BILL NUMBER: SB 1085	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	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   to,  the
Business and Professions Code, relating to professions and vocations.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1085, as amended, Roth. Professional engineers: geologists:
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 assessment, which includes questions to
reinforce the certificate holder's or licenseholder's knowledge of
laws applicable to his or her practice area. The bill would make the
failure to complete the assessment within a specified period of time
a cause for disciplinary action.  The bill would also require an
applicant for a geophysicist license to complete an examination that
tests knowledge of state laws, as provided. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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 that includes questions to reinforce the certificate holder's
knowledge of state laws and the board's rules and regulations
relating to the practice of professional engineers. Failure to
complete this assessment within 60 days after the date of expiration
of the certificate shall constitute a cause for 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.
   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 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. 2.   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 that includes questions to reinforce the certificate holder's
knowledge of state laws and the board's rules and regulations
relating to the practice of professional geologists and
geophysicists. Failure to complete this assessment within 60 days
after the date of expiration of the certificate shall constitute a
cause for 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.
   SEC. 3.   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
that includes questions to reinforce the licenseholder's knowledge of
state laws and the board's rules and regulations regulating the
practice of professional land surveyors. Failure to complete this
assessment within 60 days after the date of expiration of the license
shall constitute a cause for 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.