California Building Officials Oppose SB-1312

In a letter dated April 11, 2008, Senator Leland Yee (D, San Francisco/SanMateo) was informed that the California Building Officials voted to oppose SB1312, which had been sponsored by Senator Yee. The reasons cited by Matthew Wheeler, Director of Public Affairs, included:

"...CALBO's members are primarily responsible for enforcing building code requirements in an estimated 95% of the buildings constructed in California. As such, we have a solid background and understanding of the professional standards and scope of professional work permitted by all registered design professionals, including; Architects, Engineers and Interior Designers.

"As you know, SB 1312 would create the California Architects and Registered Interior Designers Board from the currently titled and appointed California Architects Board. Among other provisions, SB 1312 would increase the scope of work allowable by licensed Interior Designers. Once submitted, local California building departments would now be required to accept this work under specified circumstances outlined within the measure.

"It is the opinion of CALBO that this bill seeks to expand the role of the Interior Designer into a scope that is not within the best interests of the public. The current life-safety design building provisions accepted by building departments are the product of licensed Architects and Engineers who have met stringent education and testing standards currently required under California state law. This is a fundamental issue of public safety, ensuring that only those persons who are well qualified to work within the structural and seismic intricacies of the building code are permitted to do so.

"Further, the assertion that the newly adopted International Building Code (IBC) limits the scope of work allowable by "registered design professionals," is in our opinion not factual. Designers are permitted to practice in areas that are exempt from the practice of Architecture or Engineering. There has not been a change from what we have done in the past although our state has adopted a new model building code."