Date: 03/08/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1331

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion
Moved to refer House Bill 06-1331, as amended, to 		Pass Without Objection
PASS



09:57 AM -- House Bill 06-1331

Representative Plant, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 1331, concerning the regulation of landscape architects. The bill would require landscape architects to be licensed by the Department of Regulatory Agencies by July 1, 2006. The bill would also create a 5-member Board of Landscape Architects that would determine the minimum education, experience, and examination requirements for licensure. Additionally, the board would be able to promulgate rules, issue licenses, respond to complaints, investigate license activities, maintain records, and set and collect fees.

10:01 AM -- Craig Coronato, representing the Colorado Council of Landscape Architects, testified in support of the bill. He stated that it is necessary to have consistency across the state now that many local jurisdictions are regulating the industry. Mr. Coronato stated that licensure would reduce the competitive disadvantage within the state that exists currently because local landscape architects must compete with landscape architects from other states that are licensed. He talked about how landscape architects impact public safety.

10:11 AM

Mr. Coronato responded to questions from the committee pertaining to the relationship between civil engineers, architects, structural engineers and landscape architects. He stated that there are clear distinctions between the professions. Representative Penry asked what the Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) requirements were for the landscape architects that worked on the Transportation Expansion Project (T-REX). Mr. Coronato stated that at first, CDOT required that the landscape architects on the project be licensed. However, he felt that CDOT was unaware that there is no license for landscape architects in Colorado and that the requirement was later removed.

10:18 AM -- Jeff Shoemaker, representing the Greenway Foundation, testified in support of the bill. He talked about the various projects landscape architects are involved in. He stated that because there is no licensure in Colorado, many companies will go out of state to find a licensed landscape architect and that creates an unfair competition for local landscape architects. Mr. Shoemaker added that all but two states have licensure for landscape architects.

10:23 AM -- Paul Hindman, representing the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, testified in support of the bill. He stated that licensure would ensure competency of landscape architects. He spoke about how landscape architects are involved in the construction of channel ways.

10:28 AM -- Larry Harte, representing the City of Glendale, testified in support of the bill.

10:29 AM -- Cheri Gerou, representing the American Institute of Architects, testified in support of the bill.

10:31 AM -- Charles McKnight, representing Sellards & Grigg, Inc., a consulting engineering and land surveying firm in Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He stated that licensure would bring landscape architects up to the same level as other professions that are involved in large projects.

10:33 AM -- Dean Murphy, representing the American Civil Constructors, testified in support of the bill.

10:36 AM -- Gene Bressler, Chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Colorado at Denver, testified in support of the bill. He stated that because there is no licensure for landscape architects, many of his students graduate and move to other states where they register, pay fees, and work. Mr. Bressler talked about the various subject areas the students learn in the landscape architecture program such as: climate issues, site development, drainage, energy conservation, and playground safety.

10:43 AM -- Ron Benson, representing the Douglas County Parks and Trails Division, testified in support of the bill.

10:47 AM -- Colin Insley, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Insley responded to questions on when the bill would trigger the requirement that landscape architects be licensed.

10:50 AM -- Brian Tobias, representing the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), testified in opposition of the bill. He discussed the sunrise review that was completed last year that did not recommend landscape architects be licensed. The report can be found at: http://www.dora.state.co.us/opr/archive/2005LandscapeArchitectsSunriseReport.pdf. Mr. Tobias responded to committee questions.

11:01 AM -- Alex Shatz, representing the Colorado Council of Landscape Architects, testified in support of the bill. He talked about the sunrise report and problems that have come from unlicensed landscape architects. There was committee discussion about the Association of Landscape Architects self regulating themselves.

BILL:HB06-1331
TIME: 11:05:13 AM
MOVED:Coleman
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Penry
VOTE
Balmer
Borodkin
Butcher
Carroll M.
Coleman
Knoedler
Liston
McCluskey
Paccione
Penry
Welker
Cerbo
Marshall
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB06-1331
TIME: 11:06:30 AM
MOVED:Coleman
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 06-1331, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 13-0.
SECONDED:Borodkin
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Borodkin
Yes
Butcher
Yes
Carroll M.
Yes
Coleman
Yes
Knoedler
Yes
Liston
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Paccione
Yes
Penry
Yes
Welker
Yes
Cerbo
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS