BILL ANALYSIS
By: Jones, Delwin
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
In Texas, business entities (e.g., corporations, limited liability companies, etc.) may not offer professional surveying services unless a registered professional land surveyor is employed full time where the services are offered. However, under current law, these business entities are not required by law to register with the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying (Board) nor are they subject to regulation by the Board.
H.B. 2820 provides that these business entities must register with the board and that the board may refuse to issue or renew, suspend, or revoke an entity registration and/or impose an administrative penalty for a violation of the Professional Land Surveying Practices Act. Placing these entities under the regulation of the Board of Professional Land Surveying will protect the public interest.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying in SECTION 1 and SECTION 2 of this bill.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 2820 requires business entities which offer professional surveying services to register with the board and be subject to disciplinary action for failure to comply with the Professional Land Surveying Practices Act. Requires the board to adopt rules prescribing the registration requirements.
H.B. 2820 applies only to professional surveying services offered on or after January 1, 2008; requires the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying to adopt rules no later than November 1, 2007.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Immediately, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.