The Florida Senate

334.14  Employees of department who are required to be engineers.--

(1)  At a minimum, each of the following employees of the department must be a professional engineer registered under chapter 471:

(a)  The State Highway Engineer and the district secretary for each district, except that in lieu of engineering registration the district secretary for each district may hold an advanced degree in an appropriate related discipline such as a master of business administration.

(b)1.  The head of each office, or equivalent unit, of the department that is responsible for the design of transportation facilities.

2.  Any person who is employed or assigned by any such unit to be in responsible charge of an engineering project designed by the unit, regardless of whether such person is employed in the central office or in a field office.

(c)1.  The head of each office, or equivalent unit, of the department that is responsible for the construction of transportation facilities or materials testing.

2.  Any area or resident engineer who is in responsible charge of an engineering construction project.

(d)1.  The head of each office, or equivalent unit, of the department that is directly responsible for traffic operations or the maintenance of transportation facilities.

2.  The senior maintenance engineer assigned to a field office.

3.  The senior maintenance engineers in charge of the various area maintenance yards assigned to the field units.

(2)  As used in this section, the term "responsible charge" means the rendering of engineering judgment and decisions in the development of technical policy and programs or the direct control and personal supervision of work performed by himself or herself or by others over whom the person holds supervisory authority.

(3)  Any person holding the position of resident engineer of construction or senior maintenance engineer of a field unit on July 1, 1984, or the position of designer as identified in subparagraph (1)(b)2. on July 1, 1985, is not subject to the engineering registration requirement. However, when such person vacates his or her position, his or her replacement must comply with that requirement.

(4)  The department shall employ a district secretary for each transportation district whose duties shall be fixed by the department and who shall be responsible for the efficient operation and administration of that district.

(5)  In addition to the requirement for engineering registration in subsection (1), the department, in filling the positions described in this section, shall place emphasis on proven management ability and experience.

History.--s. 13, ch. 29965, 1955; s. 5, ch. 57-318; s. 5, ch. 67-461; ss. 12, 23, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 2, ch. 72-29; ss. 2, 3, ch. 73-58; s. 2, ch. 78-90; s. 205, ch. 81-259; s. 2, ch. 81-302; s. 17, ch. 84-309; s. 10, ch. 85-180; s. 4, ch. 88-215; s. 486, ch. 95-148; s. 13, ch. 97-100.