Bill Text: TX SB204 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers; changing a fee.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)

Status: (Passed) 2013-06-14 - Effective on 9/1/13 [SB204 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-SB204-Enrolled.html

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S.B. No. 204

AN ACT
relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Board of
Professional Engineers; changing a fee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1001.005, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.005. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The Texas Board
of Professional Engineers is subject to Chapter 325, Government
Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided
by that chapter, the board is abolished and this chapter expires
September 1, 2025 [2013].
SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 1001.206, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The fee for a license under this chapter, for the annual
renewal of that license, and for a reciprocal license under this
chapter is increased by $200. The fee increase shall be collected
at the time of the issuance or renewal of the license.
SECTION 3. Section 1001.304, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(e) The board shall:
(1) adopt policies and guidelines detailing the
procedures for the examination process, including examination
admission, examination administration, and national examination
requirements; and
(2) post on the board's Internet website the policies
that reference the examination procedures of the board or, if
applicable, the national organization selected by the board to
administer an examination.
SECTION 4. Subsection (b), Section 1001.309, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) The board shall consider as minimum evidence that an
applicant is qualified for certification or enrollment as an
engineer-in-training if the applicant:
(1) complies with the education and character
requirements of Section 1001.302; and
(2) has passed the board's [eight-hour written]
examination in the fundamentals of engineering.
SECTION 5. Subchapter G, Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1001.3035 to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.3035. CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION
REQUIREMENT FOR LICENSE ISSUANCE. (a) The board shall require
that an applicant for a license submit a complete and legible set of
fingerprints, on a form prescribed by the board, to the board or to
the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of obtaining
criminal history record information from the Department of Public
Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(b) The board may not issue a license to a person who does
not comply with the requirement of Subsection (a).
(c) The board shall conduct a criminal history check of each
applicant for a license using information:
(1) provided by the individual under this section; and
(2) made available to the board by the Department of
Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and any other
criminal justice agency under Chapter 411, Government Code.
(d) The board may:
(1) enter into an agreement with the Department of
Public Safety to administer a criminal history check required under
this section; and
(2) authorize the Department of Public Safety to
collect from each applicant the costs incurred by the Department of
Public Safety in conducting the criminal history check.
SECTION 6. Subchapter H, Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1001.3535 to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.3535. CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION
REQUIREMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL. (a) An applicant renewing a
license issued under this chapter shall submit a complete and
legible set of fingerprints for purposes of performing a criminal
history check of the applicant as provided by Section 1001.3035.
(b) The board may not renew the license of a person who does
not comply with the requirement of Subsection (a).
(c) A license holder is not required to submit fingerprints
under this section for the renewal of the license if the license
holder has previously submitted fingerprints under:
(1) Section 1001.3035 for the initial issuance of the
license; or
(2) this section as part of a prior license renewal.
SECTION 7. Subchapter J, Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1001.4528 to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.4528. EMERGENCY SUSPENSION. (a) The board or a
three-member panel of board members designated by the board shall
temporarily suspend the license, certificate, or registration of a
person if the board or panel determines from the evidence or
information presented to it that continued practice by the person
would constitute a continuing and imminent threat to the public
welfare.
(b) A license, certificate, or registration may be
suspended under this section without notice or hearing on the
complaint if:
(1) action is taken to initiate proceedings for a
hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings
simultaneously with the temporary suspension; and
(2) a hearing is held as soon as practicable under this
chapter and Chapter 2001, Government Code.
(c) The State Office of Administrative Hearings shall hold a
preliminary hearing not later than the 14th day after the date of
the temporary suspension to determine if there is probable cause to
believe that a continuing and imminent threat to the public welfare
still exists. A final hearing on the matter shall be held not later
than the 61st day after the date of the temporary suspension.
SECTION 8. Subsection (a), Section 1001.502, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The amount of an administrative penalty may not exceed
$5,000 [$3,000] for each violation. Each day a violation continues
or occurs is a separate violation for purposes of imposing a
penalty.
SECTION 9. Subchapter L, Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1001.5511 to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.5511. CEASE AND DESIST ORDER. If it appears to
the board that a person who is not licensed, certified, or
registered under this chapter is violating this chapter, a rule
adopted under this chapter, or another state statute or rule
relating to the practice of engineering, the board, after notice
and opportunity for a hearing, may issue a cease and desist order
prohibiting the person from engaging in the activity.
SECTION 10. (a) Not later than December 1, 2013, the Texas
Board of Professional Engineers shall adopt rules necessary to
implement the changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 1001,
Occupations Code.
(b) Sections 1001.3035 and 1001.3535, Occupations Code, as
added by this Act, apply only to an application for a license or
renewal of a license filed with the Texas Board of Professional
Engineers on or after January 1, 2014. An application filed before
that date 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.
(c) Subsection (a), Section 1001.502, Occupations Code, as
amended by this Act, applies only to a violation that occurs on or
after the effective date of this Act. A violation that occurs
before that date is governed by the law in effect when the violation
occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 204 passed the Senate on
March 26, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 204 passed the House on
May 15, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 111, Nays 31, two
present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor