1. Requirement for licensed professional engineer; exception. When any department of this State or any of this State's political subdivisions or any county, city, town, township or plantation engages in construction of a public works project that involves professional engineering, the services of a licensed professional engineer must be used in the public works project unless:
A. An authorized representative of the department of this State or any of this State's political subdivisions or any county, city, town, township or plantation engaged in the construction of a public works project issues a written determination that the life, health and property of the public will be adequately protected without the services of a licensed professional engineer; and [PL 2023, c. 174, §1 (NEW).]
B. The contemplated expenditure for the completed project does not exceed $250,000. [PL 2023, c. 174, §1 (NEW).]
For purposes of this subsection, the Director of the Bureau of General Services within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services is the authorized representative of a department of this State engaged in public works projects that constitute public improvements under Title 5, chapter 153.
2. Continuing authority to require licensed professional engineer. Subsection 1 may not be construed to limit the authority of a department of this State or any of this State's political subdivisions or any county, city, town, township or plantation to require the services of a licensed professional engineer for any public works project.