Sec. 52.026. CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION FEE AND RENEWAL

(a) A person who receives certification as a shorthand reporter or a shorthand reporting firm or affiliate office that registers with the board must pay the initial fee and any other required fee before receiving the certification or registration.

(b) A certification or registration expires at 12:01 a.m. on January 1 following the second anniversary of the date on which it was issued unless the certification or registration is renewed. Thereafter, the certification or registration expires at 12:01 a.m. of each second January 1 unless renewed.

(c) A person who is otherwise eligible to renew a certification or registration may renew an unexpired certification or registration by paying the required renewal fee to the board before the expiration date of the certification or registration. A person whose certification or registration has expired may not engage in activities that require a certification or registration until the certification or registration has been renewed.

(d) A person whose certification or registration has been expired for 90 days or less may renew the certification or registration by paying to the board a renewal fee that is equal to 1-1/2 times the normally required renewal fee.

(e) A person whose certification or registration has been expired for more than 90 days but less than one year may renew the certification or registration by paying to the board a renewal fee that is equal to two times the normally required renewal fee.

(f) A person whose certification or registration has been expired for one year or more may not renew the certification or registration. The person may obtain a new certification or registration by complying with the requirements and procedures, including the examination requirements, for obtaining an original certification or registration.

(g) A person who was certified in this state, moved to another state, and is currently certified and has been in practice in the other state for the two years preceding the date of application may obtain a new certification without reexamination. The person must pay to the board a fee that is equal to two times the normally required renewal fee for the certification.

(h) Not later than the 30th day before the date a person's certification or registration is scheduled to expire, the board shall send written notice of the impending expiration to the person at the person's last known address according to the records of the board.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 29, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 813, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.