Architecture Law Reforms to be Signed Today

SB 5529, modernizing Washington’s architecture licensing laws, will be signed into law by Governor Gregoire today.

It has been 25 years since the architecture law last saw major revisions. A lot has changed in the practice since then. This new law will bring the architecture law into the 21^st Century. The bill itself is the product of over 6 years of work. The first drafts and reviews of the law started in 2004, shortly after I first came to work for the AIA|WA. Over the next few years a task force was formed, concepts discussed and the bill drafted. A bill was first introduced in 2008 during that year’s 60 day legislative session. During three legislative session the bill was refined. Remarkably, the final law will look very similar to the bill that was introduced back in 2008. There were a few tweaks here and there, but the core framework remains.

AIA|WA is working on a detailed summary of the new law. An update will be sent to the membership in the coming weeks. Right now, we are focusing on finishing the special legislative session that is ongoing in Olympia.

There are a lot of people who deserve credit for this law. At the risk of not mentioning everyone, we would like to acknowledge a few who did yeoman’s work on the bill.

First, Jeffrey Hamlett, AIA, took the lead early on to work on drafting the bill and leading the discussions. He researched most every state’s laws to find provisions that we should emulate in Washington. In 2005, he led a member workshop on the licensing law during the AIA Northwest & Pacific Region Conference in Seattle. He has remained involved for the duration of the effort.

Second, Peter Rasmussen, FAIA, provided legislative testimony and negotiated changes with other organizations. As a former chair of the state’s licensing board and NCARB officer, his knowledge of licensing laws and practices was invaluable during the process (especially when we ran into roadblocks).

Third, Dave Huotari, AIA, and his colleagues at AIA Spokane did outstanding work in heading off problems that arose from that area of the state. They were able to remove a major roadblock by working a key legislator to garner his support for the bill.

Fourth, the members of the Board for Architects (licensing board), were very supportive and helpful in providing feedback on the needs to be addressed in the legal reforms and input as to the feasibility of implementing its provisions.

Next, there have been many officers and board members cycle through  the AIA|WA in the last few years and members of the AIA|WA Practice Resource Group who have contributed to the ultimate framework and success of this new law. They are too many to mention, but we thank them all for their input, guidance and advocacy efforts.

Finally, AIA|WA thanks the legislative sponsors. Former Senator Fred Jarrett worked very hard for this bill during his tenure. He took another position as Deputy King County Executive this year, but stayed in touch as the bill progressed. When he left the Senate, Senator Curtis King stepped in as the other Senate cosponsor to move the bill through the process.

We had a House companion to this bill, too, HB 1634. Representative Scott White was the prime sponsor there. He worked very hard on this bill over the last two years. We asked him to sponsor a bill that at the time had no opposition and was to be a nice easy bill for a freshman work on. As it turned out, problems kept popping up. He met every challenge and worked tirelessly with us to resolve concerns and keep the bill moving.

And, we also appreciate the work of the other House cosponsors: Jim Jacks, Christine Rolfes, Bruce Chandler, Reuven Carlyle, Marko Liias, Larry Crouse, Hans Dunshee and Steve Conway.

Of course, we should also mention the hundreds of AIA members who responded to our action alerts over the last 3 legislative sessions. Their grassroots support of the bill made it easier to lobby for in Olympia. An association is only as good as its members. We have some great members and their efforts will last for many years in the form of the new law.

Again, thank you to everyone who helped to craft and pass this new law. While this part of the effort will conclude tomorrow, the next phase is beginning. We will start working with the licensing board on the rulemaking necessary to implement the bill. Some of the bill’s provisions will take effect this year, some next year and a few in 2012. Look for a detailed review soon.

Licensing Bill Gets to the Governor's Desk

After a nearly unanimous, concurrence vote in the Senate (42-5), the architects licensing bill, SB 5529, has been sent to the Governor. It is now very likely that the bill will become law. The last day of the 2010 Legislative Session is March 11. After the final day of session the Governor has twenty days to sign, veto or partially veto the legislation that has been delivered to her.

Given that it has been 25 years since changes have been made to WA architectural licensing laws, the passage of this bill is a great achievement for state architects! The new law will stop illegal plan stamping, modernize licensing standards that have significantly changed, simplify corporate registration and more.

For more information on this important legislation you can read the AIA/WA issue brief here, check out the AIA/WA blog coverage of this bill, or contact Stan Bowman, AIA/WA Executive Director, at 360.943.6012.

The Home Stretch - 5529 Passes the House

Today, March 3, ESSB 5529, the architects licensing bill, was passed out of the House unanimously. The 98-0 vote is proof of the broad support this legislation now has.

Due to the efforts of many AIA members who have contacted their legislators, and responded to our action alerts with calls and emails, ESSB 5529 now stands a good chance at passage this year!

Now the bill will return to the Senate for concurrence. The Senate may concur with the amendments proposed by the House, negotiate alternative language or the bill will end up in dispute.

If agreement cannot be reached on a bill in dispute, a conference committee consisting of members from both chambers can be appointed and, eventually, a conference committee report prepared. If the report is approved by the Senate and the bill is passed, then it may be considered by the House.

At this point, the report for the bill is either accepted or denied. If accepted, it moves on to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

The deadline for concurrence is this Thursday, March 11.

This is important legislation for state architects. It has been 25 years since changes have been made to WA architectural licensing laws but in the meantime new technologies and modern practice methods have significantly changed the practice. This legislation will clean up confusing provisions, update qualifications standards, and simplify corporate registration.

Please look for an email update on the status of this significant bill, and other highlights from the 2010 Legislative Session, at the end of this week.

Architect Licensing Bill Advances

The architects licensing bill, SB 5529, had a hearing today, Thursday, Feb. 24 before the House General Government Appropriations Committee and was voted out unanimously. Previous groups in opposition have compromised with the AIA/WA, are backing the bill and even testified in support today. Legislators also indicated that they are anxious to see this bill pass.

Now that the bill has made the appropriations committee cut-off it goes to the House Rules Committee, and then to the House floor for a vote. The deadline for it to be voted on is next Friday, March 5.

This is important legislation for state architects. It has been 25 years since changes have been made to WA architectural licensing laws but in the meantime new technologies and modern practice methods have significantly changed the practice. This legislation will clean up confusing provisions, update qualifications standards, and simplify corporate registration.

You can see testimony below by the AIA/WA Executive Director, Stan Bowman, and AIA/WA president elect, Peter Rasmussen.

AIA|WA Testifies on Architect's Licensing Bill

The architects licensing bill, HB 1634 - Modernization of Architecture Licensing, had a hearing on Friday, January 15, 2010, at 8 a.m. before the House Commerce & Labor Committee. The hearing was on the Substitute version that was passed out of the policy and fiscal committees in 2009.

Based on discussions with legislators over the interim, the AIA/WA asked that an additional amendment be made to the bill that deals with the alternative pathway. The amendment will mirror the one introduced at our request by Representative Scott White for consideration during floor action (Amendment 1634-S HELA 033). The current length of time for an applicant, to have met the prerequisites to take the exam, is 8 years. Last year, the bill changed that provision to 12 years. This year, after significant discussion in committee, the AIA/WA will propose a compromise at 9 years. Nine years mirrors the current traditional pathway, which is typically 6 years of school and a minimum of 3 years of experience.

You can see the AIA/WA testimony (by Stan Bowman, AIA/WA Executive Director; and Rep. Scott White, the bill’s prime sponsor) in support of the bill bellow.

First Week of Session - Architect’s Bill Gets a Hearing

On Friday, January 15, at 8 a.m. the Architect’s Licensing bill and the interior design licensing bill are up for a hearing before the House Commerce & Labor Committee. A few AIA architects and the Executive Director of AIA/WA, Stan Bowman, will be testifying.

The hearing will be held in: House Hearing Room B, in the John L. O'Brien Building at the State Capitol in Olympia. To go to the Legislature sight and read the bill summary, and/or in their entirety, click on the links below.

• HB 1608 - Concerning the practice of interior design.
• SHB 1634 - Regarding architects. (If measure is referred to committee.)

Check back to see video coverage of the hearing.

Structural Engineering License Qualifications to Change

The Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) has issued a press release stating that “examinations that are presently used by the state of Washington to qualify individuals for licensure in structural engineering will be changing.”

For questions regarding the changes please send your inquiries via email ONLY to this address: engineers@dol.wa.gov. The DOL will respond and include the question/answer in all future notices.

Starting in April 2011, the primary structural licensing examination for WA will be the examination developed by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

The last offering of the NCEES Structural II examinations will be October 2010.

The new exam will be offered every April and October starting in April 2011.

For more information and answers to frequently asked questions you can visit the DOL website here and click on the Changes to Structural Exam PDF.

Architect Licensing Bill Passes Senate

Senate Bill 5529 (ESSB 5529), which modernizes the architecture licensing law, passed the Senate yesterday in a 42-2 vote (5 excused).

Senator Fred Jarrett, the prime sponsor, has our gratitude for all of his guidance and patience during the process. What had started out as a non-controversial bill became heated at times.

We are also grateful to Senator Chris Marr who stepped in to facilitate a compromise amendment and kept the bill moving. After the agreement was reached, Senator Marr made sure the bill was brought to the floor and passed.

And last, but definitely not least, we owe thanks to all of our members who e-mailed and called Senators over the last week. Without your effort this bill wouldn’t have gained the attention that it needed to continue.

The House bill, SHB 1634, remains stuck in the House Rules Committee, despite near-Herculean efforts by our sponsor Rep. Scott White. Now that the Senate bill has passed, it is likely the House will not move their version. Time on the floor to debate and pass bills is at a premium with just two days before the cutoff.


For more information you can check out various other postings on our blog under the licensing label or contact us at info@aiawa.org.

Architects Lobby the Legislature on Feb. 19

The AIA Washington Council had an exciting lobby day on Feb. 19. Each year the AIA/WA holds Capitol Connections, the lobby day for state architects. Over 35 active and involved members attended and participated in: presentations on the state of government; meetings with their legislators and state leadership; and hearings where they testified or signed-in supporting architect issues.

Capitol Connections is a key time when legislators can put a face on issues. A great example of how members make a difference during Capitol Connections was in evidence during the hearing for the architect licensing law bill, HB 1634. Washington is one of seventeen states that allow those who have held internships for a period of years to be grandfathered-in and allowed to take the licensing exam. Below you can hear testimony on HB 1634 from AIA/WA members Sue Lani Madsen, Madsen, Mitchell, Evenson & Conrad of Eastern Washington; and Dave Huotari, ALSC of Spokane.

Architecture Licensing Bill Recieves a Hearing

HB 1634, to modernize the architecture licensing law, had a hearing Friday before the House Commerce & Labor Committee. Two of the AIA\WA Board were present to testify, current President, Jeffrey Hamlett, AIA, Callison - Seattle; and Past-President Timothy Buckley, Greenstone Architecture - Vancouver, along with AIA\WA Executive Director, Stan Bowman.

The bill updates the architecture law qualification standards, streamlines the corporate registration requirements and clarifies the exemptions. The bill enjoyed broad support from architects, building designers, building officials, engineers and landscape architects. The bill needs to pass the committee before February 20. The Chair of the House Commerce & Labor Committee, Steve Conway, stated that with "no opposition" they would "move the bill along."

The AIA\WA is optimistic that this bill will pass this year.

Housing Liability Workgroup Issues Recommendations

The 2008 Home Construction Workgroup, a task force of Washington State Legislators, met today and issued its draft recommendations for dealing with problems in residential construction.

The legislature has been struggling with problems in residential construction for several years. After multiple attempts to expand liability for architects and contractors, the legislature created a workgroup to investigate the issue in more depth.

The workgroup has issued three recommendations:

1. Establishing a certification requirement for the five areas of greatest potential home damage (roofing, siding, framing, foundation and doors/windows), along with enhanced contractor registration.
2. Creating an ombudsman’s office within the Attorney General’s Office to receive consumer complaints, provide consumer education, and in the future to provide an alternative dispute resolution mechanism for lower cost consumer/ contractor disputes.
3. Requiring some residential construction warranties for homeowners with a narrow statute of limitation.

At the same time, the Department of Licensing has been conducting a sunrise review report (PDF) of how to best regulate residential construction contractors. The DOL’s report is complementary in some areas and conflicts in others with the Workgroup report. You can read the DOL’s full report on its website.

AIAWA has been actively monitoring the process and is providing comments to the workgroup.

If you have thoughts on the details please contact Stan Bowman, Executive Director, of the AIA Washington Council at bowman@aiawa.org.

Architecture Licensing Revisions Stall in the Senate

SSB 6757 to modernize Washington State’s architectural licensing laws stalled in the Senate today. There were hundreds of bill on the schedule to be heard in the Senate during the last day before a critical deadline. SSB 6757 was not able to get high enough on the list for consideration before the deadline hit.

AIA/WA strongly backed this important bill. It will be reintroduced in 2009.

Interior Design Bill Heard in Committee

Today, the debate over interior design licensing came before the Senate Labor Commerce Research & Development Committee. SB 6707 creates an expansive practice act.

The AIA/WA is opposed to the bill for many reasons. The primary problem is the bill is a practice act. It also attempts to define architecture as designing the “building shell” (which is defined in the bill) and interior design as everything inside the shell. Also, it includes sealing privileges for interior designers and requires building officials to accept their sealed drawings. There are many other problems with the substance of the bill.

Timothy Buckley, AIA, AIA/WA President, testified against the bill at the hearing. The room was packed with interior designers, remodelers, retailers, contractors and architects who are opposed to the bill. The proponents also had a good sized group there to support the bill.

From the testimony and the turn out, it was clear that the interior design providers are deeply divided over the proposal.

Even with the many concerns with the current bill, the AIA/WA remains open to dialogue with the interior designers.

Senate Committee Passes Architecture Law Revisions

Today, the Senate Labor Commerce Research & Development Committee unanimously passed SB 6757 to modernize Washington’s architecture licensing laws.

The bill has been put forward by the AIA Washington Council to update the statute’s qualification standards, streamline corporate registration and clean-up the exemptions section.

The bill now goes to the Senate Rules Committee, which determines the bills that will go to the full Senate for a vote.

Committee Hearing on Architecture Law Revisions

Yesterday, the Senate Labor Commerce Research & Development committee heard testimony in support of modernizing Washington architecture licensing laws. The bill is sponsored by Senators Ed Murray (D-43, Seattle), Mike Hewitt (R-16, Walla Walla) and Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-36, Seattle). SB 6757 is the product of over three years of work by the AIA/WA and allied organization. It seeks to update the qualification standards for licensing, streamline corporate registration and clean up the exemptions sections.

The bill has the support of building officials, engineers and other groups. In addition, the AIA/WA has worked with contractor and building designer groups to address concerns they have raised. There was no opposition to the bill in committee.

The next step is for the Committee to pass the bill. There will be several technical and other amendments to the bill before it comes out of the committee.

To watch or listen to the hearing, visit www.tvw.org. Enter the bill number or committee name in the search engine.

Senate Passes Stricter Regulation of Contractors

The Senate passed Substitute House Bill 1843 to enact stricter regulations of construction contractors. The legislature has worked on many bills seeking to improve the quality of construction in Washington State. Some bills have been overly zealous and would have negatively impacted architects and others in the design professions and construction industry.

SHB 1843 is a reasonable measure to improve enforcement against bad contractors, increase penalties against unlicensed contractors and other take other steps to prevent unlicensed contractors from being active in our state.

The bill now goes to Governor Chris Gregoire.

House Passes Study Bill for Home Inspector Licensing

Today the House passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5788 to study whether and in what manner the state should to license home inspectors. Problems in residential construction have been a reoccurring issue in this year’s legislature. The Senate earlier passed a version of the bill to mandate licensure. The AIA/WA was successful in ensuring that the new license would not impact architects and engineers as it came out of the Senate. Even though the vote was very strong out of the Senate (45-2) deep divisions existed within the home inspection community over the details of the licensing proposal. The House Commerce & Labor committee replaced the Senate language with a “sunrise review” study by the Department of Licensing. The DOL is to report back its findings by December 1, 2007. The issue is likely to come back in 2008.

ESSB 5788 now goes back to the Senate to vote on concurrence with the House amendments.

Senate Passes Structural Engineer Practice Act

Today, the Senate passed Substitute SB 5984 to require engineers who practice structural engineering to be licensed as a structural engineer. The vote was 36-11. A few senators objected to the increased stringency required in the bill. This bill has been developed by the Structural Engineers Association of Washington in cooperation with the AIA/WA and other professional design groups over the past two years.

House Passes Tougher Contractor Registration Requirements

Substitute House Bill 1843 to toughen registration requirements for contractors in Washington State passed the State House last night. It gives the Department of Labor & Industries greater authority to deny and suspend registration to contractors who have violated the law in the past. It also would require larger bonds from contractors who have had successful lawsuits against them in the past five years. SHB 1843 further gives L&I greater investigative authority, including the ability to obtain a search warrant to enter a job site to investigate potential violations. All of the major residential and commercial contracting groups testified in support of the bill during the committee hearing.

Senate Passes Home Inspector Licensing Bill

The State Senate passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5788 to create a new licensing requirement for home inspectors. The AIA/WA worked with the sponsors to get amendments added to exempt architects and engineers from the requirements and to move the program from the Department of Labor & Industries to the Department of Licensing. The AIA/WA supports the amended bill. An architect or engineer would not be exempt from the separate statute requiring licensing of pest inspectors.