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Alabama House Bill HB337

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB337 Compare Versions

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44 CT9RJWW-1
55 By Representatives Moore (P), Brown
66 RFD: Commerce and Small Business
77 First Read: 25-Feb-25
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1212 5 CT9RJWW-1 02/25/2025 KMS (L)cr 2025-280
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1414 First Read: 25-Feb-25
1515 SYNOPSIS:
1616 Under existing law, the Alabama Board for
1717 Registered Interior Designers is responsible for
1818 regulating those interior designers who are registered
1919 with the board. Registered interior designers are
2020 limited in the size and type of building for which they
2121 may perform work.
2222 This bill would expand the practice of
2323 registered interior design and would remove the
2424 prohibition on the size and type of building for which
2525 a registered interior designer may perform work.
2626 This bill would provide for the authority of the
2727 board to discipline individuals who are not registered
2828 by the board.
2929 This bill would also provide further for the
3030 prohibition against a registered interior designer
3131 performing professional engineering or architecture and
3232 exemptions from registration by the board.
3333 A BILL
3434 TO BE ENTITLED
3535 AN ACT
3636 Relating to the Alabama Board for Registered Interior
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6666 Relating to the Alabama Board for Registered Interior
6767 Designers; to amend Sections 34-15C-2, 34-15C-3, 34-15C-9,
6868 34-15C-10, and 34-15C-15, Code of Alabama 1975; to expand the
6969 practice of registered interior design; to remove the
7070 prohibition on the size and type of building for which a
7171 registered interior designer may perform work; and to provide
7272 for the authority of the board to discipline individuals who
7373 are not registered by the board; and to add Section
7474 34-15C-10.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to provide further
7575 for the prohibition against a registered interior designer
7676 performing professional engineering or architecture and
7777 provide further for exemptions.
7878 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
7979 Section 1. Sections 34-15C-2, 34-15C-3, 34-15C-9,
8080 34-15C-10, and 34-15C-15 of the Code of Alabama 1975, are
8181 amended to read as follows:
8282 "§34-15C-2
8383 The Legislature finds and declares that this chapter is
8484 not intended to restrict the practice of interior design or
8585 the use of the terms design, designer, interior design, or
8686 interior designer in this state. The Legislature declares that
8787 the purpose of this chapter is to establish a registration
8888 process for those interior designers who choose to obtain the
8989 credentials required to seal and submit construction documents
9090 for commercial interior projects in certain spaces less than
9191 5,000 contiguous square feet within a building which has a
9292 total area of 2,500 square feet or more to building officials
9393 for review and permitting purposes. The Legislature further
9494 finds and declares that this chapter is not intended to
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124124 finds and declares that this chapter is not intended to
125125 prohibit any person from making plans and specifications for
126126 or administering the erection, enlargement, or alteration of
127127 any building upon any farm for the use of any farmer, or any
128128 single family residence of any size , or of any other type
129129 building which has a total area of less than 2,500 square
130130 feet, provided the building is not a school, church,
131131 auditorium, or other building intended for the assembly
132132 occupancy of people . Except as expressly provided in Section
133133 34-15C-9, nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted to
134134 prohibit any person who is not a registered interior designer
135135 from conducting any activity not prohibited by any other state
136136 law. Further, registration under this chapter may not be
137137 required by this state or by any city, town, county, or other
138138 governmental entity or official for the submission, review,
139139 approval, or issuance of permits for plans and specifications
140140 for or to administer the erection, enlargement, or alteration
141141 of any building upon any farm for the use of any farmer, or
142142 any single family residence of any size , or of any other type
143143 building which has a total area of less than 2,500 square
144144 feet, provided the building is not a school, church,
145145 auditorium, or other building intended for the assembly
146146 occupancy of people, nor for any activity other than the
147147 submission to building officials of construction documents for
148148 commercial interior projects in certain spaces up to 5,000
149149 contiguous square feet, within a building which has a total
150150 area of 2,500 square feet or more ."
151151 "§34-15C-3
152152 For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms
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182182 For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms
183183 shall have the following meanings:
184184 (1) BOARD. The Alabama Board for Registered Interior
185185 Designers.
186186 (2) NCIDQ. The National Council for Interior Design
187187 Qualification.
188188 (3) NONSTRUCTURAL ELEMENT. An element of a building or
189189 structure which does not require structural bracing and does
190190 not contribute to the structural integrity of the building.
191191 Nonstructural elements are primarily concerned with the
192192 interior aspects of design and do not include any load-bearing
193193 components. The term includes both non-seismic and
194194 non-structural elements.
195195 (4) PRACTICE OF REGISTERED INTERIOR DESIGN. The
196196 analysis, planning, design, documentation, and management of
197197 interior nonstructural construction and alteration projects in
198198 compliance with applicable building design and construction,
199199 fire, life-safety, and energy codes, standards, regulations,
200200 and guidelines. The term includes all of the following:
201201 a. Programming, space planning, predesign analysis, and
202202 conceptual design of interior nonstructural elements.
203203 b. Preparation of documents and technical submissions
204204 related to interior construction, finish materials,
205205 furnishings, fixtures, and equipment.
206206 c. Rendering of designs, plans, drawings,
207207 specifications, contract documents, and other interior
208208 technical submissions, and administration of interior
209209 nonstructural element construction and contracts relating to
210210 nonstructural elements in interior alteration or construction
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240240 nonstructural elements in interior alteration or construction
241241 of a proposed or existing building or structure.
242242 d. Alteration or construction of interior nonstructural
243243 elements.
244244 e. Preparation of a physical plan of space within a
245245 proposed or existing building or structure, including any of
246246 the following:
247247 1. Determinations of circulation systems or patterns.
248248 2. Determinations of egress requirements based on
249249 occupancy loads.
250250 3. Assessment and analysis of interior safety factors
251251 to comply with building codes related to interior
252252 nonstructural/nonseismic elements.
253253 4. Design of the exit access and exit components of the
254254 means of egress system within a building based on the
255255 calculated occupant load.
256256 5. Interior material selection and application for all
257257 portions of a means of egress system.
258258 6. Compliance with applicable building design and
259259 construction, accessibility standards, fire, life-safety, and
260260 energy codes, standards, regulations and guidelines.
261261 (3)(5) REGISTERED INTERIOR DESIGNER. An interior design
262262 professional, as defined by the NCIDQ, who is approved and
263263 registered by the board and the Secretary of State.
264264 (6) RESPONSIBLE CONTROL. The direct personal
265265 supervision over, and detailed knowledge of, the content of
266266 all contract documents that are ordinarily exercised by a
267267 registered interior designer when applying the requisite
268268 standard of care. "
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298298 standard of care. "
299299 "§34-15C-9
300300 (a) Any person who is not a registered interior
301301 designer who uses the title Except as otherwise provided in
302302 this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any individual to
303303 engage in the practice of registered interior design or use
304304 the designation "registered interior designer" or any other
305305 designation, words, or letters indicating registration as a
306306 registered interior designer, including abbreviations, or hold
307307 himself or herself out as a registered interior designer on
308308 any sign, card, listing, advertising, business name,
309309 stationery, or in any other manner knowingly implies or
310310 indicates that he or she is a registered interior designer
311311 unless duly registered as such by the board. This subsection
312312 does not prohibit an individual who is exempt, pursuant to
313313 this chapter, from holding himself or herself out to the
314314 public or soliciting business as an interior designer.
315315 (b) Any person who is not a registered interior
316316 designer who performs or engages in the practice of registered
317317 interior design or uses the title registered interior designer
318318 shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
319319 (b)(c) Any person who is not a registered interior
320320 designer who stamps or seals any document with a stamp or seal
321321 containing the term registered interior designer shall be
322322 guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
323323 (c)(d) Any registered interior designer who stamps or
324324 allows to be stamped any document that is not prepared under
325325 his or her supervision and control or any registered interior
326326 designer who seals any plan, specification, report or document
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356356 designer who seals any plan, specification, report or document
357357 with the seal after the registration of the registered
358358 designer has expired or has been suspended or revoked, unless
359359 the certificate has been renewed or reissued shall be guilty
360360 of a Class A misdemeanor."
361361 "§34-15C-10
362362 (a) Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted to
363363 prohibit any person from making plans and specifications for
364364 or administering the erection, enlargement, or alteration of
365365 any building upon any farm for the use of any farmer, or any
366366 single family residence of any size , or of any other type
367367 building which has a total area of less than 2,500 square
368368 feet, provided the building is not a school, church,
369369 auditorium, or other building intended for the assembly
370370 occupancy of people .
371371 (b) Registration under this chapter may not be required
372372 by this state or by any city, town, county, or other
373373 governmental entity or official for the submission, review,
374374 approval, or issuance of permits for plans and specifications
375375 for or to administer the erection, enlargement, or alteration
376376 of any building upon any farm for the use of any farmer, or
377377 any single family residence of any size , or of any other type
378378 building which has a total area of less than 2,500 square
379379 feet, provided the building is not a school, church,
380380 auditorium, or other building intended for the assembly
381381 occupancy of people, nor for any activity other than the
382382 submission to building officials of construction documents for
383383 commercial interior projects in certain spaces up to 5,000
384384 contiguous square feet, within a building which has a total
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414414 contiguous square feet, within a building which has a total
415415 area of 2,500 square feet or more .
416416 (c) Except as expressly provided in subsection (a) or
417417 subsection (b) of Section 34-15C-9, nothing in this chapter
418418 shall be interpreted to prohibit any person who is not a
419419 registered interior designer from conducting any activity not
420420 prohibited by any other state law.
421421 (d) The board shall have no jurisdiction over any
422422 person who is not a registered interior designer.
423423 (e) The board may not conduct any disciplinary
424424 proceeding against any person who is not a registered interior
425425 designer.
426426 (f) The board may not conduct any disciplinary
427427 proceeding or initiate any other action based upon the use of
428428 the term design, designer, interior design, or interior
429429 designer by any person, business, or firm at any time before
430430 or after August 1, 2010 ."
431431 "§34-15C-15
432432 (a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the
433433 contrary, a registered interior designer may submit sealed,
434434 stamped drawings to building officials for a commercial
435435 interior project in any space of less than 5,000 contiguous
436436 square feet within a building of any size provided that all of
437437 the following requirements are satisfied:
438438 (1) The space may not be intended for use as a school,
439439 church, auditorium, or other space intended for the assembly
440440 occupancy of people.
441441 (2) Unless unless the drawings utilize, reference, and
442442 incorporate documents prepared by architects, engineers, or
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472472 incorporate documents prepared by architects, engineers, or
473473 other related professionals, the drawings may not include the
474474 design or modification of architectural and engineering
475475 interior construction relating to building systems, such as
476476 building structural support, fire rated assemblies,
477477 stairwells, means of egress components, elevators, elevator
478478 shafts, plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, fire
479479 protection, and mechanical and electrical systems, except for
480480 the scope of interior services as defined by the NCIDQ or for
481481 the coordination of the aesthetic requirements of fixtures.
482482 (b) Any official of this state or of any city, town, or
483483 county charged with the enforcement of laws, ordinances, or
484484 regulations relating to the construction or alteration of
485485 buildings may accept or approve and issue permits based upon
486486 any of the following:
487487 (1) Plans or specifications prepared by any person
488488 registered pursuant to this chapter, provided the plans or
489489 specifications are consistent with this chapter.
490490 (2) Plans and specifications for the erection,
491491 enlargement, or alteration of any building upon any farm for
492492 the use of any farmer, or of any single family residence of
493493 any size, or of any other type building which has a total area
494494 of less than 2,500 square feet, provided the building is not a
495495 school, church, auditorium, or other building intended for the
496496 assembly occupancy of people .
497497 (3) Plans and specifications which such the official is
498498 not prohibited from accepting pursuant to any other state law
499499 on August 1, 2010."
500500 Section 2. Section 34-15C-10.1 is added to the Code of
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530530 Section 2. Section 34-15C-10.1 is added to the Code of
531531 Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
532532 (a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to
533533 authorize a registered interior designer to engage in the
534534 practice of professional engineering or architecture in this
535535 state or provide services that constitute the practice of
536536 professional engineering or architecture, except as otherwise
537537 provided in this chapter and incidental to the practice of
538538 registered interior design.
539539 (b) The practice of registered interior design does not
540540 include modifications or additions to any of the following:
541541 (1) Changes of building use to an occupancy not already
542542 allowed by the current building or structure or changes of
543543 building use to an occupancy of a greater hazard.
544544 (2) The construction classification of the building or
545545 structure according to the International Building Code.
546546 (3) The structural system of a building, including
547547 changing the building's dead load on the structural system.
548548 (4) The building envelope, including exterior walls,
549549 exterior wall claddings, exterior wall openings, exterior
550550 windows and doors, balconies and similar projections, roof
551551 assemblies and rooftop structures, and glass and glazing for
552552 exterior use in both vertical and sloped applications in
553553 buildings and structures.
554554 (5) Mechanical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning,
555555 ventilation, electrical, low voltage systems, elevators and
556556 conveying systems, fire protection systems, or fire alarm
557557 systems.
558558 (6) Design of or modifications to an exit stair or exit
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588588 (6) Design of or modifications to an exit stair or exit
589589 discharge portion of a means of egress system.
590590 (7) Construction that materially affects life safety
591591 systems pertaining to fire safety of structural elements or
592592 the fire protection of structural elements, smoke evacuation
593593 and compartmentalization systems, or fire-rated vertical
594594 shafts in multi-story structures.
595595 (c) The following individuals are not required to
596596 obtain a certificate of registration pursuant to this chapter:
597597 (1) A licensed or registered architect.
598598 (2) An individual engaging in work as an employee of an
599599 architect or registered interior designer, if the work does
600600 not include responsible control, or a consultant retained by
601601 an architect or registered interior designer.
602602 (3) An individual who prepares plans, drawings, or
603603 specifications for buildings for their personal private
604604 residential use.
605605 (4) An individual who prepares drawings of the layout
606606 of materials or furnishings used in interior design or in the
607607 selection of materials or furnishings pursuant to a retail
608608 sale including any of the following:
609609 a. Decorative accessories.
610610 b. Wall coverings, wall finishes, or paint.
611611 c. Floor coverings, tile, wood, stone, or concrete.
612612 d. Window coverings.
613613 e. Lighting fixtures which do not disrupt structural
614614 elements.
615615 f. Plumbing fixtures which do not disrupt structural
616616 elements.
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646646 elements.
647647 g. Professional services limited to the design of
648648 kitchen and bath spaces or the specification of products for
649649 kitchen and bath areas in noncommercial settings.
650650 h. Furniture, equipment, cabinetry, or millwork, if the
651651 preparation or implementation of those drawings or the
652652 installation of those materials or furnishings is not
653653 regulated by any building code or other law, ordinance, rule,
654654 or regulation governing the alteration or construction of a
655655 structure unless regulated items are reviewed and approved by
656656 a registered design professional as defined by the
657657 International Building Code.
658658 Section 3. This act shall become effective on October
659659 1, 2025.
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