Coalition for Interior Design Registration                   

                                                                                REPRESENTING MICHIGAN'S INTERIOR DESIGN COMMUNITY

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

 

Legislation

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CIDR currently has a three-bill package in the legislative process that would license qualified interior designers in Michigan.  SB974, SB975, and SB976 are sponsored by Republican State Senator Patricia Birkholz and Democrat State Senator Ray Basham.

Why is legislation needed for interior designers?

1.  Any individual can claim to be an interior designer in this state with no education or training.
 
2.  The restraint of trade targeted against small or single practitioner interior design firms must end.
        ▪   Building officials are rejecting design documents prepared by interior designers because the IBC recognizes
                only architects and engineers as “Registered Design Professionals”.  
        ▪   Building officials are requiring “submittal documents for deferred submittal items (specified materials) be
                submitted to the registered design professional in responsible charge to review and to determine general conformance….”
               
3.  Michigan International Building Code definition of a registered design professional:

REGISTERED DESIGN PROFESSIONAL - an individual who is registered or licensed to practice their respective design profession as defined by the statutory requirements of the professional registration laws of the state or jurisdiction in which the project is to be constructed.

Interior designers are neither registered nor licensed in Michigan.

4.  In this state, fifteen colleges and universities have in place programs that train interior designers.  The current situation in Michigan affects the viability of these programs.  It also means that students graduating from these institutions may need to leave Michigan to find work in their chosen field.
 
5.  Passage of PA319 of 2008 will ultimately make it a felony to practice a profession for which one is not licensed or registered.  Even though it provides an exemption for interior designers as written, it does not prevent interior designers from actually being prosecuted being prosecuted and could put interior designers in jail. 

What is the purpose of this legislation?

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It will safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the public.

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It will give the consumer a choice.

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It will protect the right to practice the profession of interior design in Michigan

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It will eliminate the restraint of trade - to save and to keep jobs in Michigan.

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It will provide an expanded market place – open, fair, and competitive.

What will this legislation do?

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It will protect the consumer from unqualified practitioners.

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It will give a legal definition to the interior designer.

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It will provide state licensure of interior designers.

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It will define the services an interior designer can provide.

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It will offer clarification for building code officials.

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It will establish a State of Board of Interior Design.

Will this legislation have a grandfather period?

Yes.  If an individual has not successfully completed all sections of the National Qualification for Interior Design examination and is not NCIDQ certified, she/he has one year from the effect of this legislation to document interior design credentials to be considered eligible for grandfathering. 

An individual  who is not NCIDQ certified shall be considered for licensure by submitting by affidavit proof of six years of combined education and experience in providing interior design services, with at least two of those six years being practical experience.

How does this legislation effect the State List?

The State List of Qualified Interior Designers was established in 1998 through Public Act 250.  The intent of this law was seriously compromised through unforeseen complications.  The List will be replaced by the State Board of Interior Design.  However, if you are currently on the State List, you may apply for licensure without further documentation of your interior design credentials.  If you are unsure as to whether you are listed, click the link below to check.

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/cis/idlist_178219_7.pdf

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What states or jurisdictions currently have interior design legislation?

Currently in the U.S. 26 states and jurisdictions as well as 8 Canadian provinces have laws have some form of interior design registration law that grants qualified individuals who have met the requirements of education, experience and examination the ability to be recognized by the state as professionals. 

 

 

What is the legislative analysis of these proposed bills?

 For a concise review of SB974, SB975, and SB976, click: 
 
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2009-2010/billintroduced/Senate/pdf/2009-SIB-0974.pdf
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2009-2010/billintroduced/Senate/pdf/2009-SIB-0975.pdf
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2009-2010/billintroduced/Senate/pdf/2009-SIB-0976.pdf
 
 

Who are the primary sponsors of the interior design bills?

Republican State Senator Patricia Birkholz sponsored SB974 that will amend Michigan occupation code and SB976 that provides for the licensing fees..

                                 State Senator Patricia Birkholz

    Republican 24th Senate District
    Allegan County
    Barry County
    Eaton Count
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State Senator Patricia L. Birkholz, a Saugatuck Township Republican, is in her second term as the Senator for the 24th District (Allegan, Barry and Eaton Counties). Patty chairs the Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee. serves on the Local, Urban and State Affairs Committee as Vice Chair, and the Agriculture Committee and the Energy Policy Committee. Birkholz is the Michigan Representative to the Great Lakes Commission, and the founder and chair of the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus.

Prior to her election to the Senate, Patty served for three terms in the House of Representatives. She was re-elected Speaker Pro-Tempore and appointed by Republican Speaker Rick Johnson to the Local Government and Urban Policy, Land Use and Environment, and Energy and Technology committees.

Patty was selected as a BILLD Fellow at the Bowhay Legislative Leadership Institute in 1997, named "Rookie of the Year" by the Michigan Manufacturers Association in 1998 and received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Michigan Municipal League in 1998. She received the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan and received Business Direct Weekly's Most Influential Woman Award both in 1999. Patty was named a "Guardian of Small Business" by the National Federal of Independent Business in 2000 and received the Michigan Society of Planning Outstanding Planning and Land Use Leadership Award in 2001. The Michigan Township Association named Patty "Legislator of the Year Award" in 2001. In 2002, Patty was recognized by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Award for Promoting New Approaches to Land Use, named one of the "50 Most Influential Women in Western Michigan in 2002" by the Grand Rapids Business Journal; was named Michigan Association of Regions Outstanding Legislator, and received the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan "CED Advocate of the Year" award. In 2003, Senator Birkholz was named Legislator of the Year by the Michigan Recreation and Park Association. She received the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Environmental Leadership Award in 2004 for leadership in forming the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus of Legislators, was named Michigan United Conservation Clubs Legislative Conservationist of the Year for 2004, and Legislator of the Year for 2004 by the Michigan Manufacturers Association. Patty received the Fight Crime-Invest in Kids Legislator of the Year for 2005 award, along with the DADS and MOMS of Michigan 2005 Legislator of the Year award, the Alliance for the Great Lakes 2005 Great Lakes Ally of the Year Policy Award, and the Michigan Environmental Health Association Distinguished Service Award for 2005. In 2006, Patty was recognized for "Dedication to Land Use Issues" by the Michigan Council of Foundations Land Use Funders and the Michigan United Conservation Clubs Award for Legislative Conservationist of the Year. In 2003, 2006 and 2008 Patty received the prestigious Michigan Farm Bureau Silver Plow Award. In 2008, Birkholz was selected by the Grand Rapids Business Journal as one of West Michigan's 50 most influential women and received the Heroes of Breast Cancer Leadership Award from the Karmanos Cancer Institute. Senator Birkholz chaired the Midwest Legislative Council of the Council of State Governments from 2006 to 2007.

Birkholz has been active in several community organizations, including service as President of Allegan Rotary, the Michigan State Parks Advisory Board and as a gubernatorial appointee to the Michigan Parks Foundation.

Birkholz began her career as a teacher in the Ottawa County Head Start program. She has served as the Allegan County Treasurer, on the district staff of U.S. Congressman Fred Upton, was a Saugatuck Township Treasurer, Trustee and Park and Recreation Commission member.

She has a B.S. degree from Western Michigan University.

 

State Senator Ray Basham sponsored SB975 that will amend Michigan construction code.

                               State Senator Ray Basham

 

Democrat 8h Senate District
Wayne County (part)
Allen Park city
Ecorse city
Lincoln Park city
Melvindale city
Riverview city
Romulus city
Southgate city
Taylor city
Wayne city
Wyandotte city

Raymond Basham has lived in Taylor for the past 30 years. Raymond and his wife Iva have two children: Brian, age thirty-eight and Tracy, age thirty-one; and four grandchildren.
bulletBorn: 5/24/45 Roanoke, VA
bulletElected State Senator in November 2002; re-elected 2006.
bulletElected State Representative in a special election in June 1997; re-elected 1998, 2000.
bulletElected to the Taylor City Council, 1989-1997.
bulletServed on the Taylor Planning Commission, 1993-1997.
bulletAppointed Constable in Taylor, 1985; elected 1987-1989.
bulletAppointed Water Commission in Taylor, 1984-1985.
bulletServed as an Auxiliary Police Officer, 1979-1984.
bulletVeteran of the U.S. Air Force, 1962-66.
bulletEmployed by Ford Motor Company for 30 years.
bulletAppointed as an Employee Support Services Representative for the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 245, 1985-1997.
bulletElected as a Bargaining Committee Person for UAW Local 245, 1976-1995.
bulletElected as a Committee Person At-Large for UAW Local 245, 1975.
bulletElected as an Education Committee Person and/or served as a part-time Committee Person, 1972-1975.
bulletTaken numerous courses in the Humanities at Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, Schoolcraft College and Wayne County Community College.

Memberships: Michigan Democratic Party, 15th District Democratic Organization, Democratic Club of Taylor, the Wolverine Masonic Lodge (Past Master) and Former Member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Committee Assignments: Local, Urban and State Affairs; Judiciary; Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (Minority Vice-Chair); Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs; and Transportation (Minority Vice-Chair).