AB 271

Under current law, with certain exceptions, a person may not practice land

surveying or represent that he or she is a land surveyor unless the land surveyor

section (section) of the examining board of architects, landscape architects,

professional engineers, designers and land surveyors (board) has issued a certificate

of registration or permit to the person. "Land surveying" is defined as determining

the location of land boundaries and boundary corners; preparing maps that show the

shape and area of tracts of land or subdivisions or the layout of roads, streets, or

rights-of-way; or preparing official plats or maps of land in this state.

This bill replaces "land surveying" with the term "practice of professional land

surveying" and defines the term as any of the following:

1. Establishing, restoring, or perpetuating private or public land boundaries

and boundary corners.

2. Preparing maps for establishing the boundaries of interests in real property

that depict any of the following: a) the shape and area of tracts of land or the

subdivision or consolidation of tracts; b) the layout and rights-of-way of roads or

streets; c) air, water, or property rights; or d) public or private easements.

3. Preparing assessors' or official plats or maps of lands in this state.

4. Measuring and analyzing a tract of land to determine its legal description.

5. Designing or coordinating designs for platting or subdividing tracts of land.

6. Applying knowledge or experience about land surveying to assist in the

development, use, or management of geographic or land information systems.

7. Performing cartographic, construction, or geodetic surveying in connection

with any of the practices described in the above items.

8. Providing consultation services related to any of the practices described in

the above items.

The bill also replaces the certificate of registration requirement under current

law with a licensure requirement. Therefore, under the bill with certain exceptions,

a person may not engage in the practice of professional land surveying or represent

that he or she is a professional land surveyor unless the person is issued a license or

permit by the section. Also, after July 1, 2018, the bill requires employees of this

state and public utilities to obtain a license or permit to engage in the practice of

professional land surveying. Such employees are exempt from the certificate of

registration and permit requirements under current law.

In addition, the bill changes the name of the section to the professional land

surveyor section and changes the name of the board to the examining board of

architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, designers and professional

land surveyors. The bill also replaces various references under current law to

"registered land surveyor" with "professional land surveyor."

For purposes of platting lands or preparing survey maps that involve ordinary

high water marks (OHWMs), a professional surveyor may incorporate an ordinary