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TITLE 22EXAMINING BOARDS
PART 39TEXAS BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL GEOSCIENTISTS
CHAPTER 851TEXAS BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL GEOSCIENTISTS LICENSING AND ENFORCEMENT RULES
SUBCHAPTER CCODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
RULE §851.104Dishonest Practice

(a) A Professional Geoscientist, a Geoscientist-in-Training, or Geoscience Firm shall not directly or indirectly perform an act, omit or allow an omission, make an assertion, or otherwise engage in a practice in such a manner as to:

  (1) Defraud;

  (2) Deceive; or

  (3) Create a misleading impression.

(b) A Professional Geoscientist, a Geoscientist-in-Training, or Geoscience Firm shall not advertise publicly or individually to a client or prospective client in a manner that is false, deceptive, misleading, inaccurate, incomplete, out of context, or not verifiable.

(c) A Professional Geoscientist, a Geoscientist-in-Training, or Geoscience Firm shall not directly or indirectly solicit, offer, give, or receive anything or any service of significant value as an inducement or reward to secure any specific government-funded geoscience services.

(d) A Professional Geoscientist, a Geoscientist-in-Training, or Geoscience Firm shall not make any false, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent or exaggerated claims or statements about the services of an individual or organization, including, but not limited to, the effectiveness of geoscience services, qualifications, or products.

(e) If a Professional Geoscientist, a Geoscientist-in-Training, or Geoscience Firm learns that any false, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent or exaggerated claims or statement about the geoscience services, qualifications or products have been made, the licensee shall take reasonable steps to correct the inappropriate claims. As appropriate, the Professional Geoscientist, a Geoscientist-in-Training, or Geoscience Firm may notify the TBPG in writing about these claims.

(f) Professional Geoscientists and Geoscience Firms shall issue statements in an objective and truthful manner. Professional Geoscientists, Geoscientist-in-Training, and Geoscience Firms must make reasonable efforts to make affected parties aware of the concerns regarding particular actions or projects, and of the public health, safety, and welfare consequences of geoscientific decisions or judgments that are overruled or disregarded.

(g) A Geoscience Firm that retains or hires others to advertise or promote the firm's practice remains responsible for the statements and representations made.

(h) A Geoscience Firm shall maintain a work environment that uses standard operating procedures and quality assurance/quality control standards related to the Geoscience Firm's practice to ensure that the Geoscience Firm protects the public health, safety, and welfare.


Source Note: The provisions of this §851.104 adopted to be effective December 15, 2010, 35 TexReg 10695; amended to be effective January 1, 2012, 36 TexReg 8826; amended to be effective November 1, 2012, 37 TexReg 8019; amended to be effective December 11, 2014, 39 TexReg 9539; amended to be effective March 15, 2016, 41 TexReg 1843; amended to be effective October 31, 2018, 43 TexReg 7140; amended to be effective March 6, 2022, 47 TexReg 947

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