As many of you are aware, today is the final "legislative day" of the 2001 Legislative Session. Nearly 1,600 bills were introduced in both Houses, with nearly 80 bills monitored on behalf of the Alabama engineering profession. Most bills were non-controversial....except HB 276....the Interior Design Bill.
The press dubbed this bill, the "clash of the titans"....and, indeed it was! The bill introduced six years ago, was initially opposed by the engineering community. However, in the past two years, the interior design community worked earnestly to address our concerns, and developed language in the bill satisfactory to our Board of Licensure. The engineering community has since, been identified as a proponent of the bill since we have no problem with the passage of the legislation. The architectural community has remained militantly opposed to the legislation.
During the Session, the engineering community was tasked by the State Legislature to facilitate 3 meetings between the designers and architects to help the two professions reach a compromise. ACECA President, Bob Barnett moderated all three meetings, Regina Dinger was also present to provide information from a registration board's perspective.
Last week Senator Vivian Figures (Mobile) facilitated a compromise to the bill. Today, the bill passed the Senate unanimously with substitute language that addresses the makeup a committee which will develop an examination to test the body of knowledge that interior designers must have in order to be professionally licensed. The committee will be composed of 3 architects, 3 designers, 2 professional engineers (1 appointed by AIA, 1 appointed by our BOL), two nonvoting members of the committee will include a representative from NCIDQ (Interior Designers national certification agency - like NCEES) and Senator Pruitt (bill sponsor).
Important information that came out in all the discussions between the designers and architects this past year, is that the architect's will introduce a rewrite to their registration law during the next session. It is important that the engineering community continues to remain vigilant to ensure that our interests are protected. I appreciate your support and
will keep you posted on any developments.
Renee A. Casillas
Executive Director
American Consulting Engineers
Council of Alabama (ACECA)
Phone (334) 264-1500