Amend SB 371 on 3rd reading as follows:
      (1)  Strike SECTION 2.04 of the bill (page 18, line 10,
through page 20, line 2, House Committee Printing) and substitute
the following appropriately numbered sections:
      SECTION 2.___.  Section 419.034(e), Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
      (e)  Notwithstanding any other law, the commission by rule
may establish a procedure to waive the late fees or examination
required by this section if:
            (1)  the person's certificate expired because of the
employing entity's good faith clerical error, including the failure
of the employing entity to submit fees in a timely manner; or
            (2)  the person's certificate expired as a result of
termination of the person's employment and the person has been
restored to employment as a result of a disciplinary procedure or a
court action <Subsection (d), a person may apply for and the
commission may issue a new certificate without the person's
retaking the proficiency examination or repeating the requirements
for obtaining an original certificate if the person previously held
the certification being sought and:>
            <(1)  has continuously held fire protection personnel
certification in another discipline;>
            <(2)  has been employed in a fire protection personnel
position in another jurisdiction without a break in service of one
year or longer; or>
            <(3)  has been employed full-time, without a break in
service of one year or longer, by a nongovernmental entity as a
fire protection employee in circumstances under which the person
would have been eligible for fire protection personnel
certification if the person had been employed by a local
government>.
      SECTION 2.___.  Subchapter B, Chapter 419, Government Code,
is amended by adding Section 419.0341 to read as follows:
      Sec. 419.0341.  INDIVIDUAL CERTIFICATE HOLDER; CERTIFICATE
RENEWAL.  (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
subchapter, a person may be certified as fire protection personnel
and continue to hold and renew the certificate without regard to
whether the person is employed or continues to be employed by a
local authority or fire department.
      (b)  A person who is certified as fire protection personnel
who is not employed by a local authority or fire department may
renew an unexpired certificate before the expiration of the
certificate by:
            (1)  submitting evidence satisfactory to the commission
of completion of any required professional education; and
            (2)  paying to the commission the required renewal fee.
      (c)  If the person's certificate has been expired for 30 days
or less, the person may renew the certificate by:
            (1)  submitting evidence satisfactory to the commission
of completion of any required professional education; and
            (2)  paying to the commission the required renewal fee
and a fee that is one-half of the certification fee for the
certificate.
      (d)  If the person's certificate has been expired for longer
than 30 days but less than one year, the person may renew the
certificate by:
            (1)  submitting evidence satisfactory to the commission
of completion of any required professional education; and
            (2)  paying to the commission all unpaid renewal fees
and a fee that is equal to the certification fee for the
certificate.
      (e)  If the person's certificate has been expired for one
year or longer, the person may not renew the certificate.  The
person may obtain a new certificate by submitting to the
proficiency examination or repeating the requirements and
procedures for obtaining an original certificate.  The commission
shall charge a fee to cover the cost of administering the
proficiency examination.
      (f)  At least 30 days before the expiration of the
certificate of a person who is not employed by a local authority or
fire department, the commission shall send written notice of the
impending certificate expiration to the last known address of the
person according to the records of the commission.
      (g)  The commission shall establish by rule the procedures
and requirements for evidence of compliance with this section.
      (h)  Notwithstanding any other law, the commission by rule
may establish a procedure to waive the late fees or examination
required by this section for a person whose certificate expired
because of the person's good faith clerical error, including the
person's failure to submit fees in a timely manner.
      (2)  Renumber subsequent sections of the bill appropriately.