BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 653 By: Galloway State Affairs 4-11-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Texas law allows the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers to adopt reduced application fees for professional registered engineers who are at least 65 years of age. Disabled, non-practicing engineers often choose to remain registered in order to remain active in engineering associations and maintain standing as an engineer. Many of these engineers cannot afford the fee to maintain a license. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 653 authorizes the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers to adopt reduced annual renewal and registration fees for certain engineers who are at least 65 years of age or who are disabled and not currently engaged in the active practice of engineering. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is granted to the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers in SECTION 2 (Section 13, Article 3271a, V.T.C.S) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 13(d), Article 3271a, V.T.C.S. (The Texas Engineering Practice Act), to authorize the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers (board), by rule, to adopt reduced registration fees for engineers who are at least 65 years of age. SECTION 2. Amends Section 13, Article 3271a, V.T.C.S., to authorize the board, by rule, to adopt reduced registration and annual fees for engineers who are disabled and not currently engaged in the active practice of engineering. Defines "disabled." Requires an engineer entitled to reduced fees to notify the board within 15 days of the resumption of active practice. SECTION 3. Amends Section 13B(c), Article 3271a, V.T.C.S., to make conforming changes. SECTION 4. Repealer: Section 13(d), Article 3271a, V.T.C.S. (Applications; Fees). SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 1995. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 6. Emergency clause.