(From Pat Smith, TSPS Governmental Affairs Committee Chair)
TSPS representatives were in attendance at the February 16 meeting of the House Finance Committee where the proposed budget for TBPLS was presented. No comments were made by the Committee and at this time the budget for TBPLS remains as a separate line item.
TSPS representatives also met with the Governor’s Advisor of Budget, Planning & Policy, to discuss the Governors remarks relative to TBPLS in his State of the State address to the legislature and proposed budget recommendations. TSPS was advised that the remarks are only relative to options of how to refine the size of state government relative to the budgetary concerns and is in no way an attempt to de-regulate the surveying profession or do away with the regulatory & enforcement functions of TBPLS.
What does TSPS know at this point? There is no move underway to “do away” with the surveying profession. There is no legislation currently filed that changes TBPLS from an independent state agency.
Will it stay this way? Given the current push by all parts of the Legislature (Governor, Senate & House) to reduce the budget deficit, numerous avenues will be investigated and discussed on how to reduce the size & cost of state government. The direct impact to TBPLS could involve remaining an independent agency, consolidation with an existing agency, being administratively attached to an existing state agency or a plan for TBPLS to become a semi-autonomous agency on its own or in conjunction with other licensed professions.
TSPS representatives are meeting with key Senators & Representatives to make sure that TBPLS maintains its unique identity and the regulatory and enforcement functions remain the same in whatever legislative action occurs. As was stated in the prior Legislative Update, it is early in the session and committees are just starting to meet and discuss these issues and TSPS is dedicated to being involved in the process and protecting the interests of the surveying professionals.
What State?
TSPS, TBPLS, Texas, Tennessee? No mention in the article nor your profile.
What State?>Tenn = TAPS
(used to be a member) I assume these are Texas references
Tunisia
just kidding. It is Texas.
A few weeks ago someone posted the info showing that the registration brought in 1.1 million dollars and the operating cost of the board was about 400k. The Governor is wanting to cut or combine the board to save money.
What State?
Texas, Gene's in South East Texas... almost Houston
The most logical avenue is for the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveyors (TBPLS) to be absorbed by the Texas General Land Office as the Texas Land Commissioner (Head of the GLO) by law has a seat on TBPLS. We'll see how the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors (TSPS) handles this... there's several months left that the legislature is in session and then they'll adjourn until January 2013.