Relating to the practice of interior design, providing penalties, and including effective date provisions

This bill relates to the practice of interior design in Iowa. The bill defines “interior design” as including the preparation of interior technical submissions, defined in the bill as a design that establishes the scope of an interior design project, and removes an exclusion from the term for services that constitute the practice of architecture. The bill also lists certain practices that constitute interior design and certain practices that do not constitute interior design. The bill includes definitions for certain terms relating to the scope of interior design. The bill requires the interior design examining board (board) to issue a registration certificate to a person who submits an application fee prescribed by the board and holds a license in good standing to practice architecture in this state. The bill requires the board to set by rule the time after which interior design registrations expire and the conditions of registration renewals. The bill exempts from the provisions of Code chapter 544C (registered interior designers) an unregistered person acting under the instruction, control, or supervision of a registered interior designer, or a person executing the plans of a registered interior designer, provided that such an unregistered person is not placed in charge of interior technical submission work. The bill requires each registered interior designer to have a seal with which to identify all technical submissions issued by the registered interior designer for use in this state. The registered interior designer may use a seal to sign and seal interior technical submissions, or a portion thereof, but only to the extent that such submissions cover interior design practice that the registered interior designer is competent to perform. Such signed and sealed interior technical submissions shall be accepted by state or local government entities to satisfy requirements for the issuance of a permit for an interior alteration or construction project. A registered interior designer shall not sign and seal an interior technical submission that was not prepared by or under the direct supervision and responsible charge of the registered interior designer. The bill requires the board to adopt rules for the form and use of seals used by registered interior designers. A person who intentionally affixes the signature or seal of a registered interior designer to an interior technical submission without the permission of the registered interior designer, uses or attempts to use the interior design registration or seal of another, impersonates a registered interior designer, obtains or attempts to obtain a registration from the board by fraud, or makes any willfully false oath or affirmation to the board is guilty of a simple misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than days or a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855 or by both. The bill requires a registered interior designer to avoid conflicts of interest. When a conflict of interest cannot be avoided, the bill creates a mandatory series of procedures for the registered interior designer to perform. The bill specifies that Code chapter 544C does not prohibit a person from engaging in an activity traditionally performed by an interior designer or interior decorator or restrict the activities of a person acting within the scope of the person’s licensed profession. The bill repeals a Code section relating to transition provisions for the registration of certain interior designers that is no longer in effect by its own terms. The bill gives the board emergency rulemaking authority to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill takes effect upon enactment.