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FILED ON: 6/6/2024
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2813
Senate, June 6, 2024 -- Text of the Senate Bill relative to advancing the profession of
commercial interior design (Senate, No. 2813) (being the text of Senate, No. 2408, printed as
amended)
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to advancing the profession of commercial interior design.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 45 of chapter 7C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (a) and inserting in place thereof
3the following subsection:-
4 (a) There shall be, within the executive office for administration and finance, a designer
5selection board, consisting of:10 members appointed by the governor, 3 of whom shall be
6registered architects in the commonwealth, architects who are unregistered in the commonwealth
7but have not less than 10 years’ experience as an architect registered by a National Council of
8Architectural Registration Boards member board or architects emeritus, 3 of whom shall be
9certified interior designers with not less than 10 years of experience as a National Council for
10Interior Design Qualifications certified Massachusetts interior designer, 2 of whom shall be
11registered engineers, or currently unregistered but with not less than 10 years’ experience as a
12registered engineer, and 2 of whom shall be representatives of the public who are not architects, 2 of 9
13engineers or construction contractors. Three additional members shall be designated as follows:
141 registered architect selected by the American Institute of Architects Massachusetts; 1 registered
15engineer selected by the government affairs council of design professionals; and 1 general
16contractor selected by the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts, Inc. No member
17shall have a record of disciplinary action. Members shall be appointed for terms of 2 years and
18may be reappointed for not more than 1 successive 2-year term. The director shall designate a
19representative, who shall be the project manager in the case of a project under the jurisdiction of
20the office of project management, to act as a nonvoting member of the board for each project
21under their jurisdiction under consideration by the board.
22 SECTION 2. Chapter 13 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following
23section:-
24 Section 110. (a) There shall be a board of registration of commercial interior designers,,
25consisting of 5 members appointed by the governor, 4 of whom shall have been engaged in the
26practice of interior design for a period of not less than 10 years prior to their appointment and
27shall be registered commercial interior designers and 1 of whom shall be a member of the
28general public. Members of the board shall be residents of the commonwealth.
29 (b) Each member of the board shall serve for a term of 3 years and until the governor
30appoints a successor. No member shall be appointed to more than 2 consecutive full terms;
31provided, however, that a member appointed for less than a full term may serve 2 full terms in
32addition to such part of a full term; and provided further, that a former member shall be eligible
33for appointment after a lapse of 1 year. 3 of 9
34 (c) A member may be removed by the governor for neglect of duty, misconduct or
35malfeasance or misfeasance in office after written notice of the charges against them and an
36opportunity to be heard. Upon the death, resignation or removal for cause of any member of the
37board, the governor shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of that member's term.
38 (d) The members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed
39for actual and necessary expenses reasonably incurred in the performances of their duties as
40members or on behalf of the board.
41 (e) The board shall hold not less than 2 regular meetings annually and may hold special
42meetings as required. The board shall organize and choose from its own members, a chair, a vice
43chair and a secretary at the first regular annual meeting. A quorum shall consist of 3 members.
44 (f) The board may make such rules or by-laws as it may deem necessary in the
45performance of its duties. The board shall have a seal and its members may administer oaths in
46the performance of its duties. The board shall have power to summon witnesses, take testimony
47and require proofs concerning all matters within its jurisdiction. The board shall annually file
48with the commissioner of professional licensure a report of its proceedings, which shall include
49an itemized statement of all receipts and expenses of the board for the year.
50 SECTION 3. Chapter 112 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
51adding the following 7 sections:-
52 Section 290. As used in sections 291 to 296, inclusive, the following words shall have the
53following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: 4 of 9
54 “Board”, the board of registration of commercial interior designers established in section
55110 of chapter 13.
56 "Building", an enclosed structure that has human occupancy or habitation as its principal
57purpose as defined in the state building code.
58 “Certificate of registration”, the 2-year license to practice commercial interior design
59issued by the board.
60 "International Building Code", the edition of the International Building Code, issued by
61the International Code Council, as most recently adopted by the commonwealth, including
62Massachusetts amendments.
63 “Practice of commercial interior design", in relation to obtaining a building permit
64independent of an architect licensed under sections 60A to 60Q, inclusive, the preparation of a
65plan or specification for, or the supervision of new construction, alteration or repair of, an
66interior space within a newly constructed or existing building when the core and shell structural
67elements will not be changed; provided, however, that the "practice of commercial interior
68design” shall not include: (i) providing commercial construction documents, independent of a
69licensed architect, for a space that: (A) does not already have base building life safety
70components installed or designed and permitted, including required exit stairs and enclosures,
71paths of travel, ramps, horizontal exit passageways, disabled access, fire alarm systems and base
72building fire suppression systems; or (B) is undergoing a change of occupancy classification as
73described in the International Building Code; or (ii) changes to or the addition of foundations,
74beams, trusses, columns or other primary structural framing members or seismic systems,
75structural concrete slabs, floor and roof framing structures or bearing and shear walls, openings 5 of 9
76in roofs, floors, exterior walls or bearing and shear walls, exterior doors, windows, awnings,
77canopies, sunshades, signage or similar exterior building elements as described in the
78International Building Code, life safety equipment, including smoke, fire or carbon dioxide
79sensors, detectors or other overhead building elements as described in the International Building
80Code, bracing for partial height partitions if the top of the partition is more than 8 feet above the
81floor, heating, ventilating or air conditioning equipment or distribution systems, building
82management systems, high or medium voltage electrical distribution systems, standby or
83emergency power systems or distribution systems, plumbing or plumbing distribution systems,
84fire alarm systems, fire sprinklers systems, security or monitoring systems or related building
85systems.
86 Section 291. Upon approval by the board, an individual who has passed the interior
87design examination administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification may
88use the title Registered Commercial Interior Designer. Such individual shall, upon satisfactory
89completion of the aforementioned requirements and any other requirements and qualifications as
90deemed necessary by the board, send to the board a copy of documentation of the proof of: (i)
91passage of the exam; (ii) graduation and completion of an accredited inter design program; (iii)
92any certifications awarded to the individual by the National Council for Interior Design
93Qualification; (iv) and any other documentation as required by the board. Such documentation
94shall include, but not be limited to, the individual’s name, mailing address and email address;
95provided, however, that such individual shall update the board of any changes to such
96information as they occur. Such documentation shall be placed on file with the division of
97professional licensure. 6 of 9
98 Section 292. (a) Each applicant seeking to become a registered commercial interior
99designer shall pay to the board, upon filing their original application, a fee to be determined
100annually by the commissioner of administration. After verification of the documentation required
101pursuant to section 291 and receipt of the application fee, the board shall issue a certificate of
102registration for a period of 2 years. The commissioner of professional licensure or their designee,
103as the custodian of any documentation required by section 291, shall enforce this section and
104may use said documentation, or any lack thereof, as deemed necessary, notwithstanding any
105general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary.
106 A registered commercial interior designer shall be required to complete continuing
107education courses. Continuing education shall be gained through coursework delivered in
108education credits. The quantity and content designation of education credits shall be determined
109by the board.
110 It shall be unlawful for any individual who is not approved by the board to use the title
111Registered Commercial Interior Designer or any title or device indicating that an individual is a
112registered commercial interior designer.
113 Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person from performing commercial interior
114design services or using the title commercial interior designer, commercial interiors consultant,
115commercial interior decorator or a similar title; provided, however, that the word “registered”
116shall not be used in conjunction with such a title.
117 No individual shall engage in the practice of architecture, engineering or any other
118occupation regulated under the laws of the commonwealth or to prepare, sign or seal plans with 7 of 9
119respect to such practice or in connection with any governmental permits unless licensed or
120otherwise permitted to do so under such laws.
121 Nothing in this section shall prohibit any person from performing professional services
122limited to the planning, design and implementation of kitchen and bath spaces or the
123specification of products for kitchen and bath spaces.
124 Nothing in this section shall prohibit an employee of a retail establishment from
125providing consultation regarding interior design, decoration, furnishings, furniture or fixtures
126offered for sale by such establishment from receiving compensation from such establishment.
127 (b) Any individual violating sections 290 to 296, inclusive, may be punished by a fine of
128not more than $500 or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 3
129months, or both, or by revocation of registration by the board.
130 Section 293. Each registered commercial interior designer shall have a seal of a design
131authorized by the board. All plans, specifications and reports prepared by a registered
132commercial interior designer or under their supervision shall be stamped with the impression of
133such seal. A registered commercial interior designer shall impress their seal on any plans,
134specifications or reports if their certificate of registration is in full force and if they were the
135author of such plans, specifications or reports or were responsible for their preparation.
136 Section 294. Annually, not later than January 31, the board shall prepare a roster showing
137the names and the last known places of business of all registered commercial interior designers
138in the commonwealth. Such roster shall be posted on a publicly available website. 8 of 9
139 Section 295. (a) Upon receipt of a written application, the board may grant a certificate of
140registration as a commercial interior designer emeritus to an interior designer who has retired
141from the active practice of commercial interior design in the commonwealth. To be eligible for a
142certificate of registration as a commercial interior designer emeritus, the applicant shall: (i)
143submit an application together with a fee prescribed by the board; (ii) have been a commercial
144interior designer in good standing in the commonwealth at the time of their retirement; (iii) be
145not less than 65 years of age; (iv) have been a registered a commercial interior designer in the
146commonwealth for not less than 10 years; (v) have relinquished their license to practice
147commercial interior design; and (vi) satisfy any other requirements as may be prescribed by the
148board.
149 (b) A commercial interior designer emeritus shall neither engage in nor hold themselves
150out as engaging in the practice of commercial interior design. A commercial interior designer
151emeritus shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements established in section 292.
152 (c) A commercial interior designer emeritus seeking reinstatement as a commercial
153interior designer shall: (i) file an application for reinstatement with the board; (ii) pay an
154administrative fee that shall be determined by the board; and (iii) comply with education or other
155requirements established by the board.
156 Section 296. The board shall be charged with the enforcement of sections 290 to 296,
157inclusive. If any person refuses to obey any decision of the board, the attorney general shall,
158upon request of the board, file a petition for the enforcement of such decision in equity in Suffolk
159county superior court or in the county in which the defendant resides or has a place of business. 9 of 9
160After due hearing, the court shall order the enforcement of such decision or any part thereof, if
161legally and properly made by the board.
162 SECTION 4. Section 1 shall not affect or reduce the tenure of members of the designer
163selection board serving at the time of the effective date of this act.
164 SECTION 5. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, an individual
165who has completed not less than 10 years of full-time, diversified, verifiable professional
166experience in the profession of interior design shall be eligible for provisional registration;
167provided, however, that the individual shall apply for registration not more than 12 months after
168the first annual meeting of the board of registration of commercial interior designers following
169the effective date of this act. The applicant, upon review and consent of the board, may be issued
170a provisional registration and be given 3 calendar years from the first annual meeting of the
171board following the effective date of this act to provide substantial proof to the board of
172successful passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification examination, at
173which time full registration shall be granted. If proof of passage is not provided to the board
174within the 3-year time period, the applicant’s provisional registration shall be revoked and
175reapplication, including satisfaction of all requirements at the time of re-application, shall be
176required for the individual to receive registration. During the time period of provisional
177registration, the individual shall maintain all current fees and uphold all requirements for
178registration and renewal until such time as the examination requirement is fulfilled.