Proposed Amendments and Repeals
At the February 10, 2023 Board meeting, TBPG proposed amendments to the following rules and posted them to the Texas Register on March 17, 2023 for public comment:
22TAC 851.10 Definitions
Adds the term “Digital Signature” to the definitions.
22 TAC 851.43 GIT Certification period and Renewal
The current rule allows for GITs to renew their certification yearly for up to eight years, and requires renewals past the eighth year to be granted at the discretion of the appointed Board. The proposed amendment allows for a GIT to be renewed indefinitely without requiring action by the Appointed Board when all other renewal requirements are met.
22 TAC 851.156 Professional Geoscientist Seals and Geoscience Firm Identification
The TBPG recently received public comment asking that the Board clarify its rules on digital signatures. Upon review, the Board determined it necessary to include provisions in the rules defining and allowing licensees to use digital signatures to satisfy the signature requirements for electronic geoscience documents.
Adopted Rules
At the August 12, 2022 Board meeting, TBPG adopted amendments to 851.22. Waivers and Substitutions: Policy, Procedures, and Criteria These amendments permit waivers to be granted for the Geophysics discipline.
These adopted amendments were submitted to the Texas Register, and were in effect 20 days after it appeared in an issue of the Texas Register.
Current Rules
Rules by Section – Texas Administrative Code
Chapter 850
Subchapter A. Authority and Definitions
850.1. Authority
850.10. Definitions
Subchapter B. Organization and Responsibilities
850.60. Organization and Responsibilities of the Board – General Provisions
850.61. Organization and Responsibilities of the Board – Meetings
850.62. General Powers and Duties of the TBPG
850.63. Responsibilities of the Appointed Board
850.65. Petition for Adoption of Rules
Subchapter C. Fees
850.81. Charges for Providing Copies of Public Information
850.82. Dishonored Payment
Subchapter D. Advisory Opinions
850.100. Subject of an Advisory Opinion
850.101. Request for an Advisory Opinion
850.102. Appointed Board Initiated Opinion
850.103. Receipt, Review, and Processing of a Request
850.104. Compilation of Advisory Opinions
850.105. Time Period
Chapter 851
Subchapter A. Definitions
851.10. Definitions
Subchapter B. P.G. Licensing, Firm Registration, and GIT Certification
851.20. Professional Geoscientist Licensing Requirements and Application Procedure
851.21. Licensing Requirements-Examinations
851.22. Waivers and Substitutions: Policy, Procedures, and Criteria
851.23. Qualifying Experience Record
851.25. Education
851.26. Licensing of Military Service Members, Military Veterans, and Military Spouses
851.27. Replacement License Certificate or License Expiration Cards
851.28. Professional Geoscientist License Renewal and Reinstatement
851.29. Endorsement and Reciprocal Licensure
851.30. Firm Registration
851.31. Temporary License
851.32. Continuing Education Program
851.35. Voluntary Surrender of a License, Registration or Certification
851.40. Geoscientist-in-Training (GIT)
851.41. Geoscientist-in-Training Certification Requirements and Application Procedure
851.43. GIT Certification Period and Renewal
851.44. Use of the Title “Geoscientist-in-Training”
851.80. Fees
851.83. Certain Licensees Temporarily Exempt From Continuing Education Requirements
851.85. Contingent Emergency/Disaster Response Actions
Subchapter C. Code of Professional Conduct
851.101. General
851.102. Competence/Negligence
851.103. Recklessness
851.104. Dishonest Practice
851.105. Conflicts of Interest
851.106. Responsibility to the Regulation of the Geoscience Profession and Public Protection
851.107. Prevention of Unauthorized Practice
851.108. Criminal Convictions
851.109. Substance Abuse
851.110. Effect of Enforcement Proceedings on Application
851.111. Professional Geoscientists Shall Maintain Confidentiality of Clients
851.112. Required Reports to the TBPG
851.113. Duty to abide by Board Order and timely pay administrative penalty
Subchapter D. Compliance and Enforcement
851.151. General
851.152. Firm Compliance
851.153. Professional Geoscientist Compliance
851.154. Loan Default Ground for Nonrenewal of License
851.155. Actions Following Certain Notifications Regarding Child Support Delinquency
851.156. Professional Geoscientist Seals and Geoscience Firm Identification
851.157. Complaints and Confidentiality
851.158. Procedures
851.159. Sanctions
Subchapter E. Hearings–Contested Cases and Judicial Review
851.201. Contested Case Hearings
851.202. Extensions of Time
851.203. Defaults
851.204. Costs of Administrative Hearings
851.220. Judicial Review Procedures