A.(1) The examination fee for each examination for a professional license, except for landscape architects, shall be established by the commission by rule in an amount not to exceed three hundred fifty dollars. In determining the amount of the fee, the commission shall consider the costs incurred in obtaining, administering, and grading the examination.

            (2) The examination fee for each examination for a professional license for landscape architects shall be established by the commission by rule in an amount not to exceed two hundred dollars, which represents the cost of administering and grading the Louisiana Landscape Architect Examination.

            B. The license fee for each professional license which is issued or renewed by the commissioner shall not be less than seventy-five dollars nor more than one hundred fifty dollars per license.

            C. The permit fee for each nursery stock dealer’s permit which is issued or renewed by the commissioner shall not be less than one hundred thirty dollars nor more than one hundred seventy-five dollars per permit.

            D. The permit fee for each cut flower dealer’s permit which is issued or renewed by the commissioner shall not be less than seventy dollars nor more than one hundred forty dollars per permit.

            E. In addition to the fees provided for in Subsections B, C, and D of this Section, each applicant who applies for the renewal of a license or permit more than fifteen working days after his license or permit has expired shall pay a late fee of twenty-five dollars for each late application.

            F. The fees established in this Section shall not be refundable except under such conditions as the commission may establish.

            G.(1) All assessments, fees, penalties, and all other funds received under the provisions of this Chapter, subject to the exceptions contained in La. Const. Art. VII, § 9 , shall be deposited immediately upon receipt into the state treasury and shall be credited to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.

            (2) Out of the funds remaining in the Bond Security and Redemption Fund after a sufficient amount is allocated from that fund to pay all obligations secured by the full faith and credit of the state which become due and payable within any fiscal year, the treasurer, prior to placing the remaining funds in the state general fund, shall pay an amount equal to the total amount of funds paid into the state treasury under the provisions of this Chapter into a special fund which is hereby created in the state treasury and designated as the Horticulture and Quarantine Fund.

            (3) All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund. The state treasurer shall invest monies in the fund in the same manner as monies in the state general fund. All interest earned on monies from the fund invested by the state treasurer shall be deposited in the fund.

            (4) Subject to appropriation, the monies in the fund shall be used for the following purposes:

            (a) To provide for the expenses of the program established by this Chapter and the expenses of the office of agricultural and environmental sciences, as determined by the commissioner.

            (b) To fund any and all costs related to the purposes of this Chapter and to carrying out the powers and duties granted the commission and the commissioner under this Chapter.

            H. The commission is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

            Acts 1950, No. 224, §6. Amended by Acts 1981, No. 621, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1981, Ex.Sess., No. 2, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982; Acts 1985, No. 120, §1; Acts 1987, No. 844, §1; Acts 1992, No. 457, §1; Acts 1992, No. 984, §2; Acts 2003, No. 123, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2011, No. 31, §1; Acts 2013, No. 103, §1; Acts 2015, No. 202, §1.