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AB-2435 • 2026

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

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

Crime
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Chen
Last action
Official status
Senate - Business, Professions and Economic Development
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text confirms the bill specifies fines and jail time for land surveyors but does not provide the exact dollar amounts or days of confinement in this summary.

New Fines and Penalties for Unlicensed Engineering and Surveying Work

This law allows a state board to issue citations with fines of up to $20,000 for people who practice engineering or land surveying without a license.

What This Bill Does

  • Authorizes the executive officer of the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists to issue citations for unlicensed work.
  • Sets administrative fines between $500 and $20,000 for each violation of practicing without a license.
  • Applies penalties to those who practice or offer to practice civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, geology, geophysics, or land surveying without authorization.
  • Requires that fines collected be deposited into the Professional Engineer's, Land Surveyor's, and Geologist's Fund.
  • Specifies tiered penalties including specific fines and jail time for first, second, and third convictions of practicing land surveying without a license.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People or entities that practice engineering, geology, geophysics, or land surveying without a valid license.
  • The Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists, which will issue citations and manage the funds.
  • Land surveyors who face specific tiered penalties if convicted of practicing without authorization.

Terms To Know

Administrative fine
A monetary penalty issued by a government agency rather than through a criminal court trial.
Citation
An official notice that tells someone they have broken a rule and must pay a fine or face other penalties.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill states it specifies fines and jail time for tiered land surveying convictions but does not list the exact amounts in this summary.
  • Penalties apply unless a person is exempt from licensure, though all possible exemptions are not listed here.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Senate - Business, Professions and Economic Development

Official Summary Text

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