"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

- Margaret Mead, anthropologist

A BRIEF HISTORY OF LEGISLATION IN THE COMMONWEALTH
and the role of MIDC

  • February 2007 Russel Feldman, AIA Chair BSA legislative Affairs Committee, Public policy and the BSA Chapterletter 02/07 no mention of ID Bill that they filed.
  • January 2007 BSA, Boston Society of Architects filed their own bill for the interior design profession. Representative Martin Walsh is the Bill sponsor of HD 1248 An Act relative to certification of interior designers 1/9/2007 10:22:07 AM. There was no dialogue or conversation with MIDC, or for that fact, any interior designer professional.
  • January 2007 House Bill 2256 sponsored by Representative Lou Kafka. HB 2256-An Act recognizing the profession of interior designers to bid on state contracts. Pre-filed on Jan. 9. Sponsored by Rep. Louis Kafka. The following legislators have signed on as co-sponsors: Representative Brad Hill, Representative Frank Hynes, Representative Mary Grant, Senator Jarrett Barrios and Senator James Timilty
  • January 2007 Senate Bill 865 sponsored by Senator Cynthia S Creem, SB 865-Relative to interior designers. Pre-filed Jan. 10. by Sen. Cynthia Creem.the following legislators have signed on as co-sponsors: Representative Brad Hill, Representative Frank Hynes, Representative Kay Khan, Representative Mary Grant, Representative Elizabeth Poirier, Senator Jarrett Barrios and Senator James Timilty
  • January 2006: IIDA awards legislative grant money through IIDA New England to MIDC.
  • December 2005: MIDC is awarded $12,000 through ASID National's legislative grant program.
  • December 2005: Rep. Kafka tours and speaks with senior members of SMMA's staff, including their CEO, Director of Interior Design and Director of Architecture, all who support SB 189.
  • December 2005: Tours of representative "multi-disciplinary" design firms in the Boston area are requested by Rep. Kafka; MIDC proposes visit to Tsoi/Kobus and Symmes Maini and McKee Associates (SMMA).
  • November 2005: MIDC presents "Why Is Interior Design Legislation Important to You!" at the Boston Design Center's New England Career Day.
  • November 2005: MIDC meets with Representative Kafka to share pertinent information regarding the struggle for passage of interior design registration legislation within the Commonwealth.
  • November 2005: MIDC participates in ASID's Design Source program.
  • November 2005: MIDC participates in IIDA NE's Interior Design Boston event.
  • Fall 2005: MIDC, through IIDA's New England Chapter, applies for legislative grant money from IIDA International.
  • October 2005: Representative Louis Kafka is appointed by the Joint Committee as formal mediator to help resolve "open issues" in the bill's language between the BSA and MIDC.
  • October 2005: SB 189 has its hearing before the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure with testimony in support provided by MIDC.
  • June 2005: MIDC participates in an "Interior Design Summit" at the BSA offices with representatives of the BSA, IIDA and ASID to discuss interior design licensure in the Commonwealth.
  • May 2005, MIDC hold Golf fundraiser at Pine Hills in Plymouth MA
  • April 2005:MIDC participates in Build Boston's Spring Residential Show, sponsored by ASID & The BSA
  • April 2005:MIDC participates in newly reformatted Business Leaders Forum Breakfast program presented by IIDA New England.
  • March 2005: ASID NE responds to MIDC's emergency funds request and awards $1,000 to the Massachusetts Interior Design Coalition.
  • Spring 2005: MIDC retains Marty Corry as continuing legal consul for the 2005-06 two year legislative session.
  • January 2005: SB 189 is assigned to the newly formed Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure.
  • January 2005: Presentation to The Ritchie Organization TRO on Interior Design Legislation .
  • December 2004: MIDC, with the co-sponsorship of Senators Cynthia Creem, Bruce Tarr and Representative Peter Koutoujian, reintroduces revised interior design "practice" act legislation to the Massachusetts Senate (SB 189).
  • November2004: MIDC participates in ASID NE's Design Source program.
  • November 2004: MIDC participates in IIDA NE's Interior Design Boston event.
  • Fall 2004: MIDC submits to the International Interior Design Association's (IIDA) legislative grant program which awards $1,000 to the MIDC.
  • October 2004: MIDC submits a grant to the American Society of Interior Design's (ASID) National office resulting in an award to MIDC of $7,500.
  • Summer 2004: MIDC holds numerous fundraising events to further its cause for legislation in the Commonwealth, including a 50/50 raffle and a golf outing.
  • June 2004: The Massachusetts legislative session ends before any additional movement on HB 2592 occurs.
  • June 2004: HB 2592 passes out of the Joint Committee on Government Regulations.
  • May 2004: MIDC works closely with Senator Morrissey's office to review and respond to the BSA's items of concern resulting in changes to HB 2592's language.
  • May 2004: The BSA issues a memo outlining their concerns in the language of HB 2592 to the Joint Committee/Sen Morrissey's office.
  • April 2004: MIDC participates in IIDA NE's Business Leaders Forum Breakfast event in Boston.
  • 2004: MIDC arranges rallies and meetings between members of the interior design community and key legislators at the State House.
  • December 2003: MIDC participates in a meeting with the BSA at their Boston headquarters to discuss HB 2592.
  • November 2003: MIDC holds a presentation during New England Career Day at the Boston Design Center.
  • April 2003: MIDC participates in a BSA sponsored legislative symposium on "Interior Design Licensure" held at the Boston Architectural Center (BAC).
  • April 2003: An information session on the legislation with Senator Mike Morrissey is held, hosted at Montage's Boston showroom.
    2003 - 2004: Various meeting are held by MIDC with the design community to share information on HB 2592.
  • March 2003:Rally at the state house in hearing room A-1
  • February 2003: The BSA and MIDC task forces meet at Sasaki in Watertown MA to discuss specific items in the bill language
  • January 2003: HB 2592 is assigned to the Joint Committee on Government Regulations.
    2003: MIDC hires Martin Corry, Esq. as its legal Council for the 2003-04 two year legislation session.
  • November, 2003: A joint meeting of the Boston Society of Architects (BSA) and MIDC legislative task forces occurs to discuss issues of mutual concern regarding the pending legislation.
  • November 2002: MIDC, with the sponsorship of Rep. Peter Koutoujian, introduces a "practice" act bill for Registration for interior design into the Massachusetts House (House Bill 2592).
  • March 28, 2000 BSA letter to Interior Design Coalition addressing 19 areas of concern.
  • 2002: The Massachusetts Interior Design Coalition (MIDC) is established with its mission solely focused on garnering interior design legislation in the Commonwealth.
  • 1999: NEIDC dissolves as it becomes clear that individual New England states need to set up their own coalitions to obtain legislation.
  • 1989: NEIDC works to introduce "title" act legislation for Massachusetts.
  • 1988:The New England Interior Design Coalition (NEIDC) is established to be an interior design legislative advocate for all of New England.
  • 1993: Maine with the help of MIDA (Maine Interior Design Association) achieves "title" act legislation for interior designers with "stamping" privileges.
  • 1980's: Connecticut achieves one of the first interior design "title" acts with the help of the Connecticut Coalition for Interior Design (CCID).

 

www.midclink.org
Massachusetts Interior Design Coalition - Suite 544 Boston Design Center Boston, MA 02210. Website maintained by Rose Botti-Salitsky, questions or corrections please contact rbottisalitsky@mountida.edu