Texas Board Update
TSPS Legislative Update
Feb 9, 2011
TSPS is rapidly gathering resources to launch a concerted effort through the Texas legislature to keep TBPLS alive. House of Representative committee appointments are due to be posted today so we can begin to identify the key legislators who may be able to help in this initiative.
It is important to keep in mind that the making of legislation is a process and it will be to our advantage to plan an organized and unified approach. Many of you already understand the legislative process but for those who may not we would like to present a simple explanation of what has occurred and how we are beginning our response.
In his speech and in his draft budget the Governor has made recommendations to the legislature. Until his recommendations are turned into bill(s), which will work their way through the system, they are merely that—recommendations. The TSPS legislative team will secure appointments to speak with legislators on both the House and Senate committees that will likely hear any bills impacting surveyors. It is our intention to make them aware of the ramifications of proposed changes to the TBPLS. It will be of vital importance to see and understand any bills before launching a grassroots campaign.
If not through legislation, it is also possible that TBPLS could be eliminated by zeroing out their budget in the appropriations bill (SB1) but that hasn’t happened yet. In fact, there is a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Feb 24 and we are planning to be present both to support our agency reps and to listen to the direction the committee is taking. The appropriations bill is always the final bill of the session so we have time to fight this battle.
An appointment has been secured to meet with key staffers in the Governor’s office. At this meeting we would hope to gain a better understanding of what is meant by the Governor’s statement: “Suspend the Board of Professional Land Surveying…”
At this time TSPS leaders are organized and gathering the facts and resources. Meetings with key legislators have been set in an effort to develop a plan to defeat any efforts to abolish/consolidate/suspend or restructure TBPLS. It will be the voices of surveyors from across the State of Texas that will carry weight with the legislators. Going forward TSPS will offer recommendations on key talking points and the most strategic times for you to make contact with those individuals in the Texas legislature.
Web updates and eblasts will be utilized as frequently as necessary to keep you informed or to issue a call to action. A new feature is being added to the TSPS website: Lone Star Lines is a blog that will be updated by various members of the TSPS staff, leadership and others. Check the TSPS website regularly for updates on legislative issues and other topics.
Thank you for your support of TSPS and your interest in the legislative process.
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