March 2010
Minnesota design community,
As you know, a hearing was held yesterday on SB 2591, a bill which would have expanded the current "Certified Interior Designer" title act into full occupational licensing -- and would have become the most restrictive practice law in the country.
Senator Linda Scheid, Chair of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection scheduled the hearing based on the proponent's claim that they had enough votes to pass it out of committee.
Good news, my friends, that did NOT happen!
Due to the large opposition turnout and testimonies, and rather than allow another overwhelming vote to kill the bill, Chair Scheid graciously granted that the bill be "tabled" (according to our sources, at the request of the bill's sponsor, Senator Dibble), which means the practice act is dead -- at least for this year.
Professor Caren Martin testified on behalf of interior designers who support the bill. You may remember Professor Martin as the author of the failed attempt to discredit Dick Carpenter, Ph.D.'s highly acclaimed and meticulously researched Designing Cartels, and her efforts yesterday met a similar fate. Professor Martin failed to provide any factual or empirical evidence to support a need for licensing, and was unable to defend the many questions she received from the Committee as to why people who are currently practicing in all areas of design, without harm to the public, should not be allowed to continue. Professor Martin also misrepresented (or perhaps misunderstood) the recent court decision in Florida, indicating that it only struck down the title portion of the law while upholding the practice portion, when in actuality, Judge Hinkle's decision also substantially narrowed the Florida restrictions on commercial services which were previously understood could only legally be performed by licensees (which of course, I was only too willing to correct in my testimony).
Effectively testifying in opposition were:
- Ed Nagorsky, National Kitchen & Bath Association
- Galen Jorgenson, NCIDQ certificate holder, 35 yr. Instructor of Interior Design
- Morris Kleiner, Ph.D., world renowned economist and Professor - University of Minnesota
- Lee McGrath, Institute for Justice
- Rich Lampus, American Lighting Association
- Ann Voda, American Institute of Architects
If you were not able to make it to the hearing but would like to listen to it, click here for the audio.
I would also like to acknowledge and thank:
- The large turnout of students, who clearly understood that this bill would negatively impact their future,
- Lobbyist Tom Murphy who worked tirelessly to help achieve this result.
That's the good news.
Here's the bad news.
Like zombies, these bills just won't stay dead, and the pursuit for an anti-competitive MN practice act will most likely be back next year.
February 2010
MN SV 2591 practice act will undermine your future...
Despite the defeat of a nearly identical bill last year before the very same Committee, the interior design cartel has managed to persuade Sen. Dribble to sponsor their licensure bill which would limit the practice of interior design to only a handful of designers who meet their self-anointed qualifications of "minimum competency" (formal education, mandatory internship, and passage of the NCIDQ). We were hopeful that given the outrage and overwhelming opposition they faced last year, the Chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee would refuse to grant a hearing on this totally unnecessary and anti-competitive legislation, but Chairman Scheid has indeed scheduled a hearing:
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 - 12:30 PM
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection
Room 112 Capitol
If allowed to pass, this law would be one of the most restrictive interior design regulations in the country and join only three other states that restrict the practice of interior design.
SF 2591 contains a broad, loose definition of "licensed Interior design" which includes any professional service in connection with:
- the planning or design of any interior space, and
- the preparation of documents relative to
- non-load bearing interior construction
- administration of the construction for interior spaces which is defined as the performance of reasonable and ordinary on-site observations to determine that the interior construction substantially complies with the approved drawings, plans, and specifications
As an "unlicensed interior designer," the only services you will be "allowed" to provide will be in one and two-family residential dwellings - NO CONDOS, APARTMENTS OR COMMERCIAL WORK OF ANY KIND. WHY SHOULD YOU AGREE TO LIMIT YOUR RIGHT TO WORK? You will only be "allowed" to assist in selecting, selling and supplying surface materials, window treatments, wall coverings, paint, and loose furnishings.
You must act NOW to let the members of the Committee know that, especially in this difficult economic climate, no legislation should be considered that will negatively impact your ability to earn a living.
Click here for sample letter (but YOUR OWN WORDS are best)
February 2010
MN SV 2591 practice act will undermine your future...
Despite the defeat of a nearly identical bill last year before the very same Committee, the interior design cartel has managed to persuade Sen. Dribble to sponsor their licensure bill which would limit the practice of interior design to only a handful of designers who meet their self-anointed qualifications of "minimum competency" (formal education, mandatory internship, and passage of the NCIDQ). We were hopeful that given the outrage and overwhelming opposition they faced last year, the Chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee would refuse to grant a hearing on this totally unnecessary and anti-competitive legislation, but Chairman Scheid has indeed scheduled a hearing:
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 - 12:30 PM
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection
Room 112 Capitol
If allowed to pass, this law would be one of the most restrictive interior design regulations in the country and join only three other states that restrict the practice of interior design.
SF 2591 contains a broad, loose definition of "licensed Interior design" which includes any professional service in connection with:
- the planning or design of any interior space, and
- the preparation of documents relative to
- non-load bearing interior construction
- administration of the construction for interior spaces which is defined as the performance of reasonable and ordinary on-site observations to determine that the interior construction substantially complies with the approved drawings, plans, and specifications
As an "unlicensed interior designer," the only services you will be "allowed" to provide will be in one and two-family residential dwellings - NO CONDOS, APARTMENTS OR COMMERCIAL WORK OF ANY KIND. WHY SHOULD YOU AGREE TO LIMIT YOUR RIGHT TO WORK? You will only be "allowed" to assist in selecting, selling and supplying surface materials, window treatments, wall coverings, paint, and loose furnishings.
You must act NOW to let the members of the Committee know that, especially in this difficult economic climate, no legislation should be considered that will negatively impact your ability to earn a living.
Click here for sample letter (but YOUR OWN WORDS are best)