§144. Powers, authority, and domicile of board

            A. Four members of the board constitute a quorum for the purpose of holding examinations, granting certificates, and transacting other business within the scope of this Chapter.

            B. The certificate of the board shall entitle the holder to practice as an architect in Louisiana.

            C. The board shall have the power to adopt and amend such rules and regulations as are reasonably necessary for the proper performance of its duties, for carrying out the purposes of this Chapter, for continuing education, for the regulation of the proceedings before it, and for the regulation of the practice of architecture under the laws of this state.

            D. The procedure for the adoption, amendment, and repeal of any rule or regulation shall be in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, R.S. 49:950 et seq., and the rules and regulations which may be adopted by the board shall be available for public inspection at the office of the State Board of Architectural Examiners.

            E. The board may employ clerical, or other assistants as are necessary for the proper performance of its work; may make expenditures from its funds for any purpose which is reasonably necessary for the proper performance of its duties under this Chapter; and may, if necessary, or upon advice of the attorney general, hire counsel for advice, for the representation of the board against violators of this Chapter and for the defense of any action brought against the board or its members or staff.

            F. The domicile of the board shall be Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

            G.(1) The board may allocate up to ten percent of all license renewal and delinquent fees each fiscal year to a fund to be named the Louisiana Architecture Education and Research Fund. The purpose of the fund is to better prepare students for internships and future careers as architects by authorizing the board to make awards to universities in this state accredited by and in good standing with the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

            (2) The fund shall be used exclusively for one or more of the following in order to improve architectural education and the licensure of student interns in this state:

            (a) Integration of practice and education in the professional NAAB degree curriculum.

            (b) Implementation of a path to licensure resulting in an architectural license at the time of graduation from a NAAB-accredited professional degree program.

            (c) Facilitation of enrollment and completion of training requirements for the Intern Development Program (IDP) as administered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

            (d) Assistance of students and interns in preparation for the taking of the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE).

            (e) Methods for raising awareness of the responsibilities of architects and of the ways that public health, safety, and welfare are impacted by architects.

            (3) An accredited university architectural program shall submit an annual proposal and budget, including any information deemed necessary by the board, to be considered for any award from the board.

            (4) The board shall submit an annual report to the appropriate legislative oversight committee regarding its allocation of monies from the fund for the preceding fiscal year.

            Amended by Acts 1958, No. 524, §1; Acts 1964, No. 21, §1; Acts 1972, No. 69, §1; Acts 1981, No. 920, §1; Acts 1983, No. 472, §1; Acts 1995, No. 238, §1; Acts 2001, No. 231, §1; Acts 2016, No. 251, §1, eff. May 26, 2016.