Government Relations
NKBA to Oppose a Colorado Bill to Register Interior Designers
The Colorado Interior Design Coalition (CIDC), a private non-profit organization that purports to represent the interests of all interior designers will once again be introducing a bill in the 2012 legislative session to create a “Title Act” that would single out a small segment of the design community for special, state-sanctioned title recognition as a “registered interior designer”. NKBA is strongly opposed to such a bill that would make it potentially even more difficult for non-registered designers to remain in business and compete for jobs in these difficult economic times.
Ed Nagorsky, the General Counsel to the NKBA holds that “what is being proposed by these individuals would effectively make the State a party to the marketing efforts of a small portion of the design community who seek to promote themselves at the expense of others.”
The primary requirement for registration is passing the certification exam sponsored by a private organization known as the National Council of Interior Design Qualifications, NCIDQ. However, marketing efforts by private design organizations such as ASID already provide the means for designers to achieve special recognition in their areas of expertise and training. Indeed special state recognition of the NCIDQ certification exam effectively diminishes the value of certification programs sponsored by other professional organizations including the NBKA.
Similar legislation has been advocated for years by a small group of interior designers and repeatedly rejected by the legislature and the agencies, which oversee such matters. CIDC claims that a state administered database of registered interior designers is necessary to allow building departments to verify the credentials of designers submitting plans for review. In fact NCIDQ already maintains a website www.ncidq.org with a search function known as “Q Search” that allows anyone to search for an NCIDQ certificate holder. Using State funds to duplicate this functionality adds nothing to help the public or building departments to distinguish between the credential of different designers beyond what is already available.
The Department of Regulatory Agencies (“DORA”) has reviewed the need for further regulation of the design community, and issued reports in 2000, 2008, and by letter last year, all stating that such additional regulation of interior designers was unnecessary. NKBA’s position is that while interior designers are deserving of respect for their role in the design process, special legislative consideration is not warranted based on an objective review of the facts.
Information regarding CIDC legislative activities will be posted as available on the www.nkbarockymountain.org website blog. If you are interested in learning more about NKBA’s position and opportunities to have your voice heard please contact our V.P. of Government Relations, Mary Jo Hren at the following email address maryjo@essentiainteriors.com.
