Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

- 2022 LEGISLATURE
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                  2021 ASSEMBLY BILL 320
    May 7, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives HORLACHER, STUBBS, BROOKS,
        CABRAL-GUEVARA, DITTRICH, GUNDRUM, HINTZ, HONG, KRUG, KUGLITSCH,
        LOUDENBECK, MACCO, MAGNAFICI, NEYLON, SKOWRONSKI, SORTWELL, VRUWINK,
        WICHGERS and TITTL, cosponsored by Senators KOOYENGA, JOHNSON, STROEBEL,
        CARPENTER, MARKLEIN and ROYS. Referred to Committee on Regulatory
        Licensing Reform.
 AN ACT to repeal 440.962 (1) (a), 440.962 (1) (b), 440.962 (1) (c), 440.962 (1) (d)
      and 440.964; to renumber 440.96 (2); to renumber and amend 440.96 (1); to
      amend 440.965; and to create 440.96 (1g), 440.96 (1r) (b) 2., 440.96 (3),
      440.962 (1) (am), 440.968 (1) (e), 440.9693 and 440.9696 of the statutes;
      relating to: registration and the scope of practice of interior designers and
      granting rule-making authority.
                    Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
         This bill makes the following changes to the registration and practice of interior
    designers:
         1. Requires a person to pass an interior design examination administered by
    an organization approved by the Department of Safety and Professional Services in
    order to be granted an initial certificate of registration as an interior designer by
    DSPS. Under current law, a person must pass an interior design examination
    administered by a national organization that establishes standards for the interior
    design profession and that is recognized by DSPS or an examination conducted or
    approved by DSPS that is substantially similar.
         2. Eliminates several requirements for obtaining an initial registration as an
    interior designer, including the requirement under current law to complete an
    interior design education program of a certain length of time and have certain
    amounts of practical experience in interior design.
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     ASSEMBLY BILL 320
           3. Makes various changes to the scope of interior design.
           4. Requires DSPS to promulgate rules establishing specifications for interior
     design seals and stamps and requires a registered interior designer to impress the
     seal or stamp on certain documents prepared by the interior designer.
           For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
     an appendix to this bill.
     The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
         enact as follows:
      SECTION 1.    440.96 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 440.96 (1r) (a) and
 amended to read:
      440.96 (1r) (a) “Interior design" means the design of interior spaces as a part
 of an interior alteration or construction project in conformity with public health,
 safety and welfare requirements, including the preparation of documents relating to
 building code descriptions, egress plans, space planning, finish materials,
 furnishings, fixtures, and equipment and the preparation of documents interior
 technical submissions relating to interior construction that does not substantially
 affect the mechanical or structural systems of a building.
      (b) “Interior design" does not include services any of the following:
      1. Services that constitute the practice of architecture or the practice of
 professional engineering.
      SECTION 2. 440.96 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:
      440.96 (1g) “Interior alteration or construction project” means a project for an
 interior space or area within a proposed or existing building or structure, including
 construction, modification, renovation, rehabilitation, or historic preservation, that
 involves changing or altering any of the following:
      (a) The design function or layout of rooms.
      (b) The state of permanent fixtures or equipment.
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     ASSEMBLY BILL 320                                                            SECTION 2
      (c) The interior space or area if the change or alteration requires verification
 of the compliance of the interior space or area with a building code, fire code, the
 federal Americans with Disabilities Act, or state or local regulations.
      (d) Interior office furniture.
      (e) Nonstructural elements of the interior space or area.
      SECTION 3. 440.96 (1r) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
      440.96 (1r) (b) 2. Engineering any of the following:
      a. Foundations, beams, trusses, columns, or other primary structural framing
 members or seismic systems.
      b. Structural concrete slabs, roof framing systems, or load-bearing or shear
 walls.
      c. Openings in a roof or exterior wall.
      d. Exterior elements, including doors, windows, awnings, canopies, sunshades,
 signage, and other similar exterior building elements.
      e. Heating, ventilating, or air conditioning equipment or distribution systems;
 building management systems; high or medium voltage electrical distribution
 systems; standby or emergency power or distribution systems; plumbing; plumbing
 distribution systems; fire alarm systems; fire sprinkler systems; security or
 monitoring systems; or other related building systems.
      SECTION 4. 440.96 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 440.96 (4).
      SECTION 5. 440.96 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
      440.96 (3)      “Interior technical submission” means a design, drawing,
 specification, study, or other technical report or calculation that establishes the scope
 of an interior design project, including a description of standards of quality for
 materials, skilled labor, equipment, and construction systems, and that is signed and
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     ASSEMBLY BILL 320                                                          SECTION 5
 sealed by a Wisconsin registered interior designer in compliance with this
 subchapter.
      SECTION 6. 440.962 (1) (a) of the statutes is repealed.
      SECTION 7. 440.962 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
      440.962 (1) (am) Passes an interior design examination approved by the
 department that is administered by an organization approved by the department.
      SECTION 8. 440.962 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
      SECTION 9. 440.962 (1) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
      SECTION 10. 440.962 (1) (d) of the statutes is repealed.
      SECTION 11. 440.964 of the statutes is repealed.
      SECTION 12. 440.965 of the statutes is amended to read:
      440.965 Reciprocal registration. The department may, upon application
 and payment of the required fee, grant a permit certificate of registration to use the
 title “Wisconsin registered interior designer" to a person who is not a resident of and
 has no established place of business in this state, or who has recently become a
 resident of this state, if the person holds an unexpired certificate of similar
 registration issued to the person by the proper authority in any state or territory or
 possession of the United States or in any country in which the requirements for the
 registration of interior designers are of a standard not lower than specified in this
 subchapter.
      SECTION 13. 440.968 (1) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
      440.968 (1) (e) Signed or impressed his or her seal or stamp upon a document
 not prepared by him or her or knowingly permitted his or her seal or stamp to be used
 by another person.
      SECTION 14. 440.9693 of the statutes is created to read:
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     ASSEMBLY BILL 320                                                         SECTION 14
      440.9693 Seal or stamp. (1) (a) The department shall promulgate rules
 establishing specifications for seals and stamps used by Wisconsin registered
 interior designers.
      (b) No Wisconsin registered interior designer may impress his or her seal or
 stamp upon a document unless the seal or stamp satisfies the specifications
 established by rule under par. (a).
      (2) A Wisconsin registered interior designer who is responsible for preparing
 an interior technical submission for delivery to any person or for a public record shall
 date, sign, and impress his or her seal or stamp upon the interior technical
 submission and any other related documents prepared by the Wisconsin registered
 interior designer.
      (3) No Wisconsin registered interior designer may impress his or her seal or
 stamp upon a document that has not been prepared by the Wisconsin registered
 interior designer or knowingly permit his or her seal or stamp to be used by any other
 person.
      SECTION 15. 440.9696 of the statutes is created to read:
      440.9696 Submission of documents. (1) Subject to s. 440.9693 (2), a
 Wisconsin registered interior designer may sign and seal interior technical
 submissions that are required for an interior alteration or construction project for
 public record.
      (2) If a city, village, town, or county requires a seal or stamp on interior
 technical submissions that are submitted for an interior alteration or construction
 project, the city, village, town, or county shall accept interior technical submissions
 impressed with the seal or stamp of a Wisconsin registered interior designer
 consistent with this subchapter.
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     ASSEMBLY BILL 320                                                          SECTION 16
      SECTION 16.0Initial applicability.
      (1) REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS. The treatment of ss. 440.962 (1) (a), (am), (b),
 (c), and (d) and 440.964 first applies to an application submitted on the effective date
 of this subsection to the department of safety and professional services for
 registration as an interior designer.
      SECTION 17.0Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication,
 except as follows:
      (1) SEALS AND STAMPS. The treatment of s. 440.9693 takes effect on the first day
 of the 7th month beginning after publication.
                                         (END)
Statutes affected: 
Bill Text: 440.962(1)(a), 440.962, 440.962(1)(b), 440.962(1)(c), 440.962(1)(d), 440.964, 440.965