I am writing to declare my disgust concerning the proposed repeal of Chapter 472, which regulates the Surveying & Mapping Profession.

The ability to own land was one of the primary rights granted to Americans. Since the first settlers arrived in this country, disputes over property boundaries have existed. During the past 40 years the State of Florida has coordinated with our profession to undertake huge steps in protecting the public's welfare by developing a true profession of Surveying & Mapping.

In the mid 1970's, the University of Florida began offering a comprehensive curriculum in the Surveying Profession. This was one of the nation's first programs. The program had the backing of the profession and much of the funding came from within the practitioners located in Florida. Since that time, other states have followed Florida's lead in developing laws and rules to protect their public.

In 1981, Minimum Technical Standards for surveys prepared in the state of Florida became a driving force to insure surveys were prepared with minimum competency. Efforts were made to educate the profession on the new standards. Many revisions to the standards insure they remain current with the technology used in the profession. Once again, Florida was the lead state in promoting Minimum Technical Standards. Many states used Florida's rules in developing their own set of standards..

Could you imagine future development without an properly educated and experienced Surveyor? The value of land in Florida should be enough to tell anyone that proper location of individual properties is reason to continue the regulation and licensure of the profession.

Without Chapter 472, any Tom, Dick or Jane can present him or herself as an expert, when in reality this person would not have the first idea of a Professional Survey. This proposed bill guts the "professional" standard the Surveyors of this state have obtained. This action takes the State of Florida back 40 years! Property owners throughout the State, including the State of Florida, will be harmed without Chapter 472.

your comment "Many respected business professionals think not. " I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH.

Yes, there are some business interests that need to regulated for Public Safety..such as Construction. this I very strongly support.

However, we have way too many rules, regulations that dramatically increases the cost of doing business here in South Florida.

I agree with our new governor..laws and rules need to makes sense from BOTH public safety, interest and keeping Florida a business friendly environment.

The #1 consumer complaint down the road will be against home inspectors, they will be allowed to write anything in a report, creating problems for the home loan industry, realestate brokers and buyers. Eliminating professional credibility will allow major fraud into the system creating job opportunity for lawyers, so much for tort reform.

This sends a clear message to the thousands of college students getting degrees in surveying, landscape architecture, and interior design at dozens of Florida universities. Get your degree and MOVE. If this becomes law young professionals will leave to find a better business environment.

FAIL.

Deregulation of Land surveying sets florida back 50 years. If all you look at is the staff analysis of the bill you will see the licensing requirements listed. That may give the impression that that part will be repealed, but reading of the bill it deletes statue 472,
which means no license, no seal,no right of entry, no test, no continuing education, no board of surveyors, no disiplinary action, and no minimum standards.

By deleting the statue you delete it all. you are left with the public having no survey standards.
Surveyors must sign and seal their work with a impression seal for it to be valid. so taking the seal away from surveyors takes jobs away.

No more elevation certificates as they are required to be sealed and a federal form.
Alta/Ascm commercial surveys (think apartment complexes,shopping malls,marinas,sports arenas,and multi million dollar properties) require more stringent requirements than standard surveys, and with no seal on them that market will go away.
Subdivision plats which require a seal, two actually one from the original surveyor, and another from another surveyor for checking for compliance to chapter 177 plat law would not be sealed, and hoping that the cities and counties would not have reservations about that may be unrealistic.
The Department of Transportation would have to accept un sealed right of way maps (specific purpose surveys) as all their in house surveyors would de licensed as well, I expect that this will change the bidding process for setting control,benchmarks and preparing maps for them.
The Department of Environmental Protection would be in a similar position for accepting un sealed mean high water surveys, and un sealed surveys relating to coastal construction tied to the coastal construction control line. Since these are ordered by individuals, there is no bid process involved.

The engineers would have to specify their requirements on a topographic surveys as their are no standards anymore, and accept un sealed surveys for development projects. Legal descriptions would be un sealed and have no standards. The lenders and title companies who use the surveys to protect their interests should find this lack of standards very troubling. Contuining education providers would not be needed as there is no demand or requirement for them.

Deregulation of surveyors does not promote jobs, it takes them away, and harms the public by leaving no standards in place. Surveyors are regulated for a reason, lets keep it that way.

I only concentrated on jobs and growth in this thought as that was the intent of this bill, I could go in depth about legal descriptions, interpreting descriptions, overlap in descriptions, applying legal principles to deeds, and public reliance on surveys, evaluating evidence, preponderance of evidence found, following in the footsteps of the original surveyor, and all of those points are very valid. there is more to surveying than just measuring.

Removing certifiable standards for cadastral land surveying might be penny wise but certainly is pound foolish. Proper property definition requires specific training and techniques not possessed without training and practice. Selecting those lacking these credentials to survey results in John building a house on what turns out to be Toms property. Government certification would seem to offer the best standardization for this role.

I'm just as disgusted as Phillip is. As a Professional Surveyor and Mapper with a four year degree in Surveying and Mapping, I will take my ball and go play somewhere that I don't have to compete with thieves and scoundrels if HB 5005 passes. I used to think the worst thing that could happen was to become unemployed in FL, then House Bill 5005 came along...

I've already got my new state picked out, and that's difficult to say as a Native Floridian. However, as someone with a 4 year degree, I cannot compete with a fly-by-night guy with a GED who once worked for his uncle's brother's cousin as a survey rod person. I know the next crop of "Surveyors" in Florida won't carry professional liability insurance. Why would they? They don't have a license to protect, and how will you find them when you have a dispute with your neighbor or the State Road that runs in front of your place?

Jim,
Thanks first of all for writing. As suggested to Mark W., please consider contacting your representatives in the Florida Legislature as well as those setting on the Economic Affairs Committee on this issue. Time is of the essence. Contact information (email, phone, etc.) has been provided in today's post (3/22).

WHEW! Everyone -- thanks so much for writing. It's redundant to post essentially the same message in reply so here's a blanket reply to everyone here:

1. Thank you for taking the time to comment. It's appreciated.

2. Please consider contacting your representatives in the Florida Legislature as well as those setting on the Economic Affairs Committee on this issue. Time is of the essence. Contact information (email, phone, etc.) has been provided in today's post (3/22).

This is ridiculous. To deregulate any profession in the building construction industry, which has a significant impact on public safety and welfare, is a horrible idea.

Surveyors, landscape architects, interior designers, and home inspectors? I have been harmed by a home inspector to the tune of $11,000.

I agree with Jay Everett. Take it from me, an Oregon resident and interior designer, who is not able to be licensed in my state. My choice to continue my professional growth and pursue business opportunities is the following: go back to school, start over and become and architect, or move.

Unless the governor is considering deregulating architects as well, landscape architects and interior designers would lose a lot of business. (I'm not suggesting anyone deregulate architecture, that would be a disaster of immense proportions.)

Any RIDs in Florida should be hounding their legislators.

All politics are local, so I hope Floridians speak up.

As a long standing professional and a business owner in the state of Florida for more than 20 years I am outraged to say the least in the carelessness of our government regarding this issue. In such a unstable time when this country is falling on its face its is so hard to imagine that we continue to allow our supposed representatives to get away with not hearing our voice. Can someone please explain how this such action will benefit ANYONE? While government postions are increasing daily we stand by and watch this country take away the heart and soul of business by discriminating against small businesses. Without US this state will fail as will the country. Forget about moving to another state......................time for another country!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the comment, Mark. As a real estate attorney in Florida, I understand the value that good surveyors bring to our transactions and to our market.

Thanks for your comment, Karen. The health and integrity of the travel industry is key to Florida's economy.

As a real estate practitioner in Florida, I understand the importance of technically correct, complete surveys to the smooth flow of real estate transactions. Surveys form the basis for understanding the "picture" of a deal. If they are inaccurate, the deal is in jeapordy

4 years to become a surveyor? That's the whole problem with regulation. Learning how to line out where to dig a ditch shouldn't take as long as medical school.