HB761 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ron Johnson

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Engineers and Land Surveyors, State Board of Licensure for Professional, renamed Engineers, State Board of Licensure for Professional, land surveyors, licensure and regulation transferred to Land Surveyors, State Board of Licensure for Professional, Secs. 34-44-1 to 34-44-16, inclusive, 34-44-30 to 34-44-37, inclusive, added; Secs. 34-11-1, 34-11-2, 34-11-3, 34-11-4, 34-11-5, 34-11-6, 34-11-7, 34-11-8, 34-11-9, 34-11-11, 34-11-14, 34-11-15, 34-11-16, 34-11-30, 34-11-31, 34-11-35, 34-11-36 am'd.

Summary

HB761 splits land surveying licensing into a new separate board, renames the current engineers board, and transfers land surveying regulation and records to the new land surveyors board.

What This Bill Does

It creates the State Board of Licensure for Professional Land Surveyors (five licensed land surveyors) to regulate land surveyors, and renames the existing board as the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers. It transfers all land surveying licensing authority, records, and related functions from the old combined board to the new Land Surveyors Board and moves property and files accordingly. It adds a comprehensive licensure framework for land surveyors (intern, professional surveyor) including education, experience, examinations, comity, and corporate practice; and establishes a Certificate of Authorization system for firms, plus disciplinary, renewal, and funding provisions. It also sets governance rules, diversity requirements for the board, enforcement mechanisms, and a dedicated Professional Land Surveyors Fund to handle related finances.

Who It Affects

• Professional land surveyors and applicants: new licensure pathways, exams, internship requirements, renewal cycles, fees, and the possibility of designation as a Professional Land Surveyor or Land Surveyor Intern.
• Firms, partnerships, and governmental bodies that hire land surveyors: must obtain a certificate of authorization to practice land surveying, designate a resident licensed land surveyor in charge for each office, and comply with new supervisory, documentation, and confidentiality requirements.

Key Provisions

• Creates the State Board of Licensure for Professional Land Surveyors (SBPLS) with five professional land surveyors appointed by the Governor from nominees by the Alabama Society of Professional Land Surveyors, including diversity considerations; SBPLS must report annually to the Legislature.
• Transfers all land surveying licensing authority, records, and responsibilities from the existing board (renamed to the Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers) to the new SBPLS; requires moving property, records, and related information within 30 days of the act’s effective date.
• Adds Chapter 34-44 establishing the new land surveying licensure framework, including definitions for Land Surveyor Intern, Land Surveyor, Professional Land Surveyor, and Practice/Offering to Practice; emphasizes responsible charge and professional standards.
• Outlines licensure processes for land surveyors: qualifications based on approved curricula, required experience, eight-hour fundamentals exam, six-hour principles and practice exam, two-hour laws exam, comity provisions, and requirements for internships and graduate study credit toward licensure.
• Requires Certificates of Authorization for corporations/firms that practice land surveying, with a resident licensed land surveyor in responsible charge for each office; establishes supervision, filing, and liability rules for firms and their personnel; documents must bear the seal and signature of the licensed surveyor.
• Implements renewal and fee schedule for land surveyor licenses and certificates of authorization, including annual or biennial renewal, continuing professional competency hours, reinstatement rules, and potential penalties for nonrenewal.
• Provides for disciplinary actions (reprimand, censure, probation, fines up to $2,500 per offense, suspension, revocation) and due process (hearings, appeals to circuit court, subpoenas, and civil penalties deposited to the state fund).
• Creates the Professional Land Surveyors Fund to collect and manage monies, with oversight, bonds, budget controls, and expenditures approved by the board; ensures funds are kept separate from the General Fund.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Engineers and Land Surveyors, State Board of Licensure for Professional