Leave Virginia's Protection for Competition, Business, and the Public in Place. Fight Interior Design Deregulation

Governor Robert F. McDonnell has proposed the deregulation of interior design as part of his Reorganization Plan which is geared toward creating a more efficient, responsive, and cost effective state government.
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/mgmedia/file/449/mcdonnells-government-reorganization-plan/ (see pg. 18)

This action will have a negative impact on the health, safety, and welfare of the public, reduce free market competition between architecture and interior design firms, and create barriers to business.

The following is a list of actions you can take, and resources you can utilize to assist in the effort to fight Interior Design decertification in Virginia.

1. See the list of talking points below to learn the facts of ID decertification in VA.

2. Write a clear and brief letter to your state and local legislators.

3. Utilize social media to spread the message. Twitter users can use the hashtag #VACID


Find your legislators:
http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform



Talking points & facts.

1. Interior design decertification does NOT save the state money. The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) which regulates architects, engineers and interior designers is self-funded by dues and fees.

http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/public_records_faq.pdf



2. Interior design decertification harms the public. Interior designers have a significant positive impact on the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and may have the greatest impact on fire and life safety in terms of interior content within buildings.

http://njcidl.org/MG_Setser.pdf

http://ncidq.org/AboutUs/AboutInteriorDesign/HowInteriorDesignersProtectthePublic.aspx

http://www.asid.org/NR/rdonlyres/572C5A0B-D931-4763-A703-4D00E156D162/0/ASID_Legislative101web.pdf




3. Interior design decertification harms the public by removing enforcement of standards of professional conduct for interior designers, and by eliminating recourse for the public to file potential complaints. No other private or government entity provides this assurance to the public.

http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/dpormainwelcome.cfm

http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/enfocomp.cfm



4. Interior design decertification creates barriers to business as it will impact the voting rights of interior designers who serve on the boards of professional corporations. This is a common business structure for many architecture firms which employ interior designers.

http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/forms/ape/04pcreg.pdf (see Regulation 18 VAC 10-20-530.C)

 

5. Interior design decertification creates barriers to business as it will eliminate the ability of Certified Interior Designers to stamp and seal drawings.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+reg+18VAC10-20-760

6. Interior design decertification creates barriers to business by eliminating opportunities for reciprocity with other states which require regulation.
For example, within the District of Columbia where many Virginia CID’s practice.

http://www.asisvcs.com/publications/pdf/660949.pdf (See section 3204)



7. Interior design decertification creates barriers to business by placing greater burden upon local jurisdictions in regards to permitting for interior design projects. Additionally decertification increases ambiguity regarding the submission of drawings for permit within the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and Related Laws Package.

http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/StateBuildingCodesandRegulations/PDFs/2009/Code%20-%20VCC.pdf (see pg. 10-15 & Section 108.4)

http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/StateBuildingCodesandRegulations/PDFs/2009/Related%20Laws%20Package.pdf (See pg. 61-67)

http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+cod+TOC5401000 (see sections 54.1-100 thru 54.1-415)



8. Interior design decertification creates barriers to business by creating ambiguity and reducing the interior designers scope of work. Interior designers will have to subcontract with architects leading to increased costs for projects.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+54.1-400

http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/StateBuildingCodesandRegulations/PDFs/2009/Related%20Laws%20Package.pdf (See pg. 61-67)



9. Interior design decertification creates barriers to business by conflicting with state requirements such as those by DGS requiring the hire of “Certified Interior Designers”.

http://dgs.virginia.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=SLCGwc7ZrNQ%3d&tabid=403&mid=1125 (Sections 202.2, 602.2, 803.10.3, 1017.2)



10. Interior design CERTIFICATION does NOT create barriers to business. Certification in Virginia is regulated under a “Title Act” which protects the use of the term “Certified Interior Designer”. An interior designer does not have to become “Certified” in order to practice in Virginia.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+54.1-412



11. Virginia is home to four public universities with Accredited Interior Design programs.
Three of these schools have been identified as being within the TOP TEN programs in the nation.

Virginia Tech (8th-2012, 6th-2011, 9th -2009)
Virginia Commonwealth University (10th-2012, Tied for 10th 2011)
Radford University (Tied for 10th-2011)
http://www.di.net/news/archive/3735/