SECTION 5.134. Business Registration

(a) An Interior Design firm or other business entity that uses the title "registered interior designer" to describe itself or which offers or renders the services described as those of a Registered Interior Designer must annually register information regarding the firm or business entity with the Board, including an email address to which all correspondence from the Board will be sent.

(b) A Registered Interior Designer or a Registered Interior Design firm which enters into an agreement to create a business association pursuant to §5.132 of this title (relating to Association) shall annually register the association with the Board, including an email address to which all correspondence from the Board will be sent.

(c) If a Registered Interior Design firm, business entity, or association dissolves or otherwise becomes unable to lawfully use the title "registered interior designer" to describe itself, the Registered Interior Design firm, business entity, or association shall so notify the Board in writing. Such notification must be postmarked or otherwise provided within 30 days of the date of dissolution or the date the Registered Interior Design firm, business entity, or association became unable to lawfully use the title "registered interior designer" and to offer or render the services described as those of a Registered Interior Designer. A business entity or association may not continue to use the title "registered interior designer" or offer or render the services of a Registered Interior Designer unless it employs or contracts with a Registered Interior Designer and updates its registration within that 30 day period.

(d) A Registered Interior Designer who is a sole practitioner doing business under his/her own name, which is registered with the Board, is exempt from the requirements of subsections (a) - (c) of this section.

(e) Each Registered Interior Design firm, business entity, or association shall annually renew its unexpired registration and pay a renewal fee not later than the anniversary of the date of its initial registration. Each Registered Interior Design firm, business entity, and association shall pay a registration renewal fee to renew an expired registration in an amount equal to 1-1/2 times the normally required renewal fee if registration has been expired for 90 days or less and in an amount equal to twice the normally required renewal fee if the registration has been expired for longer than 90 days. A firm, business entity, or association which offers or renders two or more professional disciplines regulated by the Board shall pay a single registration fee.

Source Note: The provisions of this §5.134 adopted to be effective February 27, 2001, 26 TexReg 1724; amended to be effective September 19, 2006, 31 TexReg 7996; amended to be effective December 29, 2009, 34 TexReg 9443; amended to be effective June 13, 2010, 35 TexReg 4707; amended to be effective April 17, 2012, 37 TexReg 2636