalcy following a disaster.  Under the proposal, service providers are held harmless in the absence of gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing for services rendered in the wake of a disaster. The governmental entity securing services will stand in the shoes of the design professional or contractor in instances of ordinary negligence, thereby affording the injured party a source of recovery. The measure does not apply to businesses whose primary business is responding to disasters fully cognizant of the risks such as a company routinely advertising its emergency response services.

3. QBS – Support

(A8504 –Comptroller’s Program Bill)

This legislation requires the use of Qualifications Based Selection by Public Authorities and Public Benefit Corporations, in addition to state agencies.   Expanded utilization of QBS has been a long sought-after goal of NYSSPE. In fact, due in substantial part to the Society’s efforts, similar legislation passed the Assembly in 2010. QBS assures that price is not the sole criteria in the selection of professional engineering services by affording due consideration to the respective qualifications of consulting firms participating in the procurement process.  Adoption of QBS also helps to avoid steering of service contract to politically favored firms.  Since former Governor Cuomo opposed expanding QBS, his departure from office has enhanced our assessment of the prospects for this bill. In fact, NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has advanced the legislation with the goal of to preventing some of the abuses identified under one or more prior administrations.

4. Statute of Repose – Support

(A1706/S4127 – Assemblyman Pretlow/Senator Griffo)

This legislation creates a 10-year Statute of Repose requiring that actions for personal injury and wrongful death against a design professional and construction contractors be commenced not more than 10 years after a project is completed.  The bill continues to face strong opposition from the New York State Trial Lawyers Association.  NYSSPE has been assisted in its fight by other organizations including associations representing general contractors and AIA. [Read more…]

See below for the recent letter from NYSSPE President, Joe Pasaturo, PE to the Mayor-Elect of NYC.  This was recently sent out to continue the communication around the threat and danger of illegal practices throughout the city.

Dear Mayor Adams,
Congratulations on your election as the next Mayor of New York City. It was a pleasure meeting you at Casa Belvedere earlier this year with my cousin Roy Ranieri. I am particularly happy that someone with your experience, qualifications, integrity and clear sense of purpose is in a position to provide the steady and inspiring leadership New York City needs and deserves.

I was born and raised in the South Bronx and well as the Pomonok houses in Queens. I am a lifelong New Yorker. I am the President of the New York State Society of Professional Engineers (NYSSPE). The society is a professional association representing the interest of its members, and more generally, the interest of all professional engineers totaling more than 25,000 licensees in New York State, practicing in all disciplines (civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, chemical, geological environmental, etc.) and practicing in all practice settings (private sector consulting, industry, government and education).

Professional Engineers, individually and communally, are keenly concerned with the promotion of public health, safety and welfare. Our members do not take lightly their responsibility to the greater community. It is our hope that in the years ahead we can work constructively with you to help move New York City to a brighter and safer future. [Read more…]

UPDATE CONTINUING EDUCATION
By Mark Kriss, Esq., NYSSPE Legislative Counsel

Chapter 260 Laws 2020
Assembly Bill 10021A Senate Bill 7986A 2020
Earlier this week we distributed information  (click here) regarding liberalized continuing education requirements for Professional Engineers due to COVID-19, as well as prospective statutory changes allowing all continuing education courses to be secured via self-study eliminating the requirement that 18 credits per registration period required live study. The notice from earlier this week failed to include more recent developments. Following is a short summary of where matters stand.

In response to the evolving situation with the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), and for those licensees whose registrations renew March 1, 2020 – July 1, 2022, the NYS Education Department will grant (via emergency action) an adjustment to all licensees to complete up to 100% of the continuing education as self-study, provided that it is taken from a Department-approved provider and is in an acceptable subject area for professional engineering. Additionally, the Department will grant an adjustment to all licensees, regardless of registration renewal date, to utilize self-study for any coursework taken during the period from March 1, 2020 – July 1, 2022, provided that it is taken from a Department-approved provider and is in an acceptable subject area.

Prior to January 1, 2022, in the absence of the emergency action, professional engineers were required to demonstrate that 18 of the 36 professional development hours secured during each triennium registration period be obtained via live lecture, in person classes, or live webinar. Chapter 260 of the Laws of 2020 eliminates this requirement for PEs effective January 1, 2022. In short, online courses of all types will qualify prospectively for all 36 development hours. Of course, live venues will also continue to be an option. All courses must continue to be specifically approved for New York State. [Read more…]