| (a) In the event of a declared emergency or disaster,
the Executive Director may implement one or more temporary measures,
as provided in this section, if the following conditions exist:
(1) The Governor of the State of Texas declares a disaster
under Government Code, §418.014, or if the Executive Director
determines that there is an emergency affecting the public health,
safety, and welfare; and
(2) the Executive Director, in consultation with the
TBPG Board Chairman, determines that enacting available temporary
measures is necessary in the specified disaster or emergency area.
(b) Emergency Response Actions.
(1) Expiration dates for some or all license types
may be extended. TBPG may extend the expiration date of a license
as a Professional Geoscientist, a certification as a Geoscientist-in-Training,
or a registration for a Geoscience Firm.
(2) Temporary suspension of certain fees. TBPG may
temporarily suspend the regular fees for duplicate license certificates,
duplicate wall or wallet license expiration cards, or certain license
verifications during the period of time that TBPG deems appropriate
to address the emergency or disaster.
(3) Continuing education requirements for the renewal
of a license or certification may be temporarily suspended or deadlines
extended.
(4) The issuance of an emergency license as a Professional
Geoscientist, valid for one year and is not renewable. To be eligible
for an emergency license as a Professional Geoscientist under this
section, an applicant must:
(A) submit a completed application on the appropriate
TBPG form;
(B) provide proof of licensure in good standing as
a Professional Geoscientist or Professional Geologist in another U.S.
state jurisdiction;
(C) follow all of the laws and rules applicable to
the non-exempt public practice of geoscience in Texas, including the
registration of a Geoscience Firm; and
(D) pay the application and one-year license fee for
the license for which the applicant has applied and any other applicable
fee.
(c) The Executive Director, in consultation with the
TBPG Board Chairman, may implement all or some contingent emergency
response actions available under this section, depending on the circumstances
and overall needs of the State of Texas and TBPG's licensees.
(d) The Executive Director may take other reasonable
administrative actions warranted by the circumstances including, but
not limited to, suspension of certain complaint investigations and
complaint case adjudication actions, extension of deadlines in certain
Board orders, suspension of certain continuing education audits, or
expedition of certain Professional Geoscientist license or Geoscience
Firm applications.
(e) The Executive Director shall ensure that notifications
of emergency measures taken are communicated to all members of the
Appointed Board, all affected license holders, and the general public,
to the extent that it is feasible and as soon as it is feasible. The
Executive Director may use various methods including, but not limited
to, posting notices to the agency website and sending e-mails, letters,
or postcards.
(f) Actions taken by the Executive Director under this
section are effective only until the next regular or special meeting
of the Appointed Board. The Appointed Board shall review all actions
taken by the Executive Director under this section at the next regular
or special meeting of the Appointed Board. The Appointed Board shall
take action to either continue the actions taken by the Executive
Director under this section for a specified amount of time, with or
without modifications; or to discontinue the actions taken by the
Executive Director under this section.
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