No Scholarships will be Awarded in 2019 Thanks to the SunSet Commission’s Challenge to our Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists

Glen A. Collier, P.G., C.P.G., Chair of the AIPG Texas Section’s Scholarship Committee announced today that unless funding for scholarships comes in from unanticipated benefactors, there will be no scholarships awarded in 2019 because all of our funds are required to help eliminate the SunSet Commission’s challenge to our Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists.

For more information on this matter, see (here).

The Wise Report

As you know, the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) is currently undergoing their periodic Sunset Commission Review.  In preparation for their report, a PG License Work Group that consists of representatives of the Houston Geological Society, AIPG, AEG, AAPG, and Texas Association of Professional Geoscientists has been formed to help coordinate any defense we may need to provide to the TBPG.  I’ll be reporting on any activities that come up.

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The Wise Report

As you may or may not be aware, the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG), like every other board in Texas, undergoes a Sunset Review every four years. The TBPG is currently undergoing such a review. If you have comments, suggestions, etc. about the current TBPG rules, go to:  http://tbpg.state.tx.us/rule-review/ for information as to how.

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The Wise Report

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.

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The Wise Report

Due to Hurricane Harvey, the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) has implemented the following for PG licenses, GIT certifications, and Geoscience Firm registrations in a Governor-designated disaster county that were scheduled to expire between August 31, 2017 and November 30, 2017 shall expire on December 31, 2017.

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The Wise Report

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) adopts amendments to 22 TAC §§851.10, 851.20, 851.23, 851.25, 851.30, 851.80, 851.157, and 851.203; adopts the repeal of §851.158; and adopts new rules §§851.158, 851.159, and 851.220 concerning the licensure and regulation of Professional Geoscientists. The amendments to §§851.10, 851.20, 851.23, 851.25, 851.30, 851.80, 851.157, and 851.203; the repeal of §851.158; and new rules §851.159 and §851.220 are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the July 7, 2017 issue of the Texas Register (42 TexReg 3549). New rule §851.158 is adopted with changes to the proposed text. The repeal of §851.158 will be effective as of the date the new §851.158 takes effect.

Adopted amendments to §851.10 and §851.30 clarify the definition and role of an “Authorized Official of a Firm” (AOF). Adopted amendments to §851.80 amend language to establish a proctored review of a Texas Geophysics Examination for a fee, and provide a reduction of the renewal fee to half price for a person who has a medical disability. Adopted amendments to §851.20 clarify that an applicant who is not a citizen of the United States must provide a copy of a current visa or something equivalent.

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The Wise Report

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) proposes amendments to §851.10 and §851.30 to clarify the definition and role of an “Authorized Official of a Firm” (AOF).

Proposed amendments to §851.80 amend language to establish a proctored review of a Texas Geophysics Examination for a fee, and provide a reduction of the renewal fee to half price for a person who has a medical disability.

Proposed amendments to §851.20 clarify that an applicant who is not a citizen of the United States must provide a copy of a VISA or a Social Security Number.

Proposed amendments to §851.23 provide an alternate process for applicants who cannot provide a professional reference to verify qualifying work experience.

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The Wise Report

New Rules at the TBPG and an Update on State Legislature Activities

At the last Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) board meeting the following new rules and amendments were adopted by unanimous consent:

  • Amendment to 851.29, regarding reciprocal licensure
  • Amendment to 851.31, regarding temporary licensure
  • Amendment to 851.32, regarding the continuing education program
  • New rule 851.35, regarding voluntary surrender of a license
  • New rule 851.113, regarding duty to abide by Board Order and timely pay administrative penalty
  • New rule 851.203, regarding default proceedings in contested case hearings scheduled with the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH)
  • New rule 851.204, regarding costs of administrative hearings

The adopted rules can be viewed (here) . They are also on the Rules page of the TBPG website, and in the November 18, 2016 issue of the Texas Register.


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The Wise Report

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

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The Wise Report

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.

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