By Galloway S.B. No. 288 75R2070 BEM-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to fees paid by certain registered professional engineers. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Section 13(d), The Texas Engineering Practice Act 1-5 (Article 3271a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as added by Section 1-6 1, Chapter 947, Acts of the 71st Legislature, Regular Session, 1-7 1989, is amended to read as follows: 1-8 (d) The Board by rule may adopt reduced registration and 1-9 annual renewal fees for registered engineers who are at least 65 1-10 years of age. 1-11 SECTION 2. Section 13, The Texas Engineering Practice Act 1-12 (Article 3271a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by 1-13 adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: 1-14 (e) The Board by rule may adopt reduced registration and 1-15 annual renewal fees for registered engineers who are disabled and 1-16 who are not currently engaged in the active practice of 1-17 engineering. For purposes of this subsection, an individual is 1-18 "disabled" if the individual has a mental or physical impairment 1-19 that substantially limits the ability of the individual to earn a 1-20 living as a registered engineer, other than an impairment caused by 1-21 a current condition of addiction to the use of alcohol or an 1-22 illegal drug or controlled substance. A registered engineer 1-23 entitled to reduced fees under this subsection because the engineer 1-24 is not engaged in the active practice of engineering shall notify 2-1 the Board of the resumption of active practice not later than the 2-2 15th day after the date the engineer resumes active practice. 2-3 SECTION 3. Section 13B(c), The Texas Engineering Practice 2-4 Act (Article 3271a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to 2-5 read as follows: 2-6 (c) Subsection (a) does not apply to a registered 2-7 professional engineer who: 2-8 (1) meets the qualifications for an exemption from 2-9 registration under Section 20(g) or (h) of this Act but who does 2-10 not claim that exemption; or 2-11 (2) is disabled for purposes of Section 13(e) of this 2-12 Act. 2-13 SECTION 4. Section 13(d), The Texas Engineering Practice Act 2-14 (Article 3271a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as added by Section 2-15 1, Chapter 1090, Acts of the 71st Legislature, Regular Session, 2-16 1989, is repealed. 2-17 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and 2-18 applies to a registration fee, annual renewal fee, or reciprocal 2-19 registration fee paid to the State Board of Registration for 2-20 Professional Engineers that becomes due on or after that date. A 2-21 fee that is collected by the board on or after that date but that 2-22 became due before that date is governed by the law in effect on the 2-23 date that the fee became due, and the former law is continued in 2-24 effect for that purpose. 2-25 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the 2-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.