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 r
egistered
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?
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
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 County
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.
 | Born: 5/24/45 Roanoke, VA |
| Elected State Senator in November 2002; re-elected 2006. |
| Elected State Representative in a special election in June 1997;
re-elected 1998, 2000. |
| Elected to the Taylor City Council, 1989-1997. |
| Served on the Taylor Planning Commission, 1993-1997. |
| Appointed Constable in Taylor, 1985; elected 1987-1989. |
| Appointed Water Commission in Taylor, 1984-1985. |
| Served as an Auxiliary Police Officer, 1979-1984. |
| Veteran of the U.S. Air Force, 1962-66. |
| Employed by Ford Motor Company for 30 years. |
| Appointed as an Employee Support Services Representative for the
United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 245, 1985-1997. |
| Elected as a Bargaining Committee Person for UAW Local 245,
1976-1995. |
| Elected as a Committee Person At-Large for UAW Local 245, 1975.
|
| Elected as an Education Committee Person and/or served as a
part-time Committee Person, 1972-1975. |
| Taken 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).
Coalition for
Interior Design Registration
