(1) Each individual taking an examination for certification as required in section 34-22-105 shall pay to the office of active and inactive mines a fee of twenty-five dollars for any initial examination or subsequent examinations required because of the failure to receive a passing grade. Renewals of certificates of competency where required shall be at no cost to the individual holding a valid certificate.
(2) Notwithstanding the amount specified for the fee in subsection (1) of this section, the executive director of the department of natural resources by rule or as otherwise provided by law may reduce the amount of the fee if necessary pursuant to section 24-75-402 (3), C.R.S., to reduce the uncommitted reserves of the fund to which all or any portion of the fee is credited. After the uncommitted reserves of the fund are sufficiently reduced, the executive director of the department of natural resources by rule or as otherwise provided by law may increase the amount of the fee as provided in section 24-75-402 (4), C.R.S.