§1254. Public works

1. Use of licensed professional engineer not required. Except as provided in subsection 2, any department of this State or any of its political subdivisions, or any county, city, town, township or plantation may engage in construction of any public work involving professional engineering without procuring the services of a registered licensed professional engineer, as long as the contemplated expenditure for the completed project does not exceed $100,000 and the work, both as performed and as completed, does not create an undue risk to public safety or welfare.

2. Exception. A department of this State may require the services of a registered licensed professional engineer for any public works project if the services of the professional engineer are required to comply with any provision of law or rule.

Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §1255, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 186, §1, is further amended to read:

1. Limited practice by nonresident. A person not a resident of and not having established a place of business in this State, practicing or offering to practice the profession of engineering when such practice does not exceed more than 30 consecutive days in any calendar year, if the person is legally qualified by registration licensure to practice the profession in that person's own state or country in which the requirements and qualifications for obtaining a certificate of registration licensure are not lower than those specified in this chapter. To practice under this section, the person must apply in writing and receive authorization;

Sec. 6. 32 MRSA §1255, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 186, §2, is further amended to read:

2. Nonresident becoming resident. A person not a resident of and not having established a place of business in this State, or who has become a resident of this State, practicing or offering to practice in the State for more than 30 days in any calendar year the profession of engineering, and having filed with the board an application for a certificate of registration license and having paid the fee required by this chapter. The exemption continues only for such time as the board requires for the consideration of the application for registration licensure, if the person is legally qualified to practice the profession of engineering in the state or country of residence in which the