Juneau, Alaska – The Alaska House of Representatives today passed legislation protecting consumers and increasing accountability for architects, engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects.

House Bill 167, by Representative Kurt Olson, amends statutes clarifying the manner and conditions for sealing and signing drawings, specifications, surveys, and similar documents. The bill also adds a subsection that requires documents containing the work of multiple fields of practice be sealed and signed by a registrant in each of the fields in the document.

Most professionals work within their field of expertise but current statutes suggest that a professional is allowed to seal design documents that are not in the realm of the professional’s expertise. “The simple changes in this bill will offer clarity in the use of seals and requirements for work under a professional’s seal,” Olson, R-Soldotna/Kenai, said. “Additionally, the changes in the bill will further enhance the public’s health, safety and welfare by eliminating the loopholes in current statutes that allow for misuse of seals.”

The changes made by this bill were brought forward by the Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors.

HB 167 passed the House 29-0 and now moves to the Alaska Senate for Consideration.