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Community Colleges
May 26, 2008
Ms Bonnie Slosson, Director of Governmental Relations
Community College League of California
2017 O Street
Sacramento CA 95811-5211
Dear Bonnie Slosson,
On behalf of the Interior Design Coalition of California, we appreciate the time you took to discuss with us proposed changes to SB 1312, the Interior Design Practice Act legislation we are sponsoring. As we discussed, we are willing to work with you and community college representatives to address any concerns you have. We want to ensure you that those students attending community colleges would be positively impacted by the proposed legislation, and we disagree that there will be negative impacts to any community college students from the passage of this Bill.
The purpose of this letter is to reiterate several points that were raised in the meeting.
1. SB 1312 will have only a positive impact the students who are, or intend to enroll in interior design curriculum.
As written, SB 1312 will increase career options for community college students currently
enrolled, or intend to enroll in an interior design program. Today, students who graduate from a community college interior design program are free to practice interior design in all its aspects, and SB 1312 ensures they will have the same opportunities in the future. As I noted in our
discussions the exemptions ensure that.
Graduates and students have a voluntary opportunity to become registered, which is left to them to decide. However, SB 1312 keeps the current standards that enable community college students, and students from dozens of public and private colleges and universities in California to have direct access to take the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam, which is the national standard exam used in 26 other states.
Although there is no requirement for registration, Community College students would have the opportunity to register, and would be able to present plans and drawings for consideration at city building departments throughout California as a Registered Interior Designer.
2. Students who graduate from community college programs will still be able to seek employment and practice in the interior design field with employers large and small in a manner of their choosing.
The interior design profession as a whole has enjoyed tremendous growth over the last twentyplus years, thanks in large measure to ADA requirements, green building programs, and a host of other opportunities. Graduates from community colleges, four-year universities and schools such as FIDM have and will continue to enjoy opportunities in interior design companies of all sizes. There is nothing in the legislation that would prohibit a graduate, or an interior designer who wishes to transition from one company to another, to seek gainful employment with an interior design company or other companies that engage in such practice areas as retail, furniture, manufacturing, engineering and architectural firms.
3. SB 1312 was crafted to support the existing curriculum. SB 1312 does not address curriculum standards and therefore there is absolutely no impact to the
standard of teaching and education given at a community college. In addition, the accreditation requirements are open to support all colleges and schools to be eligible as educational criteria.
The Bill specifically states this information in the registration entry requirements.
4. SB 1312 allows an open playing field to all types of educational programs, whether private, community or state.
There are multiple methods of entry to become a Registered Interior Designer which recognizes the many ways interior designers come into the profession. Community colleges are one of them, with programs that can stay as they are. In our discussions with the community college representatives, we agreed that the work experience requirement should be changed to include work experience performed concurrent with school attendance and as well as after graduation. Language for an amendment has been written to reflect that change and will be added to the Bill.
5. SB 1312 allows a student to attend a college, university or community college of their choice. All of these types of higher education give the student the chance to take the NCIDQ which is currently unavailable to community college students.
This legislation is neutral on what type of education a student chooses to pursue, whether that is a community college, university, state college, or private college. Community colleges have, and will continue to play a critical role in the education and training of interior designers.
6. SB 1312 opens a door to become a Registered Interior Designer and allows everyone to choose their own career path when they leave school.
The exemptions have been amended so that they are the same as the current architecture law. For example, these exemptions take into consideration all retail establishments, any non-code impacting work, residential interior design, and contractors. The work environment that interior designers are in today stays the same for interior designers and graduates when SB1312 becomes law.
I appreciate the opportunity to provide you with these important clarifications to SB 1312. This is significant legislation that will allow interior designers the opportunity to fully practice what their education has prepared them to accomplish. As was stated at our meeting, we undertook a review of 39 local building departments to determine whether, in fact, interior designers had the opportunity to present plans and/or drawings to local building officials. Of the 39 departments we queried, 17 building departments deny interior designers the ability to present drawings or plans for approval without an architect's stamp. Another 12 departments have "severe" restrictions on an interior designer's ability to present plans. SB 1312 will correct that for interior designers who are practicing today and for the emerging interior designers who are the students you are teaching today and in the future.
I urge you to reconsider your position, and offer a continued dialogue in order for us to work together to ensure the greatest possible opportunities are available to Community College students in California. I realize you did not have the opportunity to read SB 1312 before we met last week. However, once you have read the bill, I am confident that we can have a productive discussion when you consider how this benefits community college students in being able to advance their career in ways otherwise that may be currently unavailable to them.
It was always the goal and intention of the Interior Design Coalition of California to provide an opportunity for the community college student to be able to participate in the profession of interior design in a way that gives them more choices in how to express themselves in their chosen career. Speaking for the Coalition, we look forward to discussing SB 1312 further with you.
We firmly believe that the bill increases the opportunities available to community college students. We thank you and the Board in advance for your reconsideration of SB 1312, look forward to working with you on the bill, and hope you will join us in supporting this important measure.
Sincerely,
Bruce Goff
Legislative Director
Cc: Community College League Board
Senator Leland Yee
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