The Wise Report
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
July 14, 2012
Looks like the next legislative session will be a continuation of the last one. There is yet again another movement to get rid of the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists (TBPG). The rumor mill has it that the Governor’s office is upset with the problems we’ve had in the past, especially last year with the O&G fiasco and Matt Cowan, President of the Texas Association of Professional Geoscientists (TAPG) reports that Texas State Representative Bill Callegari (District 132, Katy) has launched the Texas Red Tape Challenge. The Texas Red Tape Challenge is a web-site that allows members of the public to offer their ideas on how to reduce the burden of state laws and regulations, or provide recommendations on how to make government work better. All members of the public are welcome to participate by offering their own ideas, or commenting on the recommendations made by others.
The Challenge will focus on four subjects, including occupational licensing, public education mandates, state agency rulemaking, and manufacturing in Texas. Specific laws and regulations relating to each subject area will be introduced for the public's consideration and comment.
For example, the initial occupational licensing regulations on the Texas Red Tape Challenge site include those for auctioneers, geoscientists, athletic trainers, court reporters, and stevedores. The Challenge also asks for ideas on various aspects of state rulemaking, including small business and environmental regulation impact statements, as well as the Texas Register and the rulemaking process.
The Texas Red Tape Challenge will run from July through October, but the portion regarding Geoscientists is only open until July 31, 2012. In November, the Government Efficiency and Reform Committee will meet for formally consider the ideas and recommendations generated through the Challenge web-site. Those ideas that the Committee adopts will be included in its report to the 83rd Texas Legislature beginning in January 2013.
The Texas Red Tape Challenge may be accessed atwww.texasredtapechallenge.com. Anyone is welcome to read the contents and comments on the site. Individuals wishing to offer their own ideas or comments on the Texas Red Tape Challenge must register with the site in order to participate.
The portion of the website that relates to geoscientists can be found at: http://texasredtapechallenge.ideascale.com/a/ideafactory.do?id=19448&mode=top&discussionFilter=byids&discussionID=30775
This is a definite threat to the PG in Texas. Please don’t ignore this. It’s important that you review this site every day or two and make comments to the comments. The more negative comments they get, the less likely we’ll have a problem next year. We need to watch this carefully and begin our defense (once again) now, not later.
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
The Wise Report
7/14/2012
releasedate:
Saturday, July 14, 2012
category:
Articles
subcategory:
Government Update