HB1428: HB1428 Georgia Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Board; retain certain incidental funds generated by certain fees; authorize

26 LC 47 4059 House Bill 1428 By: Representatives McDonald III of the 26th, Reeves of the 99th, Thomas of the 21st, Okoye of the 102nd, Persinger of the 119th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 15 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 professional engineers and land surveyors, so as to authorize t he Georgia Professional2 Engineers and Land Surveyors Board to retain certain incidental funds generated by certain3 fees; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5 SECTION 1.6 Chapter 15 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotate d, relating to professional7 engineers and land surveyors, is amended by revising Code Secti on 43-15-6.1, relating to8 fees and funding, as follows:9 "43-15-6.1.10 (a) To pay the expenses of the board's office and operations and the enforcement of this11 chapter, the board by rule or regulation shall be authorized to charge an examination fee,12 license fee, license renewal fee, or similar fee and may establish the amount of the fee to13 be charged by rule or regulation. Fees shall be reasonable and shall be determined in such14 a manner that the total amount of fees charged by the board shall approximate the total of15 H. B. 1428 - 1 - 26 LC 47 4059 the direct and indirect costs for the operation of the board. Fees may be refunded for good16 cause, as determined by the executive director.17 (b) All fees collected pursuant to subsection (a) of this chapter Code section shall be18 deposited by the board into the state treasury. Out of the funds thus arising shall be paid19 the expenses contemplated in this chapter for the administration and enforcement of this20 chapter. All expenditures authorized by the board shall be pai d from the funds received21 pursuant to this chapter. The expenses of the board must always be kept within the income22 collected and deposited in accordance with this chapter subsection, and the expense thereof23 shall not be supported or paid from any other state fund.24 (c) In addition to the fees provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section, the board is25 authorized to charge and collect fees to defray costs associate d with providing license26 verifications, certificates, plaques, and identification cards. The board is also authorized27 to retain funds received as collection fees for use in defraying the cost of collection of fees28 required under this chapter. The incidental revenues collected pursuant to this subsection29 may be retained by the board pursuant to Code Section 45-12-92.1."30 SECTION 2.31 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.32 H. B. 1428 - 2 -