To amend sections 4703.02, 4703.13, and 4733.15 and to enact section 4733.151 of the Revised Code to increase the annual renewal of registration fee for professional engineers and professional surveyors, to implement continuing professional development requirements for registration renewals of professional engineers and surveyors beginning in calendar year 2008, and to authorize the state board of examiners of architects to adopt rules pertaining to continuing education requirements.

Section 1. That sections 4703.02, 4703.13, and 4733.15 be amended and section 4733.151 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 4703.02.  The state board of examiners of architects shall organize by electing from its membership a president and a secretary, and also a vice-president and an assistant secretary, who shall act during absence or disability of the president or secretary respectively.

The board shall adopt all necessary rules, regulations, and bylaws, not inconsistent with sections 4703.01 to 4703.19 of the Revised Code, and the constitutions and laws of this state or of the United States, to govern its times and places of meeting for organization and reorganization, for the holding of examinations, and for fixing the length of the term of its officers. The board, under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, may adopt, promulgate, and enforce rules governing the standards of education, service, conduct, and practice to be followed in the practice of the profession of architecture in the state, including rules for the enforcement of sections 4703.01 to 4703.19 of the Revised Code. The board shall include among the rules adopted governing the standard standards of practice, requirements regarding financial responsibility and professional liability insurance. The board may adopt rules pertaining to the satisfactory completion of continuing education requirements.

The board shall hold examinations not less than once annually, and shall issue to each successful applicant a certificate of qualification to practice architecture, and shall impress on each certificate issued the seal of the board.

The secretary of the board shall be responsible for keeping a true and complete record of all proceedings of the board. The board may employ an executive secretary, investigators, and such clerical assistance as it determines necessary.

Sec. 4703.13.  (A) Each architect holding who holds a certificate of qualification under sections 4703.01 to 4703.19 of the Revised Code and who desires to continue the practice of architecture shall, before or during the month of December of each odd-numbered year, make application, together with the renewal fee provided in section 4703.16 of the Revised Code, for a renewal of the certificate, and demonstrate satisfactory completion of any applicable continuing education requirements adopted by the state board of examiners of architects under section 4703.02 of the Revised Code. The renewal shall be pursuant to the standard renewal procedure of sections 4745.01 to 4745.03 of the Revised Code, except that renewal is required in each odd-numbered year instead of annually. Each certificate shall be renewed for a term of two years, and the renewal shall be recorded in the official register of the board.

(B) Each holder of a certificate of authorization to provide architectural services shall, before or during the month of each June preceding the year the holder desires to continue to provide architectural services, make application, together with the renewal fee provided in section 4703.16 of the Revised Code, for a renewal of the certificate. Each certificate shall be renewed for a term of one year except as provided in section 4703.12 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4733.15.  (A) Registration expires annually on the last day of December following initial registration or renewal of registration and becomes invalid on that date unless renewed pursuant to this section and the standard renewal procedure of sections 4745.01 to 4745.03 of the Revised Code. Renewal may be effected at any time prior to the date of expiration for a period of one year by the applicant's paying payment to the treasurer of state of a fee of sixteen twenty dollars for a renewal of registration as either a professional engineer or professional surveyor and, for renewals for calendar year 2008 and thereafter, demonstration of completion of the continuing professional development requirements of section 4733.151 of the Revised Code. When notified as required in this section, a registrant's failure to renew registration shall not deprive the registrant of the right of renewal within the following twelve months, but the fee to renew a registration within twelve months after expiration shall be increased fifty per cent, and the registrant shall certify completion of continuing professional development hours as required in section 4733.151 of the Revised Code. The

The state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors may, upon request, waive the payment of the renewal fees of or the completion of continuing professional development requirements for a registrant during the period when the registrant is on active duty in connection with any branch of the armed forces of the United States.

(B) Each certificate of authorization issued pursuant to section 4733.16 of the Revised Code shall authorize the holder to provide professional engineering or professional surveying services, through the registered professional engineer or professional surveyor designated as being in responsible charge of the professional engineering or professional surveying practice, from the date of issuance until the last day of June next succeeding the date upon which the certificate was issued, unless the certificate has been revoked or suspended for cause as provided in section 4733.20 of the Revised Code or has been suspended pursuant to section 3123.47 of the Revised Code.

(C) If a registrant fails to renew registration within one year from the date of expiration as provided under division (A) of this section, its renewal and reinstatement may be effected under rules promulgated by the board adopts regarding requirements for reexamination or reapplication, and reinstatement penalty fees. The board may require a registrant who fails to renew registration to complete up to thirty hours of continuing professional development as an additional condition of renewal and reinstatement if the registrant seeks renewal and reinstatement under this division on or after January 1, 2009.

Sec. 4733.151. (A) Each registrant for renewal for calendar year 2008 and thereafter shall have completed, within the preceding calendar year, at least fifteen hours of continuing professional development for professional engineers and surveyors.

(B) The continuing professional development requirement may be satisfied by coursework or activities dealing with technical, ethical, or managerial topics relevant to the practice of engineering or surveying. A registrant may earn continuing professional development hours by completing or teaching university or college level coursework, attending seminars, workshops, or conferences, authoring relevant published papers, articles, or books, receiving patent awards, or actively participating in professional or technical societies serving the engineering or surveying professions.

Credit for university or college level coursework shall be based on the credit established by the university or college. One semester hour as established by the university or college shall be the equivalent of forty-five hours of continuing professional development, and one quarter hour as established by the university or college shall be the equivalent of thirty hours of continuing professional development.

Credit for seminars, workshops, or conferences offering continuing education units shall be based on the units awarded by the organization presenting the seminar, workshop, or conference. A registrant may earn ten continuing professional development hours for each continuing education unit awarded. Each hour of attendance at a seminar, workshop, or conference for which no continuing education units are offered shall be the equivalent of one continuing professional development hour.

A registrant may earn two continuing professional development hours for each year of service as an officer or active committee member of a professional or technical society. A registrant may earn ten continuing professional development hours for authoring relevant published papers, articles, or books. A registrant may earn ten continuing professional development hours for each such published paper, article, or book. A registrant may earn ten continuing professional development hours for each patent award.

(C) A person registered as both a professional engineer and professional surveyor shall complete at least five of the fifteen hours required under division (A) of this section in engineering-related coursework or activities and at least five of those fifteen hours in surveying-related coursework or activities.

(D) A registrant is exempt from the requirements of this section during the first calendar year of registration.

(E) A registrant who completes more than fifteen hours of approved coursework or activities in any calendar year may carry forward to the next calendar year a maximum of fifteen of the excess hours.

(F) A registrant shall maintain records to demonstrate completion of the continuing professional development requirements specified in this section for a period of three calendar years beyond the year in which certification of the completion of the requirements is obtained by the registrant. The records shall include all of the following:

(1) A log specifying the type of coursework or activity, its location and duration along with the instructor's name, and the number of continuing professional development hours earned;

(2) Certificates of completion or other evidence verifying attendance.

(G) The records specified in division (F) of this section may be audited at any time by the state board of registration for professional engineers and surveyors. If the board discovers that a registrant has failed to complete coursework or activities, it shall notify the registrant of the deficiencies and allow the registrant six months from the date of the notice to rectify the deficiencies and to provide the board with evidence of satisfactory completion of the continuing professional development requirements. If the registrant fails to provide such evidence within that six-month period, the board may revoke or suspend the registration after offering an adjudication hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Section 2. That existing sections 4703.02, 4703.13, and 4733.15 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.