The Legislature finds and declares that there is an area of concurrent practice between the practice of architecture and the practice of engineering, specifically in the area of building design. In order to eliminate uncertainty and provide for the resolution of future disputes in the area of concurrence, the Legislature declares that it is in the public interest to create a Joint Committee of Architects and Engineers to receive referrals from the New Jersey State Board of Architects and the State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors; conduct investigations to determine violations of this act; conduct, at its discretion, hearings; communicate its findings in writing; and issue declaratory rulings on the use group classifications contained in section 7 of this act.
Nothing herein, except as provided in section 5 of this act, shall be deemed to preempt the ultimate decision making authority of the boards.
It is also the Legislature's intent to provide for contracting between architects and engineers without compromising the integrity of either profession.
This act is declared remedial except that the powers and duties of the committee shall be limited to those contained in section 5 of this act.