A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to increase the annual fees for podiatrists and pastoral counselors.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 90‑202.10 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90‑202.10.  Annual fee; cancellation or renewal of license.
On or before the first day of July of each year every podiatrist engaged in the practice of podiatry in this State shall transmit to the secretary‑treasurer of the said North Carolina State Board of Podiatry Examiners his signature and post‑office address, the date and year of his or her certificate, together with a fee to be set by the Board of Podiatry Examiners not to exceed three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00) and receive therefor a renewal certificate. Any license or certificate granted by said Board under or by virtue of this section shall automatically be cancelled and annulled if the holder thereof fails to secure the renewal herein provided for within a period of 30 days after the first day of July of each year, and such delinquent podiatrist shall pay a penalty for reinstatement of twenty‑five dollars ($25.00) for each succeeding month of delinquency until a six‑month period of delinquency exists. After a six‑month period of delinquency exists or after January 1 following the July 1 deadline, the said podiatrist must appear before the North Carolina Board of Podiatry Examiners and take a new examination before being allowed to practice podiatry in the State of North Carolina."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 90‑389 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90‑389.  Renewal of certificate.
A certificate issued under this Article must be renewed annually on or before the first day of January of each year. Each application for renewal must be accompanied by a renewal fee set by the Board of not more than three hundred dollars ($300.00). If a certificate is not renewed on or before the first day of January of each year, an additional fee of not more than twenty‑five dollars ($25.00) as set by the Board shall be charged for late renewal. The Board may establish requirements for continuing education for pastoral counselors and pastoral counseling associates certified in this State as an additional condition for renewal."
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2019, and applies to any license or certificate issued or renewed on or after that date.