Bill Summary for Bill Number SB12-120

Date: 04/18/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB12-120

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved to postpone Senate Bill 12-120 indefinitely. Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-120 to the Committee	PASS FAIL

09:25 AM

Representative Bradford, committee chair, called the meeting to order.

09:25 AM -- Senate Bill 12-120

Representatives Fischer and Massey, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 12-120, concerning the existing ability of interior designers to submit certain interior design construction documents to local government officials in connection with an application for a building permit. Representatives Fischer and Massey made opening comments on the bill, which clarifies current law to allow interior designers to file certain documents and specifications as part of the local building permit process. The bill also restates the types of structural elements and related items that a qualified interior designer may not submit. Representatives Fischer and Massey responded to questions concerning the need for the bill and discussed the need to clarify state law concerning local building codes and the validity of interior design construction documents submitted to local government officials.

09:45 AM

Michael Luzier, designer and President of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), testified against the bill and talked about problems with local building departments reviewing construction documents from interior designers. Mr. Luzier responded to questions from the committee concerning the local building permit process for construction documents submitted by an interior designer.

09:52 AM

Greg Wheeler, representing the Colorado Chapter of the International Code Council (CCICC), testified against the bill and explained that each building department should determine the types of construction documents accepted for a building permit. Mr. Wheeler responded to questions from the committee concerning the local building permit process and explained that the bill is not necessary since interior designers need separate legislation for a sunset review process through the Department of Regulatory Agencies.

10:00 AM

Gary Meggison, representing the Associated General Contractors of Colorado (AGC) and RJM Construction, testified against the bill and discussed the importance for construction plans to be submitted to local building departments by licensed architects or engineers. Mr. Meggison responded to questions from the committee concerning the need for the bill and the liability insurance requirements for licensed contractors.

10:06 AM

Dr. Albert Fink, representing himself, testified against the bill and responded to questions from the committee concerning the need for the bill and construction documents for a local building permit.

10:10 AM

Robert Castner, representing himself, testified against the bill and explained that the bill creates an unfair advantage for interior designers.

10:11 AM

Karen Harris, representing the Colorado Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, testified against the bill and talked about local building codes and the authority for local governments to determine the types of construction documents that are accepted for review. Ms. Harris talked about the history of the current exemption in state law for interior designers and explained that the bill is not necessary.

10:15 AM

Dave Davia, representing the Colorado Association of Mechanical and Plumbing Contractors and the BJ4C Coalition, testified against the bill, and discussed the construction industry in Colorado.

10:17 AM

Nancy Moon, representing Beckony Kitchens, testified against the bill and talked about the negative impact of the bill to certified kitchen designers.

10:19 AM

D.A. Bertram, representing the Colorado Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, spoke in opposition to the bill and explained that the bill is unnecessary.

10:20 AM

Stephen Catterall, representing himself, testified in support of the bill and talked about how difficult it is for licensed interior designers to submit construction documents for a local building permit. Mr. Catterall discussed current state law implemented by House Bill 01-1153, which allowed interior designers to submit documents for building permits and responded to questions from the committee concerning the problems with local building departments accepting documents from interior designers.

10:30 AM

Lynne Sheridan, representing the Colorado Interior Design Coalition (CIDC), testified in support of the bill and talked about cases where construction documents from her firm have been denied by local building and planning departments. Ms. Sheridan responded to questions from the committee concerning problems with local building departments accepting construction documents from interior designers.

10:37 AM

So Momoko Morton, representing Naka Designs LLC, read a letter supporting the bill on behalf of Robert E. Fitzgerald, an architect at Naka Designs LLC, and submitted letters supporting the bill to the committee (Attachment A).

10:42 AM

Dr. Stephanie Clemons, Colorado State University Interior Design program faculty, testified in support of the bill and talked about the need for uniform treatment of interior designers who submit construction documents to local building and planning departments.

10:46 AM

Andrew J. Darr, Brent Otsuka, and Joshua Bodjanac, representing the Art Institute, testified in support of the bill.

10:47 AM

Jeff Kenny, Executive Director of the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ), testified in support of the bill and talked about the licensing process for interior designers and problems with the local building permit process.

10:50 AM

Lisa Henry, representing the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), testified in support of the bill and talked about the difficulties that interior designers are having with local building departments.

10:52 AM

Marc Herndon, representing the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), testified in support of the bill and discussed the interior design industry.

10:53 AM

Katie Cavallo, president of the Colorado Interior Design Coalition (CIDC), testified in support of the bill and discussed the need to clarify existing state law in order to facilitate better understanding about the permitting process of construction documents submitted by interior designers. Ms. Cavallo talked about the need for fair and consistent treatment of interior designers and responded to questions from the committee.

10:58 AM

Representatives Fischer and Massey made closing comments on the bill.


BILL:	SB12-120
TIME:	11:00:02 AM
MOVED:	Lee
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-120 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a vote of 3-8.
SECONDED:	Labuda
		VOTE
	Balmer	No
	Conti	No
	Fields	Yes
	Gardner B.	No
	Labuda	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Pace	No
	Soper	No
	Swerdfeger	No
	Szabo	No
	Bradford	No

YES: 3 NO: 8 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	SB12-120
TIME:	11:00:44 AM
MOVED:	Balmer
MOTION:	Moved to postpone Senate Bill 12-120 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 8-3.
SECONDED:	Conti
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Fields	No
	Gardner B.	Yes
	Labuda	No
	Lee	No
	Pace	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Bradford	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:01 AM

The committee adjourned.