MARCH 31 UPDATE: Monitoring House Bill Activities
MARCH 31 UPDATE: MONITORING HOUSE BILL ACTIVITIES: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/BillStages.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB1311
Henry M. Wise, President of AIPG Texas Section, has heard from his contacts that now is the time. The final stretch of getting the amended Texas Geoscience Act reauthorized is here. Senate and House Bill 1311 currently being considered by the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee and will be voted on in the immediate future, even as early as tomorrow. As with most of life, timing is everything. TGC has been following the lead of our lobbyist about when the proper time would be for us to call our representatives to tell them we want them to support the bill. They tell us that there are two well known organization opposing the bill. We need 30 Republicans to support the bill, but they are not so unified. So, we are asking all licensed geoscientists who are in republican districts to call and email their representatives asking for them to support the bill.
Look up your representatives at: https://www.house.texas.gov/members/find-your-representative/
Besides overtly asking them to support SHB 1311, you might mention the importance of having licensed Geoscientists. You can say what you want to say about the importance of licensing, but this is what most of us are saying, more or less:
Please support SHB 1311. Licensing sets and enforces the minimum standard of qualifications and competency for those geoscientists who work in areas that protect health, safety and the environment in our State. Geoscientists licensed by TBPG play an essential role in the safe and environmentally-responsible development of oil and natural gas in Texas as well as many other economically-important activities, such as construction and geotechnical engineering, developing and managing the State’s water resources, and engaging in environmental assessment and remediation projects. TBPG’s licensing process provides both regulators and the public the assurance that licensees meet a suitable standard of competence and capability for the important work with which they are entrusted.