HB337INTRODUCED
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HB337
CT9RJWW-1
By Representatives Moore (P), Brown
RFD: Commerce and Small Business
First Read: 25-Feb-25
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5 CT9RJWW-1 02/25/2025 KMS (L)cr 2025-280
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First Read: 25-Feb-25
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, the Alabama Board for
Registered Interior Designers is responsible for
regulating those interior designers who are registered
with the board. Registered interior designers are
limited in the size and type of building for which they
may perform work.
This bill would expand the practice of
registered interior design and would remove the
prohibition on the size and type of building for which
a registered interior designer may perform work.
This bill would provide for the authority of the
board to discipline individuals who are not registered
by the board.
This bill would also provide further for the
prohibition against a registered interior designer
performing professional engineering or architecture and
exemptions from registration by the board.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the Alabama Board for Registered Interior
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Relating to the Alabama Board for Registered Interior
Designers; to amend Sections 34-15C-2, 34-15C-3, 34-15C-9,
34-15C-10, and 34-15C-15, Code of Alabama 1975; to expand the
practice of registered interior design; to remove the
prohibition on the size and type of building for which a
registered interior designer may perform work; and to provide
for the authority of the board to discipline individuals who
are not registered by the board; and to add Section
34-15C-10.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to provide further
for the prohibition against a registered interior designer
performing professional engineering or architecture and
provide further for exemptions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Sections 34-15C-2, 34-15C-3, 34-15C-9,
34-15C-10, and 34-15C-15 of the Code of Alabama 1975, are
amended to read as follows:
"§34-15C-2
The Legislature finds and declares that this chapter is
not intended to restrict the practice of interior design or
the use of the terms design, designer, interior design, or
interior designer in this state. The Legislature declares that
the purpose of this chapter is to establish a registration
process for those interior designers who choose to obtain the
credentials required to seal and submit construction documents
for commercial interior projects in certain spaces less than
5,000 contiguous square feet within a building which has a
total area of 2,500 square feet or more to building officials
for review and permitting purposes. The Legislature further
finds and declares that this chapter is not intended to
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finds and declares that this chapter is not intended to
prohibit any person from making plans and specifications for
or administering the erection, enlargement, or alteration of
any building upon any farm for the use of any farmer, or any
single family residence of any size , or of any other type
building which has a total area of less than 2,500 square
feet, provided the building is not a school, church,
auditorium, or other building intended for the assembly
occupancy of people . Except as expressly provided in Section
34-15C-9, nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted to
prohibit any person who is not a registered interior designer
from conducting any activity not prohibited by any other state
law. Further, registration under this chapter may not be
required by this state or by any city, town, county, or other
governmental entity or official for the submission, review,
approval, or issuance of permits for plans and specifications
for or to administer the erection, enlargement, or alteration
of any building upon any farm for the use of any farmer, or
any single family residence of any size , or of any other type
building which has a total area of less than 2,500 square
feet, provided the building is not a school, church,
auditorium, or other building intended for the assembly
occupancy of people, nor for any activity other than the
submission to building officials of construction documents for
commercial interior projects in certain spaces up to 5,000
contiguous square feet, within a building which has a total
area of 2,500 square feet or more ."
"§34-15C-3
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms
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For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms
shall have the following meanings:
(1) BOARD. The Alabama Board for Registered Interior
Designers.
(2) NCIDQ. The National Council for Interior Design
Qualification.
(3) NONSTRUCTURAL ELEMENT. An element of a building or
structure which does not require structural bracing and does
not contribute to the structural integrity of the building.
Nonstructural elements are primarily concerned with the
interior aspects of design and do not include any load-bearing
components. The term includes both non-seismic and
non-structural elements.
(4) PRACTICE OF REGISTERED INTERIOR DESIGN. The
analysis, planning, design, documentation, and management of
interior nonstructural construction and alteration projects in
compliance with applicable building design and construction,
fire, life-safety, and energy codes, standards, regulations,
and guidelines. The term includes all of the following:
a. Programming, space planning, predesign analysis, and
conceptual design of interior nonstructural elements.
b. Preparation of documents and technical submissions
related to interior construction, finish materials,
furnishings, fixtures, and equipment.
c. Rendering of designs, plans, drawings,
specifications, contract documents, and other interior
technical submissions, and administration of interior
nonstructural element construction and contracts relating to
nonstructural elements in interior alteration or construction
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nonstructural elements in interior alteration or construction
of a proposed or existing building or structure.
d. Alteration or construction of interior nonstructural
elements.
e. Preparation of a physical plan of space within a
proposed or existing building or structure, including any of
the following:
1. Determinations of circulation systems or patterns.
2. Determinations of egress requirements based on
occupancy loads.
3. Assessment and analysis of interior safety factors
to comply with building codes related to interior
nonstructural/nonseismic elements.
4. Design of the exit access and exit components of the
means of egress system within a building based on the
calculated occupant load.
5. Interior material selection and application for all
portions of a means of egress system.
6. Compliance with applicable building design and
construction, accessibility standards, fire, life-safety, and
energy codes, standards, regulations and guidelines.
(3)(5) REGISTERED INTERIOR DESIGNER. An interior design
professional, as defined by the NCIDQ, who is approved and
registered by the board and the Secretary of State.
(6) RESPONSIBLE CONTROL. The direct personal
supervision over, and detailed knowledge of, the content of
all contract documents that are ordinarily exercised by a
registered interior designer when applying the requisite
standard of care. "
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standard of care. "
"§34-15C-9
(a) Any person who is not a registered interior
designer who uses the title Except as otherwise provided in
this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any individual to
engage in the practice of registered interior design or use
the designation "registered interior designer" or any other
designation, words, or letters indicating registration as a
registered interior designer, including abbreviations, or hold
himself or herself out as a registered interior designer on
any sign, card, listing, advertising, business name,
stationery, or in any other manner knowingly implies or
indicates that he or she is a registered interior designer
unless duly registered as such by the board. This subsection
does not prohibit an individual who is exempt, pursuant to
this chapter, from holding himself or herself out to the
public or soliciting business as an interior designer.
(b) Any person who is not a registered interior
designer who performs or engages in the practice of registered
interior design or uses the title registered interior designer
shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(b)(c) Any person who is not a registered interior
designer who stamps or seals any document with a stamp or seal
containing the term registered interior designer shall be
guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(c)(d) Any registered interior designer who stamps or
allows to be stamped any document that is not prepared under
his or her supervision and control or any registered interior
designer who seals any plan, specification, report or document
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designer who seals any plan, specification, report or document
with the seal after the registration of the registered
designer has expired or has been suspended or revoked, unless
the certificate has been renewed or reissued shall be guilty
of a Class A misdemeanor."
"§34-15C-10
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted to
prohibit any person from making plans and specifications for
or administering the erection, enlargement, or alteration of
any building upon any farm for the use of any farmer, or any
single family residence of any size , or of any other type
building which has a total area of less than 2,500 square
feet, provided the building is not a school, church,
auditorium, or other building intended for the assembly
occupancy of people .
(b) Registration under this chapter may not be required
by this state or by any city, town, county, or other
governmental entity or official for the submission, review,
approval, or issuance of permits for plans and specifications
for or to administer the erection, enlargement, or alteration
of any building upon any farm for the use of any farmer, or
any single family residence of any size , or of any other type
building which has a total area of less than 2,500 square
feet, provided the building is not a school, church,
auditorium, or other building intended for the assembly
occupancy of people, nor for any activity other than the
submission to building officials of construction documents for
commercial interior projects in certain spaces up to 5,000
contiguous square feet, within a building which has a total
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contiguous square feet, within a building which has a total
area of 2,500 square feet or more .
(c) Except as expressly provided in subsection (a) or
subsection (b) of Section 34-15C-9, nothing in this chapter
shall be interpreted to prohibit any person who is not a
registered interior designer from conducting any activity not
prohibited by any other state law.
(d) The board shall have no jurisdiction over any
person who is not a registered interior designer.
(e) The board may not conduct any disciplinary
proceeding against any person who is not a registered interior
designer.
(f) The board may not conduct any disciplinary
proceeding or initiate any other action based upon the use of
the term design, designer, interior design, or interior
designer by any person, business, or firm at any time before
or after August 1, 2010 ."
"§34-15C-15
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the
contrary, a registered interior designer may submit sealed,
stamped drawings to building officials for a commercial
interior project in any space of less than 5,000 contiguous
square feet within a building of any size provided that all of
the following requirements are satisfied:
(1) The space may not be intended for use as a school,
church, auditorium, or other space intended for the assembly
occupancy of people.
(2) Unless unless the drawings utilize, reference, and
incorporate documents prepared by architects, engineers, or
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incorporate documents prepared by architects, engineers, or
other related professionals, the drawings may not include the
design or modification of architectural and engineering
interior construction relating to building systems, such as
building structural support, fire rated assemblies,
stairwells, means of egress components, elevators, elevator
shafts, plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, fire
protection, and mechanical and electrical systems, except for
the scope of interior services as defined by the NCIDQ or for
the coordination of the aesthetic requirements of fixtures.
(b) Any official of this state or of any city, town, or
county charged with the enforcement of laws, ordinances, or
regulations relating to the construction or alteration of
buildings may accept or approve and issue permits based upon
any of the following:
(1) Plans or specifications prepared by any person
registered pursuant to this chapter, provided the plans or
specifications are consistent with this chapter.
(2) Plans and specifications for the erection,
enlargement, or alteration of any building upon any farm for
the use of any farmer, or of any single family residence of
any size, or of any other type building which has a total area
of less than 2,500 square feet, provided the building is not a
school, church, auditorium, or other building intended for the
assembly occupancy of people .
(3) Plans and specifications which such the official is
not prohibited from accepting pursuant to any other state law
on August 1, 2010."
Section 2. Section 34-15C-10.1 is added to the Code of
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Section 2. Section 34-15C-10.1 is added to the Code of
Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to
authorize a registered interior designer to engage in the
practice of professional engineering or architecture in this
state or provide services that constitute the practice of
professional engineering or architecture, except as otherwise
provided in this chapter and incidental to the practice of
registered interior design.
(b) The practice of registered interior design does not
include modifications or additions to any of the following:
(1) Changes of building use to an occupancy not already
allowed by the current building or structure or changes of
building use to an occupancy of a greater hazard.
(2) The construction classification of the building or
structure according to the International Building Code.
(3) The structural system of a building, including
changing the building's dead load on the structural system.
(4) The building envelope, including exterior walls,
exterior wall claddings, exterior wall openings, exterior
windows and doors, balconies and similar projections, roof
assemblies and rooftop structures, and glass and glazing for
exterior use in both vertical and sloped applications in
buildings and structures.
(5) Mechanical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning,
ventilation, electrical, low voltage systems, elevators and
conveying systems, fire protection systems, or fire alarm
systems.
(6) Design of or modifications to an exit stair or exit
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(6) Design of or modifications to an exit stair or exit
discharge portion of a means of egress system.
(7) Construction that materially affects life safety
systems pertaining to fire safety of structural elements or
the fire protection of structural elements, smoke evacuation
and compartmentalization systems, or fire-rated vertical
shafts in multi-story structures.
(c) The following individuals are not required to
obtain a certificate of registration pursuant to this chapter:
(1) A licensed or registered architect.
(2) An individual engaging in work as an employee of an
architect or registered interior designer, if the work does
not include responsible control, or a consultant retained by
an architect or registered interior designer.
(3) An individual who prepares plans, drawings, or
specifications for buildings for their personal private
residential use.
(4) An individual who prepares drawings of the layout
of materials or furnishings used in interior design or in the
selection of materials or furnishings pursuant to a retail
sale including any of the following:
a. Decorative accessories.
b. Wall coverings, wall finishes, or paint.
c. Floor coverings, tile, wood, stone, or concrete.
d. Window coverings.
e. Lighting fixtures which do not disrupt structural
elements.
f. Plumbing fixtures which do not disrupt structural
elements.
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elements.
g. Professional services limited to the design of
kitchen and bath spaces or the specification of products for
kitchen and bath areas in noncommercial settings.
h. Furniture, equipment, cabinetry, or millwork, if the
preparation or implementation of those drawings or the
installation of those materials or furnishings is not
regulated by any building code or other law, ordinance, rule,
or regulation governing the alteration or construction of a
structure unless regulated items are reviewed and approved by
a registered design professional as defined by the
International Building Code.
Section 3. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2025.
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