BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 1431
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   January 12, 2010

                   ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS
                                 Mary Hayashi, Chair
                    AB 1431 (Hill) - As Amended:  January 4, 2010
           
          SUBJECT  :   Geologists and Geophysicists.

           SUMMARY  :   Renames the Board for Professional Engineers and Land  
          Surveyors (BPELS) and increases its board members from 13 to 14.  
           Specifically,  this bill  : 

          1)Renames BPELS the Board for Professional Engineers, Land  
            Surveyors, Geologists, and Geophysicists (Board).

          2)Increases Board membership from 13 to 14 and requires the new  
            Board member to be licensed under the Geologists and  
            Geophysicists Act.

          3)Makes technical and clarifying changes.

           EXISTING LAW  :

          1)Establishes BPELS under the Department of Consumer Affairs  
            (DCA).

          2)Requires the members of BPELS to have at least 12 years active  
            experience, be of good standing in their profession, be at  
            least 30 years of age, and reside in California for at least  
            five years immediately preceding their appointment.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown

           COMMENTS  :   

           Purpose of this bill  .  In 2009, the Legislature approved and the  
          Governor signed AB4X 20 (Strickland).  One provision of AB4X 20  
          consolidated the Board for Geologists and Geophysicists with the  
          BPELS.  The bill transferred all of the roles and  
          responsibilities of the Board for Geologists and Geophysicists  
          to BPELS.  However, did not change the title BPELS to reflect  
          their new role and responsibilities, nor did it include a  
          licensed geologist or geophysicist on the Board now overseeing  
          geologist and geophysicists. 









                                                                  AB 1431
                                                                  Page  2

          It should be noted that DCA licensing boards are typically  
          self-funded by fees assessed on licensees and registrants.   
          Accordingly, the consolidation of BPELS and the Board for  
          Geologists and Geophysicists did not result in any savings to  
          the General Fund.

           Arguments in support  .  According to the sponsor, the  
          Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG), "PECG  
          believes that it is good policy and common sense that the title  
          of the board reflects the professions it is licensing.  Further,  
          PECG believes fairness and common sense requires that the board  
          include at least one licensee.  It is not reasonable for a board  
          to oversee a profession without any professional representation  
          of the profession."


           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          Professional Engineers in California Government (sponsor)

           Opposition 
           
          None on file.
           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Rebecca May / B. & P. / (916) 319-3301