CHAPTER 205
FORMERLY
SENATE BILL NO. 74
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BOARD OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend § 206, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 206. Qualifications of applicant; report to Attorney General; judicial review.
(a) An applicant who is applying for examination and licensure under this chapter shall have 1 of the following qualifications:
(1) The applicant shall have been graduated Graduated from a school or college of landscape architecture approved or accredited by the National Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards, the American Society of Landscape Architects Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board, or other legitimate national association of landscape architects; or and acquired at least 2 years of professional experience in the practice of landscape architecture acceptable to the Board under the direct supervision of a licensed landscape architect.
(2) The applicant shall have Completed 2 years of courses in landscape architecture acceptable to the Board taken from a school or college of landscape architecture approved or accredited by the National Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards, the American Society of Landscape Architects Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board, or other legitimate national association of landscape architects; and have and acquired 4 years of professional experience in the practice of landscape architecture acceptable to the Board under the direct supervision of a licensed landscape architect.
(b) An applicant shall be required to pass the uniform national examination, prepared and graded by the National Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards.
(3) (c) An applicant shall not have been convicted of a crime that is substantially related to the practice of landscape architecture; however, after a hearing or review of documentation demonstrating that the applicant meets the specified criteria for a waiver, the Board, by an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum, may waive this paragraph (a)(3) this subsection, if it finds all of the following:
a. (1) For waiver of a felony conviction, more than 5 years have elapsed since the date of the conviction. At the time of the application the applicant may not be incarcerated, on work release, on probation, on parole parole, or serving any part of a suspended sentence and must be in substantial compliance with all court orders pertaining to fines, restitution and community service.
b. (2) For waiver of a misdemeanor conviction or violation, at the time of the application the applicant may not be incarcerated, on work release, on probation, on parole parole, or serving any part of a suspended sentence and must be in substantial compliance with all court orders pertaining to fines, restitution and community service.
c. (3) The applicant is capable of practicing landscape architecture in a competent and professional manner.
d. (4) The granting of the waiver will not endanger the public health, safety safety, or welfare.
(4) (d) Each applicant shall provide such information as may be required on an application form designed and furnished by the Board. No application form shall require a picture of the applicant; require information relating to citizenship, place of birth, length of state residency; nor require personal references.
(b) (e) Where the Board has found to its satisfaction that an application has been intentionally fraudulent, or that false information has been intentionally supplied, it shall report its findings to the Attorney General for further action.
(c) (f) Where the application of a person has been refused or rejected and such applicant feels that the Board has acted without justification; has imposed higher or different standards for that person than for other applicants or licensees; or has in some other manner contributed to or caused the failure of such application, the applicant may appeal to the Superior Court.
Section 2. Amend § 210, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 210 Issuance of license; renewal Renewal; inactive status; reinstatement.
(a) Each person who has passed the written examination and has acquired at least 2 years of professional experience in the practice of landscape architecture acceptable to the Board under the direct supervision of a licensed landscape architect, who has been admitted to practice in this State by reciprocity or who has otherwise qualified for a license shall, prior to practicing in this State, file for and obtain an occupational license from the Division of Revenue in accordance with Chapter 23 of Title 30. The Board shall forthwith issue a license to each person who has qualified for same under this chapter.
(b) Each license shall be renewed biennially, in such manner as is determined by the Division of Professional Regulation. The Board shall in its rules and regulations, determine the period of time within which a practitioner may still renew a license, notwithstanding the fact that such practitioner has failed to renew on or before the renewal date; provided, however, that such period shall not exceed l year. The Board shall charge for each month or quarter during such "late renewal period" a late fee which, at the end of such "late period" will be twice the sum of the unpaid renewal fee. At the expiration of the period designated by the Board, the license shall be deemed to be lapsed and not renewable unless the former licensee reapplies under the same conditions which govern reciprocity; provided, however, that the former licensee shall also pay a reinstatement fee in an amount which is 3 times the amount of the reciprocity fee.
(c) Any licensee may, upon a written request, be placed in an inactive status. The renewal fee of such person shall be prorated in accordance with the amount of time such person was inactive. Such person may reenter practice upon notification to the Board of the intent to do so.
(d) A former licensee who has been penalized for the violation of a provision of this chapter, or whose license has been suspended or revoked, and who subsequently is permitted to apply for reinstatement shall apply for a new license, successfully complete the uniform national examination and shall pay all appropriate fees therefor.
Approved March 17, 2016