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.
It has come to my attention that there may be a move, under the Sunset Review, to either get rid of the TBPG or place it under the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration (TDLR), who licenses barbers, wrestlers, air conditioning installers, etc. I don’t believe this is, nor ever has been, an acceptable alternative to the current Board. We’ll have to continue to watch the situation for now and see how it develops. There will be a public hearing on the Review’s findings, probably in August. That will be the time to take any action, if necessary. Any changes to the TBPG’s status will take place once the Texas Legislature goes back into session in January 2019.
At the very least, it’s my understanding that they will be questioning our fine structure, which is set by the legislature. Currently, maximum fines are $100. The maximum fines for Professional Engineers and other licenses in the TDLR are typically on the order of $3,000 to $5,000, so you can expect that this will probably go up, substantially.
Henry M. Wise, P.G.