(a) Unless registered with the TBPG or exempt from
firm registration requirements under TOC §1002.351, an individual,
firm, or corporation may not represent to the public that the individual,
firm, or corporation is a licensed geoscientist or able to perform
geoscience services or prepare a geoscientific report, document, or
other record that requires the seal of a Professional Geoscientist.
(b) A business entity or sole proprietor that offers
or is engaged in the non-exempt public practice of professional geoscience
in Texas must register with the TBPG pursuant to the requirements
of §851.30 of this chapter.
(c) The Appointed Board may revoke a certificate of
registration that was obtained in violation of the Act and/or TBPG
rules including, but not limited to, fraudulent or misleading information
submitted in the application.
(d) A business entity or sole proprietor that is not
registered with the TBPG may not represent to the public by way of
letters, signs, or symbols as a part of any sign, directory, listing,
contract, document, pamphlet, stationery, advertisement, signature,
or business name that it is engaged in the non-exempt public practice
of geoscience by using the terms:
(1) "Professional Geoscientist;"
(2) "licensed geoscientist;"
(3) "registered geoscientist;"
(4) "licensed Professional Geoscientist;"
(5) "registered Professional Geoscientist;" or
(6) any abbreviation or variation of those terms listed
in paragraphs (1) - (5) of this subsection, or directly or indirectly
use or cause to be used any of those terms in combination with other
words.
(e) The Appointed Board may revoke or suspend a Geoscience
Firm's registration, place on probation a firm whose registration
has been suspended, reprimand a Geoscience Firm, or assess an administrative
penalty against a Geoscience Firm for a violation of any provision
of TBPG rules or the Act by the firm or any employee of the firm.
The Appointed Board also may take action against an Applicant pursuant
to §851.110 of this chapter.
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Source Note: The provisions of this §851.152 adopted to be effective December 15, 2010, 35 TexReg 10695; amended to be effective November 1, 2012, 37 TexReg 8019; amended to be effective June 1, 2013, 38 TexReg 3352; amended to be effective December 11, 2014, 39 TexReg 9539; amended to be effective March 18, 2015, 40 TexReg 1384; amended to be effective March 15, 2016, 41 TexReg 1843 |