Reporting Requirements - Land Surveyors - CA Business And Professions

Section § 8776

If you're licensed as a land surveyor and certain events happen to you, like a felony conviction or a civil settlement above certain amounts, you must tell the board in writing within 90 days. Include all related details if a court or agency was involved. Ignoring this or failing to respond to board questions can lead to disciplinary actions. You're not responsible for reporting other surveyors' issues, though.

(a) A licensee shall report to the board in writing the occurrence of any of the following events that occurred on or after January 1, 2008, within 90 days of the date the licensee has knowledge of the event:

(1) The conviction of the licensee of any felony.

(2) The conviction of the licensee of any other crime that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of a licensed land surveyor.

(3) A civil action settlement or administrative action resulting in a settlement against the licensee in any action alleging fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, breach or violation of contract, negligence, incompetence, or recklessness by the licensee in the practice of land surveying if the amount or value of the settlement is greater than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

(4) A civil action judgment or binding arbitration award, or administrative action resulting in a judgment or binding arbitration award, against the licensee in any action alleging fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, breach or violation of contract, negligence, incompetence, or recklessness by the licensee in the practice of land surveying if the amount or value of the judgment or binding arbitration award is twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or greater.

(b) The report required by subdivision (a) shall be signed by the licensee and set forth the facts that constitute the reportable event. If the reportable event involves the action of an administrative agency or court, the report shall set forth the title of the matter, court or agency name, docket number, and the dates the reportable event occurred.

(c) A licensee shall promptly respond to oral or written inquiries from the board concerning the reportable events, including inquiries made by the board in conjunction with license renewal.

(d) Nothing in this section shall impose a duty upon any licensee to report to the board the occurrence of any of the events set forth in subdivision (a) either by or against any other licensee.

(e) Failure of a licensee to report to the board in the time and manner required by this section shall be grounds for disciplinary action.

(f) For purposes of this section, a conviction includes the initial plea, verdict, or finding of guilt; a plea of no contest; or pronouncement of sentence by a trial court even though the conviction may not be final or sentence actually imposed until all appeals are exhausted.

land surveyor felony conviction civil settlement fraud deceit misrepresentation negligence incompetence recklessness disciplinary action reportable event board inquiries license renewal binding arbitration award court or agency action

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 71, Sec. 9. (SB 1304) Effective January 1, 2015.)

Section § 8776.1

This law section requires that within 30 days after a court in California convicts, settles, or gives a judgment against a licensee of the board, the court must inform the board. The court must also send the board a copy of the conviction, settlement, or judgment and any related court documents that explain or order these decisions.

Within 30 days of entry of a conviction described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 8776, a settlement described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 8776, or a judgment described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 8776, by a court of this state that has been notified that the defendant is a licensee of the board, the court that rendered the conviction or judgment shall report that fact to the board and provide the board with a copy of the conviction, settlement, or judgment and any orders or opinions of the court accompanying or ordering the conviction, settlement, or judgment.

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(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 471, Sec. 5. (SB 679) Effective January 1, 2014.)

Section § 8776.2

If a professional licensed by the board has to pay any part of a civil lawsuit judgment, settlement, or arbitration award, their insurance company or any government agency insuring them must report specific details to the board within 30 days. The report needs to include the licensee's name, the amount involved, what the insurer or agency paid, and who received the payment.

(a) Within 30 days of payment of all or any portion of any civil action judgment, settlement, or binding arbitration award described in Section 8776 against a licensee of the board, any insurer providing professional liability insurance to that licensee shall report to the board the name of the licensee; the amount or value of the judgment, settlement, or binding arbitration award; the amount paid by the insurer; and the identity of the payee.

(b) Within 30 days of payment of all or any portion of any civil action judgment, settlement, or binding arbitration award described in Section 8776 against a licensee of the board, any state or local government agency that self-insures that licensee shall report to the board the name of the licensee; the amount or value of the judgment, settlement, or binding arbitration award; the amount paid; and the identity of the payee.

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(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 471, Sec. 6. (SB 679) Effective January 1, 2014.)

Section § 8776.3

This law outlines that specific rules apply if someone involved in a legal case or settlement is or was part of a business or government agency where they held responsibility for a project. These rules apply when the person was an owner, partner, officer, or employee, particularly in charge of the part of the project related to the legal issue being resolved.

The requirements of Sections 8776, 8776.1, and 8776.2 shall apply if a party to the civil action, settlement, or arbitration award is or was a sole proprietorship, partnership, firm, corporation, or state or local government agency in which the licensee is or was an owner, partner, member, officer, or employee and is or was the licensee in responsible charge of that portion of the project that was the subject of the civil judgment, settlement, or arbitration award.

sole proprietorship partnership corporation government agency licensee civil action settlement arbitration award project responsibility business ownership legal charge civil judgment

(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 691, Sec. 25. Effective January 1, 2005. Section conditionally operative on January 1, 2008, pursuant to Section 8776.7.)

Section § 8776.4

This law states that if someone with a professional license shares a required report with their licensing board, they haven't broken any confidentiality agreements they may have, like a settlement agreement.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a licensee shall not be considered to have violated a confidential settlement agreement or other confidential agreement by providing a report to the board as required by this article.

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(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 22, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2006. Section conditionally operative on January 1, 2008, pursuant to Section 8776.7.)

Section § 8776.5

This law applies to civil engineers who got their license before January 1, 1982. If they are involved in a legal case related to professional land surveying, this article's rules are relevant to them.

The provisions of this article apply to a civil engineer licensed under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 6700) prior to January 1, 1982, if the civil action judgment, settlement, or arbitration award relates to the practice of professional land surveying.

civil engineers licensed before 1982 professional land surveying civil action judgment settlement arbitration award Chapter 7 Section 6700 legal case land surveying practice

(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 691, Sec. 25. Effective January 1, 2005. Section conditionally operative on January 1, 2008, pursuant to Section 8776.7.)

Section § 8776.6

This law allows the board responsible for overseeing specific professional regulations to create additional rules that clarify how certain reporting requirements should be met.

The board may adopt regulations to further define the reporting requirements of Sections 8776, 8776.1, and 8776.2.

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(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 691, Sec. 25. Effective January 1, 2005. Section conditionally operative on January 1, 2008, pursuant to Section 8776.7.)

Section § 8776.7

This law will only be effective starting January 1, 2008, if money is set aside in the budget from a specific fund, and the board is given enough permission and staffing to carry out the law's activities.

This article shall become operative on January 1, 2008, only if an appropriation is made from the Professional Engineer’s and Land Surveyor’s Fund for the 2007–08 fiscal year in the annual Budget Act to fund the activities of this article, and sufficient hiring authority is granted to the board pursuant to a budget change proposal to provide sufficient staffing to implement this article.

operative date January 1 2008 Professional Engineer’s and Land Surveyor’s Fund 2007–08 fiscal year annual Budget Act funding requirement hiring authority board staffing budget change proposal law implementation

(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 354, Sec. 39. Effective January 1, 2008. Note: This section prescribes a conditional operative date for Article 5.7, commencing with Section 8776.)