(a) The applicant shall make available to each reference provider, the board's reference statement form and a complete copy of the applicable portion(s) of the supplementary experience record.     
      (b) Persons providing reference statements verifying an applicant's land surveying experience shall:      
        (1) complete and sign the reference statement in a format prescribed by the board; and       
        (2) review, evaluate, and sign all applicable portions of the supplementary experience record(s). The reference provider's signature indicates that he has read the supplementary experience record(s), that the record(s) are correct to the best of his knowledge, and that the experience is relevant to registration. If the reference provider disagrees with or has comments or clarification to the information provided by the applicant, the reference provider should submit written comments or concerns to the board.       
        (3) For the purposes of this section, a reference statement and associated portions of the applicant's supplementary experience record submitted directly to the board through a secure method prescribed by the board will be considered "signed" as required in this subsection.       
      (c) The reference provider shall submit to the board both the reference statement and the supplementary experience record.     
      (d) For any reference statement to meet the requirements of the board, the reference statement must be secured. For a reference statement to be considered secure, the reference provider shall:      
        (1) place the completed reference statement and reviewed supplementary experience records in an envelope;       
        (2) secure the flap of the envelope to prevent tampering; and       
        (3) the reference provider shall return the sealed envelope to the applicant or transmit the documents directly to the board.       
      (e) Secured reference envelopes shall be submitted to the board by applicant or reference provider.     
      (f) Reference documents submitted directly to the board by the reference provider in a method prescribed by the board will meet the requirements of subsection (d) of this section.     
      (g) Evidence of retaliation by an applicant against a person who provides reference material for an application may be considered in the application process as described in §134.81 of this chapter (relating to Receipt of Applications).     
      (h) The NCEES record reference documentation may be accepted in lieu of reference statements as specified in this section.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §134.53 adopted to be effective December 30, 2020, 45 TexReg 9513; amended to be effective March 23, 2023, 48 TexReg 1561