Fight Virginia’s Proposal to De-Regulate Interior Design
I write to you independently, not as a representative of VCU’s Interior Design Department, but as a professional and an educator concerned with the future of Interiors.
Virginia’s Governor’s Commission on Reform and Restructuring has recommended that Interior Design be deregulated.
If this moves you, please act before December 5, 2011! Otherwise, this will need to be fought in the General Assembly, where it will be much more difficult to turn the tide.
If you’re in a hurry, here’s what you’ll find in my memo here:
I. What Virginia is proposing, and why.
II. Reasons to maintain Interior Design Certification
III. Easy ways to voice your concerns in five minutes, and to where you might send your thoughts.
I. What Virginia is proposing, and why.
In Virginia, the Governor’s Commission on Reform and Restructuring has recommended that Interior Design be deregulated. Why?
Here is the official memo (http://www.reform.virginia.gov/docs/scheds/Recommendations-11-14-11.pdf). On page 12, you will find this wording:
6. Reduce Barriers to Business: De-regulate Interior Designers and Landscape Architects
The Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects issues the Certified Interior Designer and Landscape Architects Programs. There are few, if any complaints in these two sections and very few regulatory violations.
The group makes the following recommendation:
The group recommends eliminating the Certified Interior Designer program and the Landscape Architect program.
II. Reasons to maintain Interior Design Certification
What does this mean for Virginia Interior Design professionals and businesses?
- This will result in the loss of certification for Virginia Interior Design professionals.
- This will result in the loss of the ability of Virginia Interior Design professionals to submit plans for permit.
- This will result in the loss of the ability of Virginia Interior Design businesses to compete for Federal projects (which require licensed or certified designers), which will severely affect the competitiveness of Virginia-based professionals.
- This will damage the competitiveness of many women-owned Virginia independent Interior Design professionals and businesses.
- This will damage the competitiveness of many minority-owned Virginia independent Interior Design professionals and businesses.
- This will damage the ability for Virginia Interior Designers to expand into areas (e.g., stamping, signing, and submitting plans for permitting) that they were barred from previously.
- This will harm Virginia public safety and well-being by removing qualifications for Interior Designers certified to work with energy codes, indoor air quality and the American’s with Disabilities Act requirements, among other health and safety issues.
- Certification is not a barrier to business because any Virginia Interior Design professional who meets the requirements set forth by the state may become licensed.
- The fact that “there are few, if any complaints in these two sections and very few regulatory violations,” would indicate that the Certification of Virginia Interior Designers works and is not, in fact, any type of barrier to business. The lack of opposition to the Certification implies acceptance and approval by Virginia business owners.
III. Easy ways to voice your concerns in five minutes, and to where you might send your thoughts.
If moved, cut and paste any or all of the above reasons in a letter:
Re: Opposition to Work Group Recommendations to the Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring Health and Human Resources, Item 6. Reduce Barriers to Business: De-regulate Interior Designers and Landscape Architects
To: The Honorable (insert the name of your addressee here —see below for help)
I am opposed to the proposal to De-Regulate Interior Design in Virginia for the following reasons (choose as many points form the above list as is desired!)):
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your address (or at least your city)
To whom might you send this?
Send to any or all of the following:
- Your local representatives — find them here: http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform
- Jeff Palmore, who represents the commission for the Governor. Jeff.Palmore@Governor.Virginia.Gov | 804-786-2211
- Use this form online: http://www.reform.virginia.gov/Comments/CommentOnAction.cfm?id=98&sec=Commerce & Trade
Cheers,
Roberto Ventura, LEED AP
Assistant Professor of Interior Design, Virginia Commonwealth University
principal, roberto ventura design studio, llc.
