HB594INTRODUCED
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HB594
Y5KV666-1
By Representatives Rafferty, Wilcox, Underwood
RFD: Boards, Agencies and Commissions
First Read: 17-Apr-25
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5 Y5KV666-1 02/17/2025 KMS (L)cr 2024-3263
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First Read: 17-Apr-25
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, the Alabama Board of
Examiners of Landscape Architects regulates the
practice of landscape architecture in this state.
This bill would clarify definitions, examination
requirements, and fees.
This bill would provide for reciprocity.
This bill would also make nonsubstantive,
technical revisions to update existing code language to
current style.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the Alabama Board of Examiners of Landscape
Architects; to amend Sections 34-17-1, 34-17-20, 34-17-21,
34-17-22, 34-17-25, and 34-17-26, Code of Alabama 1975, to
clarify definitions, examination requirements, and fees; to
provide for reciprocity; to repeal Section 34-17-23, Code of
Alabama 1975, relating to reciprocity; and to make
nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update existing code
language to current style.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Sections 34-17-1, 34-17-20, 34-17-21,
34-17-22, 34-17-25, and 34-17-26 of the Code of Alabama 1975,
are amended to read as follows:
"§34-17-1
For purposes of this chapter, the following words and
phrases shall have the respective following meanings ascribed
by this section:
(1) BOARD. The Alabama State Board of Examiners of
Landscape Architects.
(2) CLARB. The Council of Landscape Architectural
Registration Boards which is comprised of members of landscape
architect licensing boards located across the United States
and Canada.
(2)(3) LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. A person An individual who
is engaged or offers to engage in the practice of landscape
architecture, as hereinafter defined in this state .
(3)(4) LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. The performance of
professional services such as consultation, investigation,
research, planning, design, preparation of drawings and
specifications, and responsible supervision in connection with
the development of land areas where, and to the extent that
the dominant purpose of such services is the preservation,
enhancement, or determination of proper land uses, natural
land features, planting, naturalistic and aesthetic values,
the settings and approaches to structures or other
improvements, the setting of grades and determining drainage
and providing for standard drainage structures, and the
consideration and determination of environmental problems of
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consideration and determination of environmental problems of
land including erosion, blight, and other hazards. This
practice shall include the design of such tangible objects and
features as are incidental and necessary to the purpose
outlined herein in this chapter but shall not include the
design of structures or facilities with separate and
self-contained purposes such as are ordinarily included in the
practice of engineering or architecture, and shall not include
the making of land surveys of final plats for official
approval or recordation. Nothing contained herein shall
preclude a duly licensed landscape architect from performing
any of the services described in the first sentence of this
subsection in connection with the settings, approaches, or
environment for buildings, structures, or facilities. Nothing
contained in this chapter shall be construed as authorizing a
landscape architect to engage in the practice of architecture,
engineering, or land surveying as these terms are defined in
Section 34-17-27."
"§34-17-20
(a) In order to safeguard public welfare, health, and
property and to promote public good, any person individual
practicing or offering to practice landscape architecture,
privately or in public service, shall be required to submit
evidence that he or she is qualified to practice as
hereinafter provided in this chapter . It shall be unlawful for
any person individual to practice landscape architecture or to
use the term or title "landscape architect" or "registered
landscape architect" unless he or she is duly licensed under
the provisions of this chapter.
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the provisions of this chapter.
(b) The state board shall adopt a program of continuing
education for its licensees not later than October 1, 1993,
and after that date no licensee shall have his or her active
license renewed unless, in addition to any other requirements
of this chapter, the minimum continuing annual education
requirements are met. It is further provided that the
continuing education program herein required shall not include
testing or examination of the licensees in any manner."
"§34-17-21
For licensing as a landscape architect, the following
evidence shall be submitted that the applicant shall comply
with at least one of the following :
(1) Is at least 19 years of age Hold a degree in
landscape architecture from a school or college approved by
the board or meet the alternative education requirements
approved by the board and satisfy the examination and
experience requirements .
(2) Has, before making application to the board,
completed the course of study in and been graduated from a
college or school of landscape architecture approved by the
board. The application for examination shall be accompanied by
proof of actual practical experience in landscape
architectural work of a grade and character satisfactory to
the board. Each complete year of study in an approved college
or school of landscape architecture shall be accepted in lieu
of one year of practical experience, and the applicant shall
submit evidence of sufficient additional acceptable experience
to total five years of combined education and practical
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to total five years of combined education and practical
experience. The master's or doctoral degree in landscape
architecture shall fulfill the requirements for five years
combined education and practical experience. The applicant
shall also submit proof of one additional year of practical
experience sufficient to total six years of combined education
and practical experience. In lieu of graduation from an
accredited college or school of landscape architecture, and
the practical experience in addition thereto, an applicant may
be admitted to the examination upon presenting evidence of at
least eight years of actual practical experience in landscape
architectural work of a grade and character satisfactory to
the board. In order to qualify for the exemption from the
requirement to obtain a degree in landscape architecture based
on eight years of practical experience, an applicant must have
begun accepting practical experience prior to August 1, 2012.
(3) Is a citizen of the United States or, if not a
citizen of the United States, is a person who is legally
present in the United States with appropriate documentation
from the federal government (2) Satisfy the requirements for
licensing by reciprocity as provided by board rule ."
"§34-17-22
Examinations for the license shall be held by the board
at least once each year. The board shall adopt rules and
regulations covering the subjects and scope of the
examinations, shall publish appropriate announcements and
shall conduct the examinations at the times designated. Except
as hereinafter provided in this chapter to the contrary, every
applicant for licensing as a landscape architect shall be
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applicant for licensing as a landscape architect shall be
required, in addition to all other requirements, to establish
by a board approved examination, which may be digital, his or
her competence to plan, design, specify, and supervise the
installation of landscape projects. Each board approved
examination may be supplemented by such oral examinations as
the board shall determine The licensing examination shall be
developed and administered by CLARB ."
"§34-17-25
The fees prescribed by this chapter shall be in the
following amounts:
(1) The fee for application to the board is one hundred
fifty dollars ($150).
(2) The fee for examination or reexamination shall be
in an amount as established by the board in order to cover all
costs of examination, but in no event shall the fee exceed the
actual cost of preparing and administering the examination.
(3) The fee for an original certificate is fifty
dollars ($50).
(4) The fee for a duplicate certificate is fifty
dollars ($50).
(5) The annual license fee is one hundred fifty dollars
($150).
(6) The delinquent penalty fee is fifty dollars ($50).
(7) The fee for administration of the supplemental
examination attestation, review, and recording on the statutes
and laws governing the practice of landscape architecture in
Alabama this state is one hundred fifty dollars ($150).
(8) The reinstatement fee is three hundred dollars
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(8) The reinstatement fee is three hundred dollars
($300).
(9) The inactive status fee is seventy-five dollars
($75)."
"§34-17-26
The board, subject to the provisions of this chapter
and the rules and regulations of the board promulgated
thereunder prescribing by rule, may provide for the
qualifications for a landscape architect license , may permit
the practice of landscape architecture in this state under a
landscape architect license issued under the laws of any other
state or country, upon payment of the current fee established
by the board, and upon submission of all of the following
evidence satisfactory to the board: by reciprocity.
(1) That the other state or country maintained a system
and standard of qualifications and examinations for a
landscape architect license which were substantially
equivalent to those required in this state at the time the
license was issued by the other state or country.
(2) That the other state or country gives similar
recognition and endorsement to landscape architect licenses of
this state."
Section 2. Section 34-17-23, Code of Alabama 1975,
relating to the reciprocal licensing of architects, is
repealed.
Section 3. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2025.
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