Legislative Issues
FAPG/AIPG FLORIDA SECTION
FAPG/AIPG Legislative Day,
Dinner & Business Meeting
(pdf with agenda and RSVP form)
A Special Notice to all Florida geologists from FAPG/AIPG:
The Florida Association of Professional Geologists (FAPG), the Florida Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), is holding a Legislative Day dinner & business meeting in Tallahassee. ALL Florida PGs, practicing geologists (whether PG or not), and interested parties are welcomed and encouraged to attend.
FAPG has hosted this Legislative event for several years. The procedure is simple: together with
fellow geologists, meet for a few hours at our state capital to walk the halls of the legislature,
and meet as many legislators and their staff as possible.
The objective, however, is not so simple: to help our legislators and their staff recognize the
value and purpose of the Florida Geology community. And this year is perhaps the most critical
ever, as budget shortfalls continue in the state and talks continue of slashing the programs that
protect Floridian’s health and our state’s natural resources.
Last year, we saw the petroleum cleanup trust fund swept; the FSU and UF Geology Departments seriously threatened due to budget cuts; and we saw significant funding cuts to many other natural resource protection programs. FAPG works for the benefit of all geologists in the state. It doesn’t matter if you practice in the environmental, water resource, geotechnical, mineral exploration, or another field. Your career is directly affected by the rules, regulations, and budgets our lawmakers enact. It’s time for you to help us protect your chosen occupation.
If you are already an FAPG/AIPG member, we thank you. We know your time is valuable, but we ask that you seriously consider spending one day out of your year to help us state our case to our elected officials. You don’t have to talk or make a presentation; just be there for support.
If you work with or know other geologists that aren’t in FAPG, please pass this information on to them. We need everyone’s help this year!
A meeting notice and registration form is attached. The agenda consists of a casual social hour and business/dinner meeting on Monday night, March 15, followed by the Legislative Day on Tuesday, March 16. We hope you can attend both events, but showing the maximum amount of support is vital as we walk the halls of the capitol on Tuesday, March 16.
With sincere appreciation,
The Executive Committee of FAPG/AIPG
The Florida Senate, House of Representatives and additional information can be found at:
http://www.floridataxwatch.org
In previous years, efforts were made to change three existing Florida statutes of significance to Florida’s professional geologists. We succeeded in enacting changes to the Water Resources Act. FAPG-AIPG still requires effort from its membership to encourage members of appropriate committees and legislative representatives to support the professional geologist community in affecting these changes.
Other items of legislative interest include:
Chapter 287.055, F.S. Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act.
Another proposal submitted by the Board of Professional Geologists, but never addressed by the Florida legislature is the addition of Professional Geologists to the Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act. Specifically the Board proposed an amendment to Chapter 287.055, F.S., to include Professional Geologists as identified professionals along with architects, engineers, landscape architects, and surveyors. Certified professional geologic firms are excluded from responding to Requests for Statements of Qualifications (RFSOQ) for professional services from various government agencies (city, county, regional, and state) for differing geologic, hydrogeologic, and geotechnical services. This exclusion of PG firms from participating and practicing within their professional area of expertise is wrong and potentially harms the public.
Chapter 492.113, F.S. Professional Geology Act
Currently Section 492.113, F.S., states that the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is the primary agency responsible for the disciplinary proceedings for professional geologists. The Board is not involved which creates problems with complaints being dismissed or no further investigation being done. FAPG supports changes to this statute which would give the Board, as opposed to the Department, authority to establish, by rule, acts which are in violation of Chapter 492, and administer disciplinary action. The proposal will benefit the profession and the public because those who are most knowledgeable in the practice of geology will administer discipline for the profession.
Chapter 492.113, F.S. Geologist in Training
Implementing a Geologist in Training (GIT) program in the State of Florida would allow graduating geologists to take the first part of the PG exam (the fundamentals/ general geology portion) upon graduation. The geologist would be designated as a Geologist in Training upon successfully passing this part of the exam. The second (Applied Experience) part of the exam would be taken after the geologist meets the experience requirements. This would be taken upon being approved by the PG Board as having met the experience and other statutory requirements leading to becoming a PG. Several states, including Mississippi, have instituted a GIT program. One of the potential benefits to having a GIT program would be the additional protection of public safety and welfare by assuring that all practicing geologists, even those who are still journeymen and are not yet licensed, have met the standards of minimum geologic competency prior to being employed and serving the public.
If the Professional Geologist community wishes to be given a fair hearing on issues of importance to them (and the protection of the public and our water resources!), then the PG community must rally support and communicate their concerns. We can not count on the various state agencies to propose or support these changes for us.