March 2010
Missouri design community,
On February 19, we informed you that Governor Jay Nixon is promoting HB 1998 -- a bill to repeal the provisions regarding the registration of interior designers and the Interior Design Council in the Division of Professional Registration. This legislation would completely remove the anti-competitive interior design title law which restricts the title "Registered Interior Designer" to only those who meet the imposed guidelines which include passage of the NCIDQ exam. If adopted, the repeal would go into effect on 8/28/10.
NEW INFORMATION: SB 991 has also been introduced and has already had one hearing in the Senate Financial and Government Operations & Elections Committee. The Committee is aware of the Governor's push to remove this law, but they have not heard from those in opposition to the law. IDPC has contacted both the Senate and House Committees but it's not enough. The pro-regulation designers have been begging legislators not to end their state-sanctioned monopoly and to continue their licensing board. Absent any input from the opposition, some of the Committee members started seeking a "compromise" which would merely reduce the number of board members, but of course, that doesn't address the issue of why this wasteful. unnecessary and anti-competitive law should remain on the books.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED. . . NOW!
This may be your only opportunity to get rid of this law which demotes you to second-class status, even though you're a first-rate designer.
With the state budget currently IN THE RED, and with ONLY 97 registered designers, repealing the law could be an appealing option to the legislature. Clearly, since there is no demonstrable benefit to the public, this law is unnecessary, as well as anti-competitive since it places the majority of the design community who cannot refer to themselves as "state registered" at an unfair competitive disadvantage. In this difficult economy, the state government should not continue to support laws that make it more difficult for its citizens to earn an honest living unless the public is in jeopardy without the law. There is no evidence to support such a claim.
The House companion bill, HB 1998 was referred to the Special Standing Committee on Professional Registration & Licensing. No hearing has been scheduled as of yet, so time is of the essence to kill this bill in committee without it being granted a hearing -- but that will only happen if the outcry to repeal the bill is louder than the voices of those who seek to continue their cartel.
What can you do? Take a few minutes to contact all the members of both the Senate Financial and Government Operations & Elections Committee (they are scheduled to vote THIS WEEK) and secondly, if you have not already done so, the House Committee on Professional Registration & Licensing also. To facilitate, we've provided a sample letter which you may use (although your own words are always best, so please write your own if possible) and the contact information. Please also send a copy to Governor Nixon so that he will know the design community is behind him and he'll continue to push for the repeal.
Since a vote is imminent, we ask that you call and send a written request (either fax or email) to each legislator -- it will only take a few minutes of your time, and the results will be well worth the effort.
Click here for Senate Committee contact information
Click here for House Committee contact information
Click here for sample letter
Click here for pointers on calling legislators
Click here to read HB 1998
NOTE: Please send a copy of your letter, or a note acknowledging that you've emailed, faxed or called the Committee to info@IDPCinfo.org, so that we can track how many letters they are getting and strategize accordingly.
February 2010
Missouri design community,
It has come to our attention that Governor Jay Nixon is promoting HB 1998 -- a bill to repeal the provisions regarding the registration of interior designers and the Interior Design Council in the Division of Professional Registration. This legislation would completely remove the anti-competitive interior design title law which restricts the title "Registered Interior Designer" to only those who meet the imposed guidelines which include passage of the NCIDQ exam. If adopted, the repeal would go into effect on 8/28/10.
With the state budget currently IN THE RED, and with ONLY 97 registered designers, repealing the law is the only logical option. Clearly, since there is no demonstrable benefit to the public, this law is necessary, as well as anti-competitive since it places the majority of the design community who cannot refer to themselves as "state registered" at an unfair competitive disadvantage. In this difficult economy, the state government should not continue to support laws that make it more difficult for its citizens to earn an honest living unless the public is in jeopardy without the law. There is no evidence to support such a claim.
ACTION NEEDED. . . NOW!
This may be your only opportunity to get rid of this law which demotes you to second-class status, even though you're a first-rate designer.
On February 16, HB 1998 was referred to the Special Standing Committee on Professional Registration & Licensing. No hearing has been scheduled as of yet, so there is time to kill this bill in committee without it being granted a hearing -- but that will only happen if there is a huge outcry from the Missouri design community.
Take a few minutes to contact all the members of the Committee on Professional Registration & Licensing. To facilitate, we've provided a sample letter which you may use (although your own words are always best, so please write your own if possible) and the contact information. Please also send a copy to Governor Nixon so that he will know the design community is behind him and he'll continue to push for the repeal.
Click here for Committee contact information
Click here for sample letter
Click here for pointers on calling legislators
Click here to read HB 1998