BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 541
80R5503 TAD-F By: West, Royce, Hinojosa
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (board) licensees are required to take eight hours of continuing education per year for re-licensure, yet none of the required education pertains to "green" or sustainable design. Since most of the features that make a building sustainable are incorporated in the design phase, architects can play a pivotal role in determining how green a building is.
As proposed, S.B. 541 requires all board certified architects, landscape architects, and interior designers, as certified by the board, to take at least one hour of continuing education in "green" or sustainable design.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners in SECTION 1 (Section 1051.356, Occupations Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 1051.356, Occupations Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1), as follows:
(b) Provides the course subjects required or authorized to be included in continuing education programs for a person licensed by the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (board).
(b-1) Requires the board by rule to require the certificate holder to complete at least one hour of continuing education relating to sustainable or energy-efficient design standards as part of a certificate holder's continuing education requirements for each annual registration period.
SECTION 2. Makes the application of this Act prospective to September 1, 2008.
SECTION 3. Requires the board to adopt rules, procedures, forms, and fees under Section 1051.356, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2008.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2007.