Bill Text: CA SB1085 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Professional engineers: geologists and geophysicists: land surveyors.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2016-09-25 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 629, Statutes of 2016. [SB1085 Detail]
Download: California-2015-SB1085-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 1085 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 629
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 25, 2016
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 18, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 28, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 22, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 20, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 7, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Senator Roth
FEBRUARY 17, 2016
An act to amend Section 7841.1 of, and to add Sections 6795.2,
7881.5, and 8801.1 to, the Business and Professions Code, relating to
professions and vocations.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1085, Roth. Professional engineers: geologists and
geophysicists: land surveyors.
Existing law makes the Board for Professional Engineers, Land
Surveyors, and Geologists responsible for the certification,
licensure, and regulation of the practice of professional
engineering, the practice of professional geologists and
geophysicists, and the practice of professional land surveyors.
Except for an applicant for a geophysicist license, existing law
requires these applicants for a certificate or license to complete an
examination that tests knowledge of state laws, as provided.
Existing law subjects these certificates and licenses to renewal and
requires the holder of the certificate or license to apply for
renewal on a form prescribed by the board and pay a prescribed fee,
as provided.
This bill would additionally require an applicant for renewal to
complete a board-administered online assessment to reinforce the
certificate holder's or licenseholder's knowledge of laws applicable
to his or her practice area. The bill would authorize the failure to
complete the assessment within a specified period of time to be a
cause for disciplinary action. The bill would prohibit the board from
charging the renewal applicant a fee for the administration or
development of the assessment. The bill would also require an
applicant for a geophysicist license to complete an examination that
tests knowledge of state laws, as provided.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 6795.2 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
6795.2. (a) At the time of renewal specified in Section 6795 or
6796, the board shall administer an assessment of the certificate
holder to reinforce the certificate holder's knowledge of state laws
and the board's rules and regulations. Failure to complete this
assessment within 60 days after the date of expiration of the
certificate may result in disciplinary action under Section 6775, but
shall not affect the renewal of the certificate.
(b) The crime in subdivision (j) of Section 6787 shall not apply
to this section.
(c) The board shall not charge the certificate holder a fee for
the administration or development of the assessment.
(d) For the purposes of this section, "assessment" means an online
program that contains educational reading material and questions.
The material shall be based on state law and the board's rules and
regulations relating to the practice of professional engineers. The
scope of the assessment shall be limited to the board's top five
types of violations related to the administrative and procedural
aspects of the practice of professional engineers and any changes or
additions to existing law related to such administrative and
procedural aspects.
SEC. 2. Section 7841.1 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
7841.1. An applicant for licensure as a geophysicist shall have
all of the following qualifications. This section shall not apply to
applicants for licensure as geologists.
(a) Not have committed any acts or crimes constituting grounds for
denial of licensure under Section 480.
(b) Meet one of the following educational requirements fulfilled
at a school or university whose curricula meet criteria established
by rules of the board.
(1) Graduation with a major in a geophysical science or any other
discipline that, in the opinion of the board, is relevant to
geophysics.
(2) Completion of a combination of at least 30 semester hours, or
the equivalent, in courses that, in the opinion of the board, are
relevant to geophysics. At least 24 semester hours, or the
equivalent, shall be in the third or fourth year, or graduate
courses.
(c) Have at least seven years of professional geophysical work
that shall include either a minimum of three years of professional
geophysical work under the supervision of a professional
geophysicist, except that prior to July 1, 1973, professional
geophysical work shall qualify under this subdivision if it is under
the supervision of a qualified geophysicist, or a minimum of five
years' experience in responsible charge of professional geophysical
work. Professional geophysical work does not include the routine
maintenance or operation of geophysical instruments, or, even if
carried out under the responsible supervision of a professional
geophysicist, the routine reduction or plotting of geophysical
observations.
Each year of undergraduate study in the geophysical sciences
referred to in this section shall count as one-half year of training
up to a maximum of two years, and each year of graduate study or
research counts as a year of training.
Teaching in the geophysical sciences referred to in this section
at a college level shall be credited year for year toward meeting the
requirement in this category, provided that the total teaching
experience includes six semester units per semester, or equivalent if
on the quarter system, of the third or fourth year or graduate
courses.
Credit for undergraduate study, graduate study, and teaching,
individually, or in any combination thereof, shall in no case exceed
a total of four years towards meeting the requirements for at least
seven years of professional geophysical work as set forth above.
The ability of the applicant shall have been demonstrated by his
or her having performed the work in a responsible position, as the
term "responsible position" is defined in regulations adopted by the
board. The adequacy of the required supervision and experience shall
be determined by the board in accordance with standards set forth in
regulations adopted by it.
(d) Successfully pass a written examination that shall test the
applicant's knowledge of state laws, rules, and regulations, and of
the principles and practices of geophysics within this state. The
board shall administer the test on the state laws and the board's
rules and regulations as a separate part of the examination for
licensure as a geophysicist.
SEC. 3. Section 7881.5 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
7881.5. (a) At the time of renewal specified in Section 7880 or
7881, the board shall administer an assessment of the certificate
holder to reinforce the certificate holder's knowledge of state laws
and the board's rules and regulations. Failure to complete this
assessment within 60 days after the date of expiration of the
certificate may result in disciplinary action under Section 7860, but
shall not affect the renewal of the certificate.
(b) The crime in subdivision (h) of Section 7872 shall not apply
to this section.
(c) The board shall not charge the certificate holder a fee for
the administration or development of the assessment.
(d) For the purposes of this section, "assessment" means an online
program that contains educational reading material and questions.
The material shall be based on state law and the board's rules and
regulations relating to the practice of professional geologists and
geophysicists. The scope of the assessment shall be limited to the
board's top five types of violations related to the administrative
and procedural aspects of the practice of professional geologists and
geophysicists and any changes or additions to existing law related
to such administrative and procedural aspects.
SEC. 4. Section 8801.1 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
8801.1. (a) At the time of renewal specified in Section 8801 or
8802, the board shall administer an assessment of the licenseholder
to reinforce the licenseholder's knowledge of state laws and the
board's rules and regulations. Failure to complete this assessment
within 60 days after the date of expiration of the license may result
in disciplinary action under Section 8780, but shall not affect the
renewal of the license.
(b) The crime in subdivision (j) of Section 8792 shall not apply
to this section.
(c) The board shall not charge the licenseholder a fee for the
administration or development of the assessment.
(d) For the purposes of this section, "assessment" means an online
program that contains educational reading material and questions.
The material shall be based on state law and the board's rules and
regulations relating to the practice of professional land surveyors.
The scope of the assessment shall be limited to the board's top five
types of violations related to the administrative and procedural
aspects of the practice of professional land surveyors and any
changes or additions to existing law related to such administrative
and procedural aspects.
