HELP FIGHT LEGISLATION IN CALIFORNIA

From Patti Morrow, Interior Design Protection Council (www.idpcinfo.org):

California designers,

I just received a heads-up to ask you to email and call your state representative, Senator Don Perata who is the Senate President Pro Tem. This is particularly important if you live in District 9.

As you know, despite the strong opposition to the licensing bill, it narrowly passed out of Committee to Appropriations with the express understanding that the bill would need to be substantially amended if it was to proceed further. Well, we've received the amendments, and frankly, when you read between the lines, it would still prevent you from practicing and now, possibly even submitting plans to building departments (unless, of course, you graduate from an approved interior design program, intern for an NCIDQ certificate holder for 2-4 years, and pass the NCIDQ exam).

NOW IS THE TIME TO GET INVOLVED. This is a serious matter that may very well jeopardize your ability to continue working in California, for no reason other than a small group of elitist designers has decided to restrict the practice of design to their members only.

Please click here Senator.Perata@sen.ca.gov to send an email to Sen. Perata, and also take a few moments to phone his legislative office and voice your opposition to the licensing of interior designers.

Some of the points to mention on the phone call are:

1. Your name, business and address
2. The type of business you have
3. That you oppose Senate Bill 1312 because it will impact your ability to continue to earn a living in the state of California
4. The bill, if passed, will mean that you may no longer furnish design services in the state and not be able to submit plans to building departments (if you do that)
5. There is no need to regulate the design industry since there is no evidence that the public is being harmed by the continued non-licensing of designers; construction code enforcement officials, building inspectors, architects, engineers, licensed contractors, fire inspectors and others already perform those functions and insure that the public is protected
6. Licensing will increase the cost of doing business in California and the cost of design services to the consumer, all at a time when the economy is dangerous close to recession. Why make it more difficult for us to compete and stay in business?

Feel free to personalize and add comments of your own as well. Keep the message brief (3-4 minutes tops) but make it clear that passage of this bill will impact your ability to work and earn a living in California.

DON'T THINK THAT OTHERS WILL DO THIS ON YOUR BEHALF. We need to make sure the Senator receives many phone calls and emails to his office in order to influence him to act on our behalf. The phone number of the Senator's office in the Capital is (916) 651-4009; the number at his district office is (510) 286-1333.

Please take a few moments and protect your right and the right of your clients to continue providing interior design services.