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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Lopez

DATE TYPED 03/04/2005 HB

SHORT TITLE

Nonboundary Survey License Standards

SM 33

ANALYST Moser

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

NFI

Relates To: SB 163 & HB 99

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

NM Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 33 requests that the Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors

through its Professional Surveying Committee develop policy and standards for the licensure of

non-boundary surveying disciplines.

Significant Issues

The Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors indicates that the development

of policy and standards for the licensure of “non-boundary surveying disciplines” would be a

significant undertaking by the Professional Surveying Committee of the Board and would fun-

damentally change the licensing of professional surveyors. Such an undertaking would need to

include the development of appropriate licensing models, to include: education, specific experi-

ence requirements, and development of psychometrically-sound examination(s) in specific spe-

cialties such as geodesy and photogrammetry for the protection of the public.

A determination would need to be made as to whether the process would license individuals as a

professional surveyor with unique competencies or to license by specific disciplines. Assigned

titles would need to be carefully considered to ensure that the public is not misinformed or is not

Senate Memorial 33 -- Page 2

confused on the qualifications of the professional. Since this would be an expansion of licensing

for an entire new group of individuals that are expanding into new mapping and measurement-

based disciplines that have not been separately regulated, it would require consideration of

grandfathering of individuals currently providing some of these services as well as the current

practices of licensed professional engineers and surveyors.

The examination portion of the post-grandfathering period would create significant concern for

the Board since there are no national licensing examinations for geodesists and photogrammet-

rists. Discipline for practicing outside area of competencies or license would also need to be

addressed.

The Board has over the last few years reviewed this matter and found that there is insufficient

demand to create a new profession, i.e. licensing of photogrammetrists. In the last few years the

board has received

only one request to

change the licensing requirements. Currently, photo-

grammetric services are provided to the public through licensed professional engineers and li-

censed professional surveyors.

The Board of Licensure finds

no benefit to the public to create new licensing laws accommodat-

ing individuals who already are able to provide their services through engineers and surveyors.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

As outlined above in Significant Issues, a comprehensive review and revision

of academic cur-

riculum requirements

in surveying

education would be required. An

analysis of

current services

provided by professional engineers and surveyors, and how the public would be impacted

by a

tier structure within surveying, would need to be completed by the Board with input from aca-

demia, licensees, professional organizations and the public.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The fiscal implications to the Board would be in the expenses incurred by a study group. The

board indicates that a new licensing model/process for professional surveyors would in the future

be fiscally significant, especially if national examination(s) is not available.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

There would be significant

administrative implications in providing support services to groups

working on policy and standards for licensure.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Related to SB 163 & HB 99 & HB 306.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The board indicates that the creation of a tier system within surveying would likely lead to other

groups advocating specialty licensing within the discipline.

ANA/yr