HB 1311, the bill to continue the regulation and functions of the Texas Board of Professional
Geoscientists, has been passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bill now awaits approval from Governor Abbott.
Jennifer Jones, of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission (TSAC), reports that with the start of the 86th Texas Legislature, the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission’s review work for the current cycle has been completed, and that there will be no further activities regarding current agencies sent through the SAC email lists. Instead, you may follow the Legislature’s progress on Sunset bills at the TSAC 86th Legislature page and through Texas Legislature Online. You can also follow Sunset on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for occasional updates.
At the conclusion of the 86th Legislative Session, Sunset’s website will be updated with information regarding the next set of agencies up for review. At that time, you will need to re-subscribe to relevant lists in the TSAC website to receive information.
You should also monitor information announced by the Texas Geoscience Council on the bills presented to the 86th Texas Legislature regarding the Sunset Commission’s recommendations to the Texas 86th Legislature for possible codifying into law, regulation, or otherwise.
For a historical perspective of the issues involved, see: (here).
As you know, the Texas Geoscience Practice Act is under attack. As a Professional Society, we must respond and defend this very important Professional Credential. Whether you have a Texas PG License or are in a field that is exempt from Licensure, the Texas Geoscience Practice Act is important to our Profession. It is of critical importance to those of us who practice before the public to defend the Texas Geoscience Practice Act. Therefore AIPG Texas is supporting, with money and manpower, the Texas Geoscience Council (TGC), which has been formed to defend the Act.
The Texas Geosciences Council’s mission is to unite the geoscientific community so that we can work together to accomplish three goals:
The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) adopts an amendment to 22 TAC §851.21 to establish guidelines for applicants requesting to sit for a licensing examination. Adopted changes add language to provide that an applicant who does not fully meet the education requirement for licensure may sit for a licensing examination as long as the applicant has submitted certain documents and has acknowledged that the applicant does not meet the education requirement. The applicant will then need to resolve the education deficit once the applicant has received passing scores on the licensing examination in order to obtain a Professional Geoscientist license.
The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) adopts amendments to 22 TAC §§851.29, 851.31, and 851.32, and adopts new rules §§851.35, 851.113, 851.203 and 851.204, concerning the licensure and regulation of Professional Geoscientists. The new rules and amendments in 22 TAC §§851.29, 851.31, 851.32, 851.35, 851.203 and 851.204 are adopted without changes from the proposed text as published in the September 16, 2016, issue of the Texas Register (41 TexReg 7246). New rule 22 TAC §851.113 is adopted with changes. For more information go to: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/November182016/a
The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) proposes amendments to 22 TAC §§851.29, 851.31, and 851.32, and proposes new rules §§851.35, 851.113, 851.203 and 851.204, concerning the licensure and regulation of Professional Geoscientists. These amendments clarify the requirements regarding Endorsement and Reciprocal Licensure. Proposed amendments amend language to show that a licensing qualification can be endorsed by another licensing board for an applicant for P.G. licensure who is currently or has been licensed in the last ten years to practice a discipline of geoscience in Texas or another U.S. jurisdiction. Proposed amendments also clarify under “Licensure by similar examination” that an individual who has applied for licensure as a Professional Geoscientist in Texas may meet the licensing examination requirement by submitting proof of passage of examinations that are substantially similar to the applicable examination(s) as specified in §851.21.
On November 21, 2014 the Governor of New York signed Chapter 475 of the Laws of 2014 which provides for the licensure of professional geologists under Title VIII of the Education Law. The Law does not take effect until November 21, 2016. Under the provisions of the new law, Geology has been added to the current State Board for Engineering and Land Surveying (State Board). As of November 21, 2016, the State Board will be known as the State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology. To assist the Board of Regents and the Department in implementing geology licensing provisions, the Board of Regents appointed qualified geologists to the State Board. The State Board has assisted the Board of Regents and the Department in developing the regulations that establish the education, experience, examination, age, moral character and fee requirements for applicants seeking licensure as a professional geologist. These regulations were adopted at the July 2016 Regents meeting and will become effective November 21, 2016 and can be found on our web site (http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/geo/geolaw.htm).
