78R944 SMH-D

By:  Woolley                                                      H.B. No. 153



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the amount of the fee for the registration of an 
engineering firm.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 1001.204, Occupations Code, is amended 
by adding a new Subsection (b) and relettering existing Subsections 
(b) and (c) as Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
	(b)  In establishing the fee for the registration of an 
engineering firm, the board shall adopt a fee schedule under which:
		(1)  firms are categorized according to the number of 
engineers employed; and
		(2)  the amount of the fee for a category employing 
fewer engineers is less than the amount of the fee for a category 
employing more engineers.
	(c)  Fee revenue may not exceed the amount reasonable and 
necessary to administer this chapter.
	(d) [(c)]  General revenue of the state may not be used to 
pay the costs of administering this chapter in an amount that 
exceeds the amount of fees received under this chapter.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies only to a registration fee that becomes due on or after that 
date.  A registration fee that becomes due before the effective date 
of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately before 
the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in 
effect for that purpose.