Sec. 1002.351. PUBLIC PRACTICE OF GEOSCIENCE BY FIRM OR CORPORATION. (a) A firm or corporation may engage in the public practice of geoscience only if:

(1) the geoscientific work is performed by, or under the supervision of, a licensed geoscientist who is in responsible charge of the work and who signs and seals all geoscientific reports, documents, and other records as required by this chapter; or

(2) the principal business of the firm or corporation is the public practice of geoscience as determined by board rule and a principal of the firm or an officer or director of the corporation is a licensed geoscientist and has overall supervision and control of the geoscientific work performed in this state.

(b) The board may adopt rules relating to the public practice of geoscience by a firm or corporation. Rules adopted under this section must recognize that this chapter does not apply to an engineer or engineering firm that performs service or work that is both engineering and geoscience. A firm that engages in the practice of both engineering and geoscience is exempt from any firm registration requirements created under this subsection.

(c) Except as provided by this section, 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 geoscientific services or prepare a geoscientific report, document, or other record that requires the signature and seal of a license holder under Section 1002.263(b).

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 14A.004(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.