80R3696 BEF-D
 
  By: Smith of Harris H.B. No. 899
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the operation and functions of the Texas Board of
Professional Engineers and the regulation of the practice of
engineering.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 1001.107, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
       Sec. 1001.107.  PER DIEM[; REIMBURSEMENT].  [(a)] A board
member is entitled to receive a per diem as set by the General
Appropriations Act for each day that the member engages in the
business of the board.
       [(b)  A board member may not receive reimbursement for travel
expenses, including expenses for meals and lodging, other than
transportation expenses. A member is entitled to reimbursement for
transportation expenses as provided by the General Appropriations
Act.]
       SECTION 2.  Section 1001.108, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
       Sec. 1001.108.  OFFICERS.  The governor shall designate a
member of the board as the presiding officer of the board to serve
in that capacity at the will of the governor. The board shall elect
annually from its members an assistant presiding officer, a
treasurer, and a secretary.
       SECTION 3.  Section 1001.109, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
       Sec. 1001.109.  BOARD TREASURER'S [SECRETARY'S] DUTIES AND
SALARY.  (a) [(b)]  The treasurer [secretary] shall receive and
account for all money received under this chapter.
       (b) [(c)]  The treasurer [secretary] is entitled to a salary
as determined by the board in addition to compensation and expenses
provided for in this subchapter. The salary may not exceed the
salary paid for similar work in other departments.
       SECTION 4.  Section 1001.206(c), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
       (c)  The fee increase imposed by Subsection (a) does not
apply to an engineer who:
             (1)  meets the qualifications for an exemption under
Section 1001.057 or 1001.058 but does not claim that exemption;
             (2)  is disabled as described by Section 1001.205; [or]
             (3)  is on inactive status as provided by Section
1001.355; or
             (4)  is 65 years of age or older.
       SECTION 5.  Section 1001.306, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
       (d)  Examination results reported under this section must
include a numerical score and an indication of whether the person
passed or failed the examination.
       SECTION 6.  Section 1001.401, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
       (d)  A license holder is not required to use a seal under this
section for a project for which the license holder is not required
to hold a license under an exemption provided by Subchapter B.
       SECTION 7.  Section 1001.4527(a), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
       (a)  A board member who participated in the investigation of
a complaint or in informal settlement negotiations regarding the
complaint:
             (1)  may not [participate in the discussion of or] vote
on the matter at a board meeting related to the complaint; and
             (2)  shall state at the meeting why the member is
prohibited from [participating in the discussion of or] voting on
the matter.
       SECTION 8.  The change in law made by this Act to Section
1001.206(c), Occupations Code, applies only to an application for a
license, the renewal of a license, or a reciprocal license filed on
or after the effective date of this Act. An application filed before
the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on
the date the application is filed, and the former law is continued
in effect for that purpose.
       SECTION 9.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.