SECTION 5.156. Responsibility to the Interior Design Profession

(a) A Registered Interior Designer shall not:

(1) knowingly participate, directly or indirectly, in any plan, scheme, or arrangement having as its purpose the violation of any provision of the Act or any provision of the Rules and Regulations of the Board;

(2) aid or abet, directly or indirectly:

(A) any unregistered person in connection with the unauthorized practice of Interior Design;

(B) any business entity in the practice of Interior Design unless carried on in accordance with the Act; or

(C) any person or any business entity in the use of a professional seal or other professional identification so as to create the opportunity for the unauthorized practice of Interior Design by any person or any business entity;

(3) fail to exercise reasonable care or diligence to prevent his/her partners, associates, shareholders, and employees from engaging in conduct which, if done by him/her, would violate any provision of the Act or any provision of the Rules and Regulations of the Board.

(b) A Registered Interior Designer possessing knowledge of an Applicant's qualifications for registration shall cooperate with the Board by responding in writing to the Board regarding those qualifications when requested to do so by the Board.

(c) A Registered Interior Designer shall be responsible and accountable for the care, custody, control, and use of his/her Interior Design seal, professional signature, and other professional identification. A Registered Interior Designer whose seal has been lost, stolen, or otherwise misused shall report the loss, theft, or misuse to the Board immediately upon discovery of the loss, theft, or misuse. The Board may invalidate the registration number of the lost, stolen, or misused seal upon the request of the Registered Interior Designer if the Board deems it necessary.

Source Note: The provisions of this §5.156 adopted to be effective March 1, 2001, 26 TexReg 1726; amended to be effective June 13, 2010, 35 TexReg 4708