Professional engineering, geology, geophysics, and land surveying: practice without a license: administrative penalties.

A separate section stating 'It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation preventing the unlicensed practice of land surveying' was removed from the bill. This was a declaratory statement of purpose with no direct legal effect but signaled legislative priority.

The state-mandated local program designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' acknowledging that because the bill expands the scope of a crime, it imposes costs on local agencies (such as law enforcement and courts) that are mandated by the state.

The fiscal committee jurisdiction answer changed from 'no' to 'yes,' meaning the Assembly Fiscal Committee now has review authority over this bill's budgetary impact.

Section numbering was reorganized: the former Section 2 (penalty amendment to B&P Code 8792) was renumbered as Section 1 after the intent section was removed. The digest subtitle was updated to 'surveyors: practice without authorization: penalties.'

The bill now covers civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, geology, and geophysics in addition to land surveying, expanding enforcement authority across all professions regulated by the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

New Section 6787.5 authorizes the board's executive officer to issue citations with administrative fines of $500 to $20,000 per violation for unlicensed civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering practice.

New Section 7872.5 authorizes the same administrative fine range ($500 to $20,000 per violation) for unlicensed geology or geophysics practice.

New Section 8792.5 authorizes the same administrative fine range ($500 to $20,000 per violation) for unlicensed land surveying practice, providing an additional enforcement tool alongside the existing criminal misdemeanor penalties.

The Assembly version's Section 8759.1, which required licensed land surveyors without professional liability insurance to inform clients in writing before contracting and within 30 days if coverage lapses, was deleted entirely.

The bill now makes an appropriation because administrative fines are deposited into the continuously appropriated Professional Engineer's, Land Surveyor's, and Geologist's Fund. The Assembly version had no appropriation.

The state-mandated local program provision (which required reimbursement to local agencies) was removed; the bill no longer triggers a state-mandated local program.

New Section 8759.1 requires licensed land surveyors without professional liability insurance to inform clients in writing before contracting for services, and within 30 days if their policy lapses after contracting. Public agency employees performing surveying for their employer are exempt.

Tiered penalties added for unlicensed practice of land surveying: first conviction up to $10,000 fine or 6 months jail; second conviction up to $15,000 fine or 6 months jail; third or subsequent conviction minimum $20,000 fine or 6 months jail, or both.

Section 8792 expanded with new prohibited acts (subdivisions b through k) including: presenting another person's certificate or license as one's own, filing survey records under another's license, giving false evidence to the board, using another surveyor's seal or signature, using an expired or revoked license, representing oneself as a professional land surveyor without qualification, using protected titles without licensure, and managing a surveying business without appropriate licensure.

Fiscal committee review changed from 'no' to 'yes' and state-mandated local program changed from 'no' to 'yes' because the bill now creates and expands criminal penalties, triggering those designations.

New Section 3 provides that no state reimbursement is required under Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the act only creates or changes a crime or penalty.