BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1132|
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 1132
Author: Galgiani (D)
Amended: 8/18/16
Vote: 21
SENATE BUS., PROF. & ECON. DEV. COMMITTEE: 8-0, 4/4/16
AYES: Hill, Bates, Berryhill, Block, Galgiani, Hernandez,
Jackson, Mendoza
NO VOTE RECORDED: Wieckowski
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 5/27/16
AYES: Lara, Bates, Beall, Hill, McGuire, Mendoza, Nielsen
SENATE FLOOR: 39-0, 5/31/16
AYES: Allen, Anderson, Bates, Beall, Berryhill, Block,
Cannella, De León, Fuller, Gaines, Galgiani, Glazer, Hall,
Hancock, Hernandez, Hertzberg, Hill, Hueso, Huff, Jackson,
Lara, Leno, Leyva, Liu, McGuire, Mendoza, Mitchell, Monning,
Moorlach, Morrell, Nguyen, Nielsen, Pan, Pavley, Roth, Stone,
Vidak, Wieckowski, Wolk
NO VOTE RECORDED: Runner
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 8/22/16 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Architects: architects-in-training
SOURCE: American Institute of Architects, California Council
DIGEST: This bill permits a person to use the title
"architect-in-training" while enrolled in the Architectural
Experience Program (AXP), which is administered by the National
Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).
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Page 2
Assembly Amendments permit a person to use the title
"architect-in-training" while enrolled in NCARB's AXP, prohibit
a person using the title from independently offering or
providing services to the public, and sunset the specified
provisions on January 1, 2020.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Establishes the California Architects Board (CAB) within the
Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), which licenses and
regulates professional architects under the Architects
Practice Act. (Business and Professions Code (BPC) § 5500, et
seq.)
2)Defines "architect" as a person who is licensed to practice
architecture in this state under the authority of the
Architects Practice Act. (BPC § 5500)
This bill:
1)Specifies that a person may use the title
"architect-in-training" while enrolled in the AXP, which is
administered by the NCARB.
2)Specifies that no abbreviations or derivatives of the title
may be used.
3)Prohibits a person using the title from independently offering
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or providing services to the public.
4)Provides that a violation of the use of the title may
constitute unprofessional conduct and subject the user to
administrative action, including, but not limited to,
citation, discipline, and denial of a license.
5)Sunsets the provisions above on January 1, 2020, unless a
later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2020,
deletes or extends that date.
Background
This bill authorizes professionals on the path to licensure to
use the job title "architect-in-training." This bill is
sponsored by the American Institute of Architects, California
Council (AIACC). According to the author, "This bill simply
allows individuals who are working hard to become licensed
architects in California to use the job title
'architect-in-training'. [This bill] seeks to recognize those
who are on path to becoming licensed architects or offer
architectural services. This title will not harm the public
because it is clear the title does not imply licensure."
Architectural Experience Program. On June 29, 2016, the Intern
Development Program (IDP) was updated to reflect six broad areas
of current architectural practice-and renamed the AXP.
According to the CAB Web site, the CAB "implemented the AXP
requirement for the purpose of ensuring that all interns gain
uniform, broad, and comprehensive experience in areas of
architectural training that are essential for competent
practice, thus benefiting interns, architects, firms, and the
public in general.
"In addition, all other states require completion of [the] AXP
for initial licensure. The NCARB AXP Council Record is the only
record keeping method that is recognized by all United States
jurisdictions and Canadian provinces. [The] AXP is also the
primary method used to meet the training requirement for NCARB
Certification, which is a compilation of an architect's
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education, training/work experience, and examination history
that is used as a tool to facilitate reciprocity. The [CAB]
believes completion of [the] AXP not only helps ensure the
minimal competence of architectural candidates but also helps
facilitate interstate and international practice."
According to the NCARB Web site, "Most licensure candidates will
complete the AXP by reporting hours. [A participant] will need
to document a minimum of 3,740 required hours under the six
experience areas to complete the program. Some tasks may be
easier to complete early in [his or her] career, while others
may take more time and experience to complete. ?At least half
of [the] experience must be completed under the supervision of a
qualified architect; however, there are many ways to complete
the remainder of [the] AXP hours outside the employment of an
architect. These opportunities will be covered in the
experience settings section."
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:YesLocal: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee Analysis dated
on April 25, 2016, this bill "would provide title protection for
architects-in-training, but does not specify what level of
licensing and enforcement the California Architects Board would
provide." The analysis highlights that costs would be
associated with processing applications, tracking licenses,
developing oversight, outreach, and enforcement of this new
license category, and developing an examination. While the bill
is similar in concept, it has been amended significantly since
it passed out of the Senate.
SUPPORT: (Verified8/22/16)
American Institute of Architects, California Council
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OPPOSITION: (Verified8/22/16)
California Council for Interior Design Certification
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The American Institute of Architects,
California Council writes in support, "[This bill] would allow
individuals to have the job title "architect-in-training" during
their internship once they are eligible to take the licensing
examinations and if they work under the direct supervision of a
licensed architect. This job title does not harm the public as
it does not imply licensure or grant any of the authority of a
licensed architect. Importantly, it is helpful as it describes
the qualifications of the individual to clients of an
architectural firm. Finally, the granting of an "in-training"
paraprofessional title has precedent. California law allows the
titles "engineer-in-training" and "land surveyor-in-training" to
qualified candidates in those professional fields."
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: The California Council for Interior
Design Certification writes that this title "has no proven
consumer demand [and] is designed to purchase more territory in
the pursuit of legitimization without justification, cause, or
merit."
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ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 8/22/16
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Arambula, Atkins, Baker,
Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke,
Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley,
Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth
Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto,
Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper,
Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim,
Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis,
Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte,
O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Quirk, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez,
Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting,
Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Rendon
NO VOTE RECORDED: Melendez
Prepared by:Mark Mendoza / B., P. & E.D. / (916) 651-4104
8/29/16 10:34:43
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