BILL ANALYSIS



C.S.H.B. 200
By: Madden
3-15-95
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND

Persons who practice "professional surveying" in Texas are required
to be licensed by the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying. 
Advances in technology and the performance of surveying services
which are not under the supervision of a licensed surveyor require
that the definition of "professional surveying" be revised to
address these two issues.

PURPOSE

H.B. 200  amends the definition of "professional surveying".  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1:  Amends Section 2(1), Professional Land Surveying
Practices Act (Article 5282c, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes). 
     (1)   Deletes "for compensation" from definition of the
practice of  "professional surveying".  Adds that the term of
professional surveying includes application of knowledge of the
principles of geodesy to the measurement and location of
sites,points, in the air, on the surface of the earth, within
underground workings for the purpose of determining areas and
volumes.

     (c) adds easements to the list of items that require a
surveyor for the purposes of determination.  

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 3A, Professional Land Surveying
Practices Act, (Art. 5282c, V.T.C.S.)

     3A.  Adds that a registered land surveyor is not required for
a construction estimate, that does not involve the monumentation of
a metes and bounds description.

SECTION 3:  Effective date.  September 1, 1995.

SECTION 4:  Emergency clause.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The original added accepted measuring methods that included the use
of coordinate datums based on latitude and longitude; universal
transverse mercator coordinates; Texas state plane coordinates;
local horizontal coordinates; and national and local vertical
datums.  The substitute does not contain this language.  The
substitute adds application of the principles of geodesy to the
measurement and location of sites, points, in the air, on the
surface of the earth, within underground workings for the purpose
of determining areas and volumes.  The original did not contain
this language.  The substitute also adds easements to the list of
items that require a surveyor to be used in the preparation and
determination of.  The original did not contain this provision. 
Also the substitute added that a registered land surveyor is not
required for a construction estimate, that does not involve
monumentation of a metes and bounds description.  The original did
not provide for this.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

H.B. 200 was heard in a Public Hearing on March 1, 1995.  Rep. Dear
laid out a complete committee substitute, and moved adoption by the
full committee.  There was no objection.  The Chair recognized the
following persons to testify in favor of the bill:
     Mr. Steven E. Hanan, Tx. Soc. of Professional Surveyors
     Mr. Kevin A. Meals, Tx. Soc. of Professional Land Surveyors-Chapter 9;
The Chair recognized the following to testify, registering neutral
on the bill:
     Mr. David A. Vilbig, Tx. Bd. of Professional Land Surveyors;
H.B. 200 was referred to the following subcommittee:  Rep. Dear,
Chair; Rep. Jones; and Rep. Kubiak.  H.B. 200 was considered by the
Subcommittee in a Formal Meeting on March 9, 1995.  Rep. Kubiak
moved that the subcommittee adopt C.S.H.B. 200, and that it be
reported favorably to the full committee with the recommendation
that it do pass.  The motion prevailed by the following vote: 
AYES:  3, NAYS:  0, ABSENT: 0.  H.B. 200 was considered in a Public
Hearing on March 15, 1995.  Rep. Kubiak moved that the full
committee take up H.B. 200 on an eligible subcommittee report. 
There was no objection.  Rep. Kubiak moved that the full committee
adopt C.S.H.B. 200 and that it be reported favorably to the full
House with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The
motion prevailed by the following vote:  AYES:  7, NAYS:  0,
ABSENT:  2.  Rep. Kubiak moved that H.B. 200 as substituted be sent
to the Local and Consent Calendar, by the vote which it had been
favorably approved.  There was no objection.