California Surveyors Forums

Why does the State Board want to know if I am/have served in the military?
A separate sheet was in my renewal asking this.

Well this has been up here for 5 days and over 200 views, which I would bet at least one of those views was a board member, and zero responses.
As such, because of the way the notice was written, it will be returned with the following statement; "What is your authority and reason for requesting this information?"

My guess is that is a voluntary, demographic survey request. Was it worded in that fashion?

Maybe it has something to do with recent changes in the laws regarding renewals and military duty. See the following:

http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/licensees/rene ... tary.shtml

I would go with that as a reason.

Sorry that my earlier response did not appear. I must have fat fingered the post button on my phone.

Correct. This is actually not a BPELSG request, but one inserted into renewal notices by DCA. The request is intended to provide information to the legislature. You may recall a couple years ago seeing a political push for "helmets to hardhats." The laws enacted in responsore to that are requiring DCA to collect information to answe the legisltures questions. I would venture a guess that BPELSG staff are working with DCA to revise the request so there is an explanation for future renewal notices.

Rob McMillan, PLS
CLSA BPELSG Liaison

The actual wording is:
Are you currently serving, or have you previously served in the military? box YES
If checked Yes, please return this form with your renewal, completing the information below.
Name:__________________
License type:______________
License number:_____________

According to the link above by William Magee - that is allowing a grace period for renewal of a license that expires while the licensee is on active duty. Has nothing to do with "having previously served".
So, until I get better answers I am sticking with my non committal response.

If you are truly concerned about the inquiry, please contact DCA Consumer Assistance at their toll-free telephone line, (800) 952-5210. It is staffed Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

If you are just being obstinate, then you are going to do whatever you are going to do, and nobody is going to change your mind.

It's not being obstinate. If govt has a legitimate reason for obtaining this information there are other govt sources they can contact to find out if I am or was a member of the military or not.
In absence of a law that requires them to obtain this, or other info, I see it as a fishing expedition that I do not have to comply with.
Next time they need to do more than just ask for the info. I see it as "I'm from the govt and want this info" - that doesn't fly with me.
Rob, You don't know me from adam so if I walked up to you and stated that I was with the govt and asked this question would you answer?

And, if you haven't noticed there have been remarks from the current federal administration insinuating that our military veterans "need to be watched".

I got a response from the Board.
B&P code 114.5 Commencing Jan 1, 2015.................per assembly bill 1057 2013 session.
they also stated that they did not put enough info in with the request and are revising it.
Submitting the info is voluntary