Amend CSSB 924 by adding the appropriately numbered sections 
to read as follows and renumber the subsequent sections 
appropriately:
	SECTION ____. Section 1051.001, Occupations Code, is amended 
by adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows:
		(1-a) "Architectural interior construction" means a 
building project that involves only the inside elements of a 
building and that requires the practice of architecture in order to 
be completed.
	SECTION ____. Subchapter G, Chapter 1051, Occupations Code, 
is amended by adding Section 1051.315 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1051.3515. RENEWAL OF INTERIOR DESIGNER CERTIFICATE OF 
REGISTRATION. To be eligible to renew a certificate of 
registration, an interior designer who has not passed the 
examination of the National Council for Interior Design 
Qualification or a similar national organization recognized by the 
board must:
		(1) complete, in addition to the continuing education 
requirements required for renewal of the certificate of 
registration under Section 1051.356, 15 hours of board-approved 
continuing education classes relating to building and barrier-free 
codes and regulations and:
			(A) pass section one of that examination or pass a 
comparable section of an examination of a similar national 
organization recognized by the board; or 
			(B) demonstrate 20 years of board-approved 
interior design experience; or
		(2) have passed the examination required for 
registration as an architect.
	SECTION ____. Section 1053.002, Occupations Code, is amended 
by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to 
read as follows:
	(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), this [This] chapter 
does  not apply to:
		(1) a person who [:                                          
			[(A) does not use the title "interior designer" 
and does not use the term "interior design" to describe a service 
the person offers or performs; and
			[(B)] is an interior designer licensed or 
registered in another state or country who:
			(A) [(i)] does not open or maintain a business in 
this state; and
			(B) [(ii)] complies with the requirements of 
Subsection (b); [or]
		(2) a person who is registered to practice architecture 
in this state,or
		(3) an individual who is a member of a state or national 
organization whose members are building designers and that requires 
its members to complete at least eight hours of continuing 
education each year on topics relating to building design, code 
compliance, and building materials in order to maintain 
certification as a professional building designer.
	(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), this chapter does 
not:      
		(1) prohibit an employee of a retail establishment from 
providing consultations regarding interior decoration or 
furnishings for a single-family or dual-family dwelling:
			(A) on the premises of the retail establishment;                      
			(B) in furtherance of a retail sale or prospective 
retail sale;     
		(2) restrict the activities of a person who provides 
decorative services or assistance in the selection of surface 
materials, window coverings, wall covering, paint, floor 
coverings, surface-mounted fixtures, or loose furnishings not 
subject to regulation under the fire code governing the location 
where the items will be used, provided that the person does not 
represent that the person is an interior designer; or 
		(3) prevent or restrict a person from engaging in a 
practice or occupation for which the person is licensed or 
registered in this state to engage by:
			(A) the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners;                       
			(B) the Texas Department of Licensing and 
Regulation;               
			(C) the Texas Board of Professional Engineers;                        
			(D) the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners; 
or                 
			(E) the Texas Residential Construction 
Commission.                  
	(d) A person may not represent that the person is an interior 
designer by using any form of the title "interior designer" unless 
the person is registered under this chapter or Chapter 1051.
	SECTION ____. Section 1053.151, Occupations Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	Sec. 1053.151. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. A person other than an 
interior designer may not:
		(1) engage in the practice of interior design for direct 
or indirect compensation or offer or attempt to engage in the 
practice of interior design for direct or indirect compensation  
[represent that the person is an "interior designer" by using that 
title]; or
		(2) represent that the person is engaged in the practice 
of interior design, unless all interior design services provided by 
the person are rendered or supervised by a person registered under 
this chapter or Chapter 1051 [, by using the term "interior design," 
a service the person offers or performs].
	SECTION ____. Section 1053.152(b), Occupations Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(b) To be eligible for a certificate of registration, an 
applicant must:     
		(1) meet the qualifications established by the board 
under Subsection (a);  
		(2) pass the [registration] examination of the National 
Council for Interior Design Qualification or of a similar national 
organization recognized by the board; [and]
		(3) pay the required fees;                                             
		(4) hold a professional degree in interior design 
conferred by a design program accredited by the Council for 
Interior Design Accreditation or by a substantially equivalent 
accreditation program, as determined by the board; and 
		(5) have completed the Interior Design Experience 
Program administered by the National Council for Interior Design 
Qualification or a substantially equivalent program as determined 
by the board.
	SECTION ____. Section 1053.154(b), Occupations Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(b) The examination must cover subjects established by and 
must be graded according to board rules. The board by rule shall 
[may] adopt the examination of the National Council for Interior 
Design Qualification or the examination of a similar national 
organization recognized by the board [comparable examination].
	SECTION ____. Subchapter D, Chapter 1053, Occupations Code, 
is amended by adding Section 1053.161 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1053.161. WAIVER OF REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR 
CERTAIN OUT-OF-STATE APPLICANTS. The board may waive any 
registration requirement for an applicant who:
		(1) is licensed or registered to practice interior 
design by another state that has licensing or registration 
requirements at least as stringent as the requirements of this 
state;
		(2) is in good standing with the state that issued the 
license or registration;
		(3) submits an application and pays an administrative 
fee to the board; and
		(4) holds a current certificate issued by the National 
Council for Interior Design Qualification or holds a similar 
credential recognized by the board.
	SECTION ____. Chapter 1053, Occupations Code, is amended by 
adding Subchapter E to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER E. PRACTICE BY INTERIOR DESIGNER
Sec. 1053.201. RESPONSIBILITY OF AND SUPERVISION BY INTERIOR DESIGNER. (a) Each interior design office must have an interior designer who is responsible for interior design work performed at that location. (b) The responsible interior designer under Subsection (a) shall supervise each nonregistered person working in the interior design office in the practice of interior design. The supervision is not required to be continuous and uninterrupted. Sec. 1053.202. DUTIES TO CLIENT. Before entering into a contract with a client, an interior designer must clearly determine the scope and nature of the project and the method of compensation. Sec. 1053.203. COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS. Each interior designer shall practice in compliance with all applicable building codes, fire codes, local regulations, and other safety requirements adopted by the board or another regulatory entity implemented to prohibit practice by persons who: (1) fail to practice within the bounds of minimum competency requirements; or (2) otherwise present a danger to the public. SECTION ____. Section 1053.351, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 1053.351. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly violates [Section 1053.151 or a standard of conduct adopted under] this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter. (b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. SECTION ____. Section 1053.158, Occupations Code, is repealed. SECTION ____. The Texas Board of Architectural Examiners shall issue a certificate of registration as an interior designer to a person who applies for registration as an interior designer with the board and pays the required fees before the second anniversary of the effective date of this Act if the person presents evidence satisfactory to the board that the person has passed the examination of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification or a similar national organization recognized by the board. SECTION 12. (a) The change in law made by this Act to Section 1053.351, Occupations Code, applies only to the punishment for an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs before the effective date. (b) An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 13. The Texas Board of Architectural Examiners shall adopt rules as required by Chapter 1053, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, not later than February 1, 2008. SECTION 14. This Act, except for Section 1051.3515, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an application for an initial or renewal interior designer certificate of registration that is filed with the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners on or after March 1, 2008. An application filed before March 1, 2008, is governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.