News Article |
| Article: Fight for your right to color-coordinate |
| Article: Interior Designers seek state licensing |
| Article: State considerd more professional licensing |
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Banker Trademans |
Monday, July 16, 2007 |
Senate Bill Sparks Truf War' Within Designer Community... read more
Article: Senate Bill Sparks Truf War |
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State House News Service |
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Tuesday, July 10, 2007
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ARCHITECTS, PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERS OPPOSE INTERIOR DESIGNER LICENSURE
BILL
By Priscilla Yeon
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JULY 10, 2007.Seizing on a federal report finding
"insufficient understanding among designers and builders" to be one of
the problems that led to the fatal Big Dig tunnel collapse a year ago,
architects today blasted a proposal that would allow interior designers
to obtain license, work more independently from architects, and bid on
state contracts.
According to George Bachrach, a past board member of the Boston Society
of Architects (BSA) who spoke against a bill filed by Sen. Cynthia Creem
(D-Newton) during a Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional
Licensure hearing, the tragedy in the I-90 tunnel connector last summer
was in part due to a lack of central authority over the project
execution. Bachrach urged members to oppose the bill that interior
designers say would give consumers access to professional designers who
meet minimum competency standards.
"If this is a mere turf battle, why would fire chiefs oppose this piece
of legislation? Where does your public safety begin and end?" said
Bachrach, a former Democratic state senator and gubernatorial candidate
who is president of the Watertown-based public relations firm Bachrach &
Co.
At today's hearing, International Association of Fire Chiefs President
Bob DiPoli said the Fire Chiefs of Massachusetts and building officials
oppose Creem's bill. "The chiefs are concerned with the lack of depth of
training and knowledge of the designers," said DiPoli.
Bachrach joined a panel of architects who pushed for another piece of
legislation that would grant designers a certification as opposed to a
license. According to BSA President Hubert Murray, granting licensure to
interior designers would hold them accountable for "public safety,
health and welfare."
"In the building industry, life safety is protected by the
well-worked-out interplay between the architectural and engineering
registration laws and the state building code," said Murray.
Murray said legislation filed by Rep. Martin Walsh (D-Dorchester) would
certify "qualified" interior designers and allow them to "distinguish
themselves in the marketplace without confusing and costly governmental
regulation and without compromising public safety."
Under Creem's bill, those who wish to be part of a Board of Registration
of Interior Designers to acquire a license would have to pass an
examination by the National Council of Interior Design Qualifications,
have experience in interior design and graduate from an interior design
program. The license would allow designers to submit plans to building
departments for permits without having to go through an architect or
another licensed professional and allow them to bid on contracts.
Currently, there is no law in the state pertaining to interior
designers.
"The bill would allow interior designers to practice to the fullest
extent of their capabilities," said Deanna Waldron, director of
government and public affairs of the American Society of Interior
Designers.
But according to Jay Wickersham, BSA secretary, the examination for
interior designers under the bill is significantly less comprehensive
than the Architectural Registration Examination, which licensed
architects are required to take.
Cheryl Durst, executive vice president and chief executive officer of
the International Interior Design Association, said consumers would
benefit from Creem's proposal because they would have access to a
resource of reliable professional interior designers who would have to
meet "standards of minimum competency."
Rose Mary Botti-Salitsky, president of the Massachusetts Interior Design
Coalition, said registration and licensure of interior designers are in
the public interest. She said she was in a "state of shock" when she
heard the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts opposed the
designers' licensure bill. Botti-Salitsky said the fire chiefs would not
have a "face to face" with her to talk about their point of view.
"We have great academic institutions in the Commonwealth, we want to
recruit them and yet we are not recognizing them as professionals,"
Botti-Salitsky said.
Committee Co-Chair Sen. Michael Morrissey (D-Quincy) said the ultimate
decision his committee will have to make is whether to give interior
designers certification or license.
According to the committee, the designers-backed legislation was first
proposed in 2003 and it died in the now obsolete Committee on Government
Regulations. In 2006, the bill died in the committee.
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State considers more professional licensing |
Boston Business Journal - June 15, 2007
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by
Todd Wallack
journal staff
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Massachusetts already licenses more than three dozen professions, ranging from architects to barbers. But the list could grow much longer. ... read more |
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| Crisis not fabricated |
| Letter to the editor: By Rose Mary Botti-Salitsky |
| Tuesday, May 1, 2007 |
Your editorial "Can using plaid be a crime?" (April 19) was misleading
and inaccurate. It stated that pending legislation to license interior
designers would "restrict the practice of color-coordinating drapes and
upholstery to only those licensed and registered by the state." This is
false; those who like to perform "color-coordinating drapes and
upholstery" can continue to do so with no restrictions as Senate Bill
178 contains a residential exception. But if these drapes are to be hung
in a public space, wouldn't it be advantageous to the public if these
drapes met existing fire codes, did not emit harmful gases, were
antibacterial and/or antimicrobial where necessary, and would not
degrade prematurely due to UV degradation?
This bill would enable consumers to distinguish "Registered Interior
Designers" who have received a formal education, experience in the field
and passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam.
Additionally, the statement that "a second bill would require that
state contracts go only to registered designers" is misleading. Interior
Designers are currently excluded from bidding on certain projects
because the profession is not recognized as a "Registered Design
Professional" within Massachusetts. House Bill 3206 would recognize the
profession enabling those who qualify to bid on projects for which they
are qualified. The editorial got it backward.
Rose Mary Botti-Salitsky,
President Mass. Interior Design Coalition
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| Interior Design Bill Passes Senate |
| Monday, April 2, 2007 |
| On Wednesday, April 25, 2007- New York Senate Bill 3659 unanimously passed
the
Senate. SB 3659 would amend the current interior design law, removing
the word "certified" from the regulated title. Under the new law, only
individuals who have met the education, experience and examination
criteria established by the New York State Education Department would be
eligible to use the title "interior designer." Sponsored by Sen. Kenneth
P. LaValle, SB 3659 was introduced on March 13 and passed the Senate
Committee on Higher Education on April 24. The bill will now go to the
House for consideration.Companion bill, AB 6534, is sponsored by
Assemblyman Ronald Canestrari.
On Wednesday, April 18, 2007- Colorado Senate Bill 84 passed the Senate by a
vote of 25-8. SB 84 would require the Colorado State Board of Licensure
for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
to maintain a database of qualified registered interior designers in the
state. Sponsored by Sen. Andy McElhany, SB 84 was introduced on Jan. 15
and referred to the Committee on Business, Labor and Technology, where
it passed on Jan. 31 by a vote of 7-0. The bill was then referred to
Appropriations Committee where it passed on April 11. SB 84 will now go
to the House for consideration.
On Tuesday, April 10, 2007- Indiana SB 490 passed the House by a vote of
61-35. SB 490 is a title act for interior designers that would allow
interior designers who are qualified by education, experience and
examination to become registered with the Board of Registration of
Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers to use the title
"registered interior designer." Sponsored by Sen. Dennis Kruse, SB 490
was introduced on Jan. 18 and passed the Senate on Feb. 26 by a vote of
44-5. The bill will now return to the Senate for Conference Committee
consideration
On Monday, April 2, 2007- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed SB 535
into law, changing the title regulated in the state from "interior
designer" to "licensed interior designer." Qualified interior designers
who wish to use the title "licensed interior designer" can register with
the New Mexico Board of Interior Design. SB 535, sponsored by Sen. Mary
Kay Papen, passed the Senate on March 2 by a vote of 35-0 and passed the
House on March 18 by a vote of 52-0. For more information on becoming a
"licensed interior designer" in New Mexico, contact the New Mexico Board
of Interior Design at (505) 476-4865 or interior.design@state.nm.us .
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| Editorial Regarding Interior Designers |
George Will |
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Professional interior designers are qualified by education, experience and examination to enhance the function, safety and quality of interior spaces. Every decision an interior designer makes impacts the health, safety and welfare of the public. ... read more
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Nice Asset |
| Cindy Coleman |
March 21, 2007 |
The term professional implies achieving a certain level of education,
experience and qualification. ...read more |
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