TSPS Legislative Update
Feb 9, 2011
TSPS is rapidly gathering resources to launch a concerted effort through the Texas legislature to keep TBPLS alive. House of Representative committee appointments are due to be posted today so we can begin to identify the key legislators who may be able to help in this initiative.
It is important to keep in mind that the making of legislation is a process and it will be to our advantage to plan an organized and unified approach. Many of you already understand the legislative process but for those who may not we would like to present a simple explanation of what has occurred and how we are beginning our response.
In his speech and in his draft budget the Governor has made recommendations to the legislature. Until his recommendations are turned into bill(s), which will work their way through the system, they are merely that—recommendations. The TSPS legislative team will secure appointments to speak with legislators on both the House and Senate committees that will likely hear any bills impacting surveyors. It is our intention to make them aware of the ramifications of proposed changes to the TBPLS. It will be of vital importance to see and understand any bills before launching a grassroots campaign.
If not through legislation, it is also possible that TBPLS could be eliminated by zeroing out their budget in the appropriations bill (SB1) but that hasn’t happened yet. In fact, there is a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Feb 24 and we are planning to be present both to support our agency reps and to listen to the direction the committee is taking. The appropriations bill is always the final bill of the session so we have time to fight this battle.
An appointment has been secured to meet with key staffers in the Governor’s office. At this meeting we would hope to gain a better understanding of what is meant by the Governor’s statement: “Suspend the Board of Professional Land Surveying…”
At this time TSPS leaders are organized and gathering the facts and resources. Meetings with key legislators have been set in an effort to develop a plan to defeat any efforts to abolish/consolidate/suspend or restructure TBPLS. It will be the voices of surveyors from across the State of Texas that will carry weight with the legislators. Going forward TSPS will offer recommendations on key talking points and the most strategic times for you to make contact with those individuals in the Texas legislature.
Web updates and eblasts will be utilized as frequently as necessary to keep you informed or to issue a call to action. A new feature is being added to the TSPS website: Lone Star Lines is a blog that will be updated by various members of the TSPS staff, leadership and others. Check the TSPS website regularly for updates on legislative issues and other topics.
Thank you for your support of TSPS and your interest in the legislative process.
It will be what it will be. There is no use in getting all worried about it.
out of general curiosity: Is the Texas Board self funded? ie: operations costs are from registrant fees and dues?
My WAG is that this is driven by the economy...
No. The money raised for the "love gifts" as Kent coined goes to the general fund and a budget is given from the legislature to the board. We raise more than we are given.
> No. The money raised for the "love gifts" as Kent coined goes to the general fund and a budget is given from the legislature to the board. We raise more than we are given.
If you can document that in some way I think it could be your best weapon... disbanding would be a net loss to the general fund.
But, it is probably more complex than that. Good Luck!
The reality is that it won't be disbanded or put in some other agency. This is political grandstanding at it's finest by the biggest PITA Texas has ever elected. He pulled a couple of names out of a hat and that was it for small agencies that would evoke a minimal amount of flak.
The historical commission though, it's funny. I think they were in a position to hold up his goofy private highways.
I'm about as worried about this as a cloudy day.
Well lots of people think
Well lots of people think that we have too much government regulation. So we need to cut back on the regulation and this will spur job growth. If developers,for example, do not have to pay so much for unecessary regulations, then they will make more profit and this is really good for everyone else. In the rest of the country, all we hear is how wonderful things are in Texas. The economy is booming and taxes are low and unemplyment is low and the government is hacking away all those useless and nasty regulations.
I am in my easy chair, watching to see how it all turns out. I cannot wait to see the paradise that will be spawned when the labor market is flooded with cheap unlicensed land survetors.
I seriously doubt whether anyone is concerned over an agency that is basically revenue neutral.
No that is not it at all....
First they came for the teachers, then the firefighters and now they are coming for you.
Dane
I stand by my first statement in this thread.
Dane
Ain't Politics Grand!
Whether we actually save money or not is beside the point; the point is what will the public perceive (right or wrong doesn't matter)?
Dane
Dave, you hit the nail on the head...or was that the 60dnail? It doesn't matter, as long as I said you hit THE nail.:-P
Dane
Working inside the government you see this type of thing all the time.
The latest here is vehicles. Cut 50% of the vehicles! Sounds great but shh don't talk about increased rental costs and employee mileage reimbursement. Cell phones too; frankly, they are welcome to my State-issued cell phone but don't call my personal one.
DAVE
My theory is that problems abound when there is an attempt to keep the "true and complete cost" of goods and services artificially low. A state government could decide to end all of their wireless phone service, collect all the workers' phones and they would save money on phonebills. Most workers like you would rightfully refuse the state the use of your personal phone for state business.
The result of such penniwise/pound foolish nonsense is that the service of the state would become more inefficient and in some cases health and saftey might be put at risk. But gosh darnit we save the tax payers a million on phone bills, never mind the effect ot the true and complete cost.
