79R7791 MXM-F

By:  Driver                                                       H.B. No. 1817



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the regulation of the practice of engineering.                    
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 1001.204(a), Occupations Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The board shall establish the following fees in amounts 
reasonable and necessary to cover the costs of administering this 
chapter:
		(1)  license fee;                                                             
		(2)  annual and late renewal fees [fee];       
		(3)  reciprocal license fee;                                                  
		(4)  duplicate license fee;                                                   
		(5)  engineer-in-training certificate fee;                                    
		(6)  roster of engineers fee;                                                 
		(7)  examination fee;                                                         
		(8)  registration fee for engineering firm; and                               
		(9)  inactive status fee.                                                     
	SECTION 2.  Sections 1001.353(a), (b), and (c), Occupations 
Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A person who is otherwise eligible to renew a license 
may renew an unexpired license by paying the required annual
renewal fee to the board before the expiration date of the license.  
A person whose license has expired may not engage in activities that 
require a license until the license has been renewed.
	(b)  A person whose license has been expired for 90 days or 
less may renew the license by paying to the board the required 
annual [a] renewal fee, a late [that is equal to 1-1/2 times the 
normally required] renewal fee, and any applicable increase in fees 
as required by Section 1001.206.
	(c)  A person whose license has been expired for more than 90 
days but less than two years may renew the license by paying to the 
board the required annual [a] renewal fee, a late [that is equal to 
two times the normally required] renewal fee, and any applicable 
increase in fees as required by Section 1001.206 for each 
delinquent year or part of a year.
	SECTION 3.  Section 1001.401(b), Occupations Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(b)  A plan, specification, plat, or report issued by a 
license holder for a project to be constructed or used in this state
must include the license holder's seal placed on the document.  A 
license holder is not required to use a seal required by this 
section if the project is to be constructed or used in another state 
or country.
	SECTION 4.  Subchapter A, Chapter 1302, Occupations Code, is 
amended by adding Section 1302.003 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1302.003.  DESIGN REQUIREMENTS; ENGINEER.  The design 
of equipment or a product in an environmental air conditioning 
system, a commercial refrigeration system, or a process cooling or 
heating system must be performed in compliance with Chapter 1001.
	SECTION 5.  Subchapter A, Chapter 1305, Occupations Code, is 
amended by adding Section 1305.004 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1305.004.  DESIGN REQUIREMENTS; ENGINEER.  The design 
of electrical wires or conductors to be used for light, heat, power, 
or signaling purposes must be performed in compliance with Chapter 
1001.
	SECTION 6.  The changes in law made by this Act relating to 
the renewal of a license under Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, 
apply only to a license that expires on or after the effective date 
of this Act.  A license that expires before the effective date of 
this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the license 
expired, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.