Brief Description: Adding provisions that define "survey," "surveying," "the practice of land surveying," and "responsible charge."

Sponsors: Representatives Williams and Chase.

Hearing Date: 1/11/06

Staff: Sarah Dylag (786-7109).

Background:

Land surveyors must be registered before engaging in the practice of land surveying in Washington. The Washington State Board of Registration for Engineers and Land Surveyors, through the Department of Licensing, regulates the practice of land surveying in Washington. Land surveyor registration is divided into two categories: "professional land surveyor" and "land surveyor-in-training." Education, experience, and examination requirements apply to both categories. According to the Department of Licensing, as of October 2005 there were 1,130 professional land surveyors and 201 land surveyors-in-training registered in Washington.

The "practice of land surveying" is defined as assuming responsible charge of the surveying of land for the establishment of corners, lines, boundaries, and monuments, the laying out and subdivision of land, the defining and locating of corners, lines, boundaries and monuments of land after they have been established, the survey of land areas for the purpose of determining the topography thereof, the making of topographical delineations and the preparing of maps and accurate records thereof, when the proper performance of such services requires technical knowledge and skill.

Summary of Bill:                                                            

Definitions

The definition of the "practice of land surveying" is expanded to include assuming responsible charge of or providing, or offering to provide, professional services related to the following activities:

• determining the size, shape, and contour of the earth's surface, any point on the earth, or the position of fixed objects thereon by means of measuring;
• determining the position of any boundary or nonboundary survey control monument or reference point thereof, and the setting, resetting, or replacing of any monument or reference point;
• locating, relocating, establishing, laying out, or retracing any property line, boundary of any tract of land, road, right-of-way, or easement;
• locating, relocating, establishing, or laying out any primary horizontal or vertical control for construction alignment, or any survey for determining final as-constructed locations;
• making any survey for the subdivision of any real property;
• locating, relocating, laying out, or retracing any lines that restrict the use of real property;
• creating or modifying the descriptions of the limits of real property interests; and
• creating, preparing, or modifying documents, maps, electronic data, or computerized data related to any of these activities.

Professional services included in the "practice of land surveying" are: consultation, investigations, testimony evaluation, planning, preparation of descriptions and reports, mapping, assembling and interpreting gathered measurements, and information.

Definitions for "responsible charge," "survey," and "surveying" are added. "Responsible charge" is defined as the practice of land surveying performed by a licensee or under the direct supervision of a licensee. "Survey" is defined as determining or delineating the form, extent, and position of objects and legal boundaries, such as a tract of land, by taking linear and angular measurements of the earth's surface, and by applying the principles of geometry and trigonometry. "Surveying" is defined as the practice of land surveying.

Requirements for Government Entities

When a government entity reviews, approves, or examines any survey data, documents prepared by a registered land surveyor, or services performed by a registered land surveyor, the government entity must do so using a registered land surveyor or under the direct supervision of a registered land surveyor.

Rules Authority: The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule-making powers of an
agency.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 4, 2006.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.