Professional land surveyors and engineers.

(1) The Professional Land Surveyors' Act provides for the licensure and regulation of land surveyors by the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. A violation of that act is a misdemeanor. Existing law requires fees and civil penalties received pursuant to the Professional Land Surveyors' Act to be deposited in the Professional Engineer's, Land Surveyor's, and Geologist's Fund, and continuously appropriates those funds to the board for purposes of the act. This bill, on and after January 1, 2022, would prohibit a business, except for a sole proprietorship or a limited liability company, from engaging in the practice of, or offering services for, land surveying in this state unless that business obtains a certificate from the board. The bill would require the board to develop a process to that effect, including developing an application form that meets certain requirements, including that the applicant pay a fee, as determined by the board, for that certificate and a process to renew and revoke a certificate. By authorizing additional fees and penalties to be deposited into a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation. By expanding the scope of the existing crime with regard to violations of the Professional Land Surveyors' Act, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.