Legislation
California Laws Influencing
the Interior Design Profession
Title Act Vs. Practice Act
- A “practice” act regulates a group of actions or “practices” that can only be carried out by persons licensed to carry out those particular practices. For example: Only a licensed engineer can design a bridge. So a practice act regulates a group of practices, and then defines (through proof of education, experience, and testing) and subsequently “licenses” or “Registers” the group of individuals that are qualified to carry out those practices. So, if an interior designer tried to design a bridge, they are breaking the law because they are not a licensed engineer.
- A “title” act regulates a group of people that use a certain “title,” without affecting the ability of others in the industry to conduct business in their particular practice. But in order to be allowed to use that title, the state requires that those people prove that they have a certain level of experience and education relevant to the particular title being regulated. For example, in California, Interior Designers must meet the minimum qualifications set by the state to become a Certified Interior Designer.
- A title act regulates only a title and provides a list to the public of the “certified” (not licensed) individuals that meet the required qualifications to use that title. In California, anyone can refer to themselves as an “Interior Designer”, without any education or experience. Interior designers would be in violation of the Title Act ONLY if they use the title “Certified Interior Designer,” “Registered Interior Designer,” or “Licensed Interior Designer (or in current law, the title “interior architect” or any other currently regulated title) when conducting business as an interior designer.
- SB-816 Interior Designers (2023)
- SB-1437 Interior designers (2021-2022)
- SB-1474 Business and professions.(2019-2020)
- SB-547 Professions and Vocations: Weights and Measures.(2017-2018)
- Senate Final History SB 153-Craven (1989-1990)
- Report on Legislation and Oversight Hearings for the 1989-90 Legislative Session
All bills currently being tracked. Reports include calendars, and language, on measures moving through the Capitol.
CCIDC Sunset Review Information
Overview of the Sunset Review Process
Joint Sunset Review Oversight Hearings
Each year, the Assembly Business and Professions Committee and the Senate Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee hold joint sunset review oversight hearings to review the boards and bureaus under the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA). The DCA boards and bureaus are responsible for protecting consumers and the public and regulating the professionals they license. The sunset review process provides an opportunity for the DCA, the Legislature, the boards, and interested parties and stakeholders to discuss the performance of the boards, and make recommendations for improvements.
Like all boards and bureaus (including architects and engineers) who are under the purview of the California Dept. of Consumer Affairs (DCA), CCIDC undergoes regular evaluation and review, which is called the sunset review process.
The sunset review process provides a formal opportunity and mechanism for the DCA, the Legislature, the boards and bureaus, interested parties and stakeholders to make recommendations for board and bureau improvements. This is performed on a standard four-year cycle and was mandated by SB 2036 (McCorquodale, Chapter 908, Statutes of 1994).
In Sunset Review, the Law Mandates that the DCA Perform the Following:
- Provide assistance to the boards and bureaus in preparing their sunset reports
- Provide testimony at the annual sunset hearings
- Review the Joint Committee’s findings and recommendations
- Report its findings and recommendations to the Joint Committee Consistent with the Consumer Affairs Act and the sunset review law
- Provides the appropriate forum for the Legislature, the boards and bureaus, interested parties and stakeholders, and the Department to facilitate needed changes
The Goal of Sunset Review Focuses on Application Processing and Complaint Handling
Sunset review’s goal is to improve the quality of services provided to consumers. It examines a board’s operations, including application processing and complaint handling to:
- Ensure that the public’s complaints are handled in a courteous and expeditious manner
- Ensure the public is informed about any complaints, disciplinary actions, judgments and criminal actions against a licensed (certified) professional
- Establish appropriate performance measures for each board reviewed
As with all DCA Boards and Bureaus, Every Aspect of CCIDC’s Operation is Reviewed and Monitored
CCIDC is given a questionnaire of over 300 questions. This initiates the sunset review process for each board and bureau. Highlights of specific evaluative questions regarding applications processing, complaint handling, and operational systems include:
- Has the board/bureau specified its vision, mission and goals and objectives for its agency?
- Has the board/bureau been involved in strategic planning, any type of basic self-assessment quality management practices, or reorganization to improve the board’s overall effectiveness and efficiency?
- Are there any undue delays in approving an application, providing an exam, or in issuing a license or certification?
- Does the consumer have access to application and licensing or certification information?
- Are complaints handled in both an expeditious and appropriate manner, either through informal or formal processes? Is there any reduction in complaint handling time-frames, or have time-frames increased?
- Is complaint information disclosed to the public?
- How many investigations have been commenced and completed for each year over the past four years, and how many are currently open/pending? What has been the time-frame for these investigations? Has there been a backlog or reductions of outstanding investigation cases?
- Are investigations, inspections and/or audits handled in both an expeditious and appropriate manner by the board/bureau, through use of their own investigative staff? How accurate are the initial and subsequent decisions on investigations?
- Have there been any extreme delays in handling of disciplinary cases over the past four years?
- What disciplinary information is disclosed to the public?
In addition, the initial round of sunset review includes a Consumer Satisfaction Survey, which asks each board and bureau to assess what percentage of consumers are satisfied with the way in which the board handled their complaints.