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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of interior designers; providing |
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penalties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1051.001, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows: |
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(1-a) "Architectural interior construction" means a |
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building project that involves only the inside elements of a |
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building and that requires the practice of architecture in order to |
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be completed. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 1051, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1051.3515 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1051.3515. RENEWAL OF INTERIOR DESIGNER CERTIFICATE OF |
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REGISTRATION. To be eligible to renew a certificate of |
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registration, an interior designer who has not passed the |
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examination of the National Council for Interior Design |
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Qualification or a similar national organization recognized by the |
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board must: |
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(1) complete, in addition to the continuing education |
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requirements required for renewal of the certificate of |
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registration under Section 1051.356, 15 hours of board-approved |
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continuing education classes relating to building and barrier-free |
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codes and regulations and: |
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(A) pass section one of that examination or pass |
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a comparable section of an examination of a similar national |
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organization recognized by the board; or |
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(B) demonstrate 20 years of board-approved |
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interior design experience; or |
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(2) have passed the examination required for |
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registration as an architect. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1053.002, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), this [This] |
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chapter does not apply to: |
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(1) a person who[:
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[(A) does not use the title "interior designer"
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and does not use the term "interior design" to describe a service
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the person offers or performs; and
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[(B)] is an interior designer licensed or |
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registered in another state or country who: |
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(A) [(i)] does not open or maintain a business in |
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this state; and |
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(B) [(ii)] complies with the requirements of |
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Subsection (b); [or] |
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(2) a person who is registered to practice |
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architecture in this state; or |
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(3) an individual who is a member of a state or |
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national organization whose members are building designers and that |
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requires its members to complete at least eight hours of continuing |
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education each year on topics relating to building design, code |
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compliance, and building materials in order to maintain |
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certification as a professional building designer. |
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(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), this chapter does |
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not: |
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(1) prohibit an employee of a retail establishment |
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from providing consultations regarding interior decoration or |
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furnishings for a single-family or dual-family dwelling: |
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(A) on the premises of the retail establishment; |
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or |
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(B) in furtherance of a retail sale or |
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prospective retail sale; |
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(2) restrict the activities of a person who does not |
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represent that the person is an interior designer and who provides |
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decorative services or assistance in the selection of surface |
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materials, window coverings, wall coverings, paint, floor |
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coverings, surface-mounted fixtures, or loose furnishings if the |
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selected items: |
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(A) are for a building that is not intended for |
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public accommodation, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 12181; and |
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(B) are not subject to regulation under the fire |
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code governing the location where the items will be used; or |
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(3) prevent or restrict a person from engaging in a |
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practice or occupation for which the person is licensed or |
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registered in this state to engage by: |
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(A) the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners; |
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(B) the Texas Department of Licensing and |
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Regulation; |
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(C) the Texas Board of Professional Engineers; |
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(D) the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners; |
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or |
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(E) the Texas Residential Construction |
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Commission. |
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(d) A person may not represent that the person is an |
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interior designer by using any form of the title "interior |
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designer" unless the person is registered under this chapter or |
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Chapter 1051. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1053.151, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1053.151. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. A person other than |
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an interior designer may not: |
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(1) engage in the practice of interior design for |
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direct or indirect compensation or offer or attempt to engage in the |
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practice of interior design for direct or indirect compensation |
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[represent that the person is an "interior designer" by using that
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title]; or |
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(2) represent that the person is engaged in the |
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practice of interior design, unless all interior design services |
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provided by the person are rendered or supervised by a person |
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registered under this chapter or Chapter 1051 [, by using the term
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"interior design," a service the person offers or performs]. |
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SECTION 5. Section 1053.152(b), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) To be eligible for a certificate of registration, an |
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applicant must: |
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(1) meet the qualifications established by the board |
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under Subsection (a); |
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(2) pass the [registration] examination of the |
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National Council for Interior Design Qualification or of a similar |
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national organization recognized by the board; [and] |
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(3) pay the required fees; |
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(4) hold a professional degree in interior design |
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conferred by a design program accredited by the Council for |
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Interior Design Accreditation or by a substantially equivalent |
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accreditation program, as determined by the board; and |
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(5) have completed the Interior Design Experience |
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Program administered by the National Council for Interior Design |
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Qualification or a substantially equivalent program as determined |
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by the board. |
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SECTION 6. Section 1053.154(b), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The examination must cover subjects established by and |
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must be graded according to board rules. The board by rule shall |
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[may] adopt the examination of the National Council for Interior |
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Design Qualification or the examination of a similar national |
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organization recognized by the board [comparable examination]. |
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SECTION 7. Subchapter D, Chapter 1053, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1053.161 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1053.161. WAIVER OF REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR |
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CERTAIN OUT-OF-STATE APPLICANTS. The board may waive any |
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registration requirement for an applicant who: |
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(1) is licensed or registered to practice interior |
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design by another state that has licensing or registration |
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requirements at least as stringent as the requirements of this |
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state; |
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(2) is in good standing with the state that issued the |
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license or registration; |
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(3) submits an application and pays an administrative |
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fee to the board; and |
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(4) holds a current certificate issued by the National |
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Council for Interior Design Qualification or holds a similar |
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credential recognized by the board. |
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SECTION 8. Chapter 1053, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter E to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER E. PRACTICE BY INTERIOR DESIGNER |
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Sec. 1053.201. RESPONSIBILITY OF AND SUPERVISION BY |
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INTERIOR DESIGNER. (a) Each interior design office must have an |
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interior designer who is responsible for interior design work |
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performed at that location. |
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(b) The responsible interior designer under Subsection (a) |
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shall supervise each nonregistered person working in the interior |
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design office in the practice of interior design. The supervision |
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is not required to be continuous and uninterrupted. |
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Sec. 1053.202. DUTIES TO CLIENT. Before entering into a |
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contract with a client, an interior designer must clearly determine |
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the scope and nature of the project and the method of compensation. |
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Sec. 1053.203. COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS. Each |
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interior designer shall practice in compliance with all applicable |
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building codes, fire codes, local regulations, and other safety |
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requirements adopted by the board or another regulatory entity |
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implemented to prohibit practice by persons who: |
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(1) fail to practice within the bounds of minimum |
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competency requirements; or |
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(2) otherwise present a danger to the public. |
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SECTION 9. Section 1053.351, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1053.351. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person commits an |
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offense if the person knowingly violates [Section 1053.151 or a
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standard of conduct adopted under] this chapter or a rule adopted |
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under this chapter. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a [Class C] misdemeanor |
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punishable by a fine of not less than $250 or more than $5,000. Each |
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day of violation constitutes a separate offense. |
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SECTION 10. Section 1053.158, Occupations Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 11. The Texas Board of Architectural Examiners |
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shall issue a certificate of registration as an interior designer |
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to a person who applies for registration as an interior designer |
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with the board and pays the required fees before the second |
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anniversary of the effective date of this Act if the person presents |
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evidence satisfactory to the board that the person has passed the |
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examination of the National Council for Interior Design |
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Qualification or a similar national organization recognized by the |
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board. |
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SECTION 12. (a) The change in law made by this Act to |
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Section 1053.351, Occupations Code, applies only to the punishment |
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for an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before the |
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effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs |
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before the effective date. |
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(b) An offense committed before the effective date of this |
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Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was |
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committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 13. The Texas Board of Architectural Examiners |
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shall adopt rules as required by Chapter 1053, Occupations Code, as |
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amended by this Act, not later than February 1, 2008. |
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SECTION 14. This Act, except for Section 1051.3515, |
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Occupations Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an |
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application for an initial or renewal interior designer certificate |
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of registration that is filed with the Texas Board of Architectural |
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Examiners on or after March 1, 2008. An application filed before |
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March 1, 2008, is governed by the law in effect immediately before |
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the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 15. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of |
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this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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(b) Section 1051.3515, Occupations Code, as added by this |
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Act, takes effect September 1, 2011. |