Approved by the Legislative Commissioner

April 20, 2012

AN ACT CONCERNING REGISTERED INTERIOR DESIGNERS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 20-377l of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):

No person shall use the title "registered interior designer" or display or use any words, letters, figures, title, sign, seal, advertisement or other device to indicate that such person is a registered interior designer in this state, unless such person (1) has obtained a certificate of registration as provided in sections 20-377k to 20-377v, inclusive; or (2) is an architect licensed in this state.

Sec. 2. Section 20-377s of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):

(a) A registered interior designer shall [exhibit his certificate of registration upon request by any interested party] include his or her certificate of registration number in any advertisement and may include his or her certificate of registration number in any written communication.

(b) No person shall: (1) Present or attempt to present, as his own, the certificate of another, (2) knowingly give false evidence of a material nature to the commissioner for the purpose of procuring a certificate, (3) use or attempt to use a certificate which has expired or which has been suspended or revoked, (4) represent himself falsely as, or impersonate, a registered interior designer, or (5) [include his certificate number as a part of any advertisement or] represent in any manner that his certificate of registration constitutes an endorsement of the quality of his workmanship or of his competency by the commissioner.

(c) Certificates of registration issued to an interior designer shall not be transferable or assignable.

(d) All certificates of registration issued under the provisions of sections 20-377k to 20-377v, inclusive, shall expire annually.

(e) The fee for renewal of a certificate of registration as an interior designer shall be one hundred ninety dollars, provided any architect licensed in this state shall not be required to pay such fee.

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst's professional knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact: None

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

There is no fiscal impact to the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) in allowing interior designers or architects to display or use any sign or seal to indicate they are registered as the DCP currently monitors the activities of such entities.

House “A” (LCO 3379) is technical and results in no fiscal impact.

The Out Years

State Impact: None

Municipal Impact: None

OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 5307 (as amended by House “A”)*

AN ACT CONCERNING REGISTERED INTERIOR DESIGNERS.

SUMMARY:

This bill allows anyone who has obtained an interior designer's registration certificate or an architect's license from the Department of Consumer Protection to display or use any sign or seal to indicate that he or she is a registered interior designer in the state. By law, he or she may display or use any words, letters, figures, title, advertisement, or other devices to indicate registration.

The bill removes the requirement that a registered interior designer exhibit his or her certificate at the request of any interested party.

The bill requires registered interior designers to include their registration certificate number in any advertisement. Current law bans that practice. The bill also allows designers to include the number in any written communication.

*House Amendment “A” allows rather than requires registered interior designers to include the certificate number on written communications.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2012

COMMITTEE ACTION

General Law Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute