INSIDE TSPS.ORG

AFFINITY PARTNERS

Liaison Division
August 12, 2006

ACSM/NSPS
 

I will be attending the Fall NSPS Business Meeting in Arlington, VA, September 29-30 and will report on those activities after the meeting.

Respectfully Submitted

Patrick A. Smith, RPLS
 

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Committee Tasks:

• Work with Standards Committee to establish guidelines for use of GPS in GIS Projects.  To include a checklist that could be used by Client & Provider to determine the scope of the work, deliverables, procedures and anticipated levels of accuracy.

• Continue development of GIS curriculum for use by Education Committee

• Continue to monitor the relationship between GIS and Surveying industries

• Work with TBPLS after legislative session to create and adopt Rules for inclusion and exclusions

This committee will work to accomplish the following specific tasks:

• Create GIS Development course for the 2007 Spring Symposium

• Work with the Membership Committee to recruit GIS members and investigate possible GIS Membership Category

• Work with the Government Affairs committee to include GIS in the definition of surveying

There was a quarterly meeting of the Texas Geographic Information Council (TGIC) on June 15, 2006.  Coleen Johnson and Maxey Sheppard are representatives to this council and can hopefully give us a more complete report of that meeting.  The next TGIC meeting is scheduled for August 3^rd, 2006.

At the June GIS Committee Meeting, Robert Young gave a report of the GIS Symposium held at the April ACSM Convention in Florida.  He also attended the GITA Convention, which was being held simultaneously.  There was talk of combining these two events in the future.  Maxey also gave a report on the presentation he and Coleen gave to the TBPLS.

We are continuing to work on the GIS Development course.  Specific portions of the course outline were assigned to individuals at our February committee meeting.  We hope to have this course completed in time for the 2007 Spring Symposium.

A committee meeting is planned for August 12, 2006 from 9:00a.m. until 11:00a.m.

Respectfully Submitted by:

Brianne Bernsen, Chair
 

REAL ESTATE DIVISION OF STATE BAR
 

The Committee continues to monitor recent Texas real estate law cases and summaries prepared by the Real Estate Section of the State Bar of Texas and publishes cases of interest in the Texas Surveyor.
 

TEXAS BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYING
 

The Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying held its regular Board Meeting at its new Austin location on June 16, 2006. 

Highlights from the meeting were:

• Maxey Sheppard and Coleen Johnson made an excellent GIS presentation.

• Bill Ethridge of CDS Murray appeared before the Board on behalf of one of his employees; the employee is a registered surveyor in the State of Mississippi and his application for the Reciprocal Exam in Texas was denied by the Board.  Following lengthy discussion The Board decided to accept the application.

• Garey Gilley, Complaints Officer, gave his report regarding complaints and actions taken.

• Oil and Gas Committee (Osborn) – the oil and gas industry remains strong presenting great opportunity for land surveyors.

• RPLS and SIT Exam – 36 candidates passed the RPLS exams; 34 passed the SIT exam.  The Board voted to extend the Legal and Analytical testing time one-half hour to allow for a one hour lunch break.  An examinee that passed the RPLS exam was found to be in possession of a copy of the exam given in October 2003; his results will be held in abeyance pending an investigation.

• LSLS Exam – one candidate may have passed the exam depending on a follow-up meeting with Ben Thomson.

• Legislative needs Committee (Smyth): a) minor discussion on the issue of a change in the Land Surveying Practices Act to provide for a Journeyman's license or certification for Party Chiefs, no action taken b) TSPS and the Board will draft legislation regarding the registration of surveying firms; c) lengthy discussion about extending the time the SIT certificate is valid and possible associated fees and continuing education.  No decisions made on the subject.

• Rules (Thomson): a) The Board voted to publish Rule 663.17 (e) regarding monumentation of subdivision in the Texas Register to appear in the July 14 issue; Pat Smith notified the Board that TSPS would request a public hearing on the new rule; b) the Board also voted to submit Rule 661.46 regarding impression seals to the Texas Register to appear in the July 14 issue.

• The following new rules were adopted: Rule 661.52 Inactive Status; Rule 661.63 Frivolous Complaints; and, Rule 661.55 Surveying Firms.  Rule 663.18 Certification was amended to add paragraph (d).

• HB 207 – regarding reduced fees for RPLS over the age of 65: tabled after lengthy discussion for future study; being actively considered.

Regarding proposed Rule 663.17 (subdivision corner monumentation), a Public Hearing will be held before the scheduled TBPLS board meeting which begins at 9:00 AM on August 4^th, 2006, at the TBPLS office.  It is important for TSPS members to attend this hearing and take the opportunity to voice an opinion of the proposed rule.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill O’Hara, RPLS, LSLS

Liaison Committee Chairman
 

TxDOT
 

Since our last report there have been no SCOS Meetings.  Just because there have no meetings the committee has been very active.  First the August 18^th, meeting has been moved to September 7, 2006. Second the conference next year has been moved to the 2^nd week of April, 2007.  Due conflicts at the Hotel and a meeting of TxDOT District Engineers.

A complete report will be presented at the Business meeting in October.
 

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