80R6389 JMM-F
 
  By: Jones H.B. No. 2820
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the practice of professional land surveying by a
business entity.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 1071.352, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
       Sec. 1071.352.  SURVEYING BY BUSINESS ENTITY.  (a)  An
association, partnership, or corporation may not offer
professional surveying services unless the entity is registered
with the board and a registered professional land surveyor is
employed full-time where the services are offered.
       (a-1)  The board shall adopt rules prescribing the
requirements for the registration of an entity described by
Subsection (a).
       (a-2)  The board may refuse to issue or renew and may suspend
or revoke the registration of a business entity and may impose an
administrative penalty against the owner of a business entity for a
violation of this chapter by an employee, agent, or other
representative of the entity, including a registered professional
land surveyor employed by the entity.
       (b)  A registered professional land surveyor or licensed
state land surveyor [registration holder or license holder] may
organize or engage in any form of individual or group practice of
surveying allowed by state statute. The individual or group
practice must properly identify the registered professional land
surveyor or licensed state land surveyor [registration holder or
license holder] who is responsible for the practice.
       SECTION 2.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act by the
amendment of Section 1071.352, Occupations Code, applies only to
professional surveying services offered on or after January 1,
2008. Professional surveying services offered before that date are
governed by the law in effect at the time the services are offered,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
       (b)  The Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying shall
adopt rules required by this Act not later than November 1, 2007.
       SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2007.