Comm. interior designers

AN ACT Relating to registered commercial interior designers; 1
amending RCW 18.08.330 and 18.08.340; adding a new chapter to Title 2
18 RCW; and prescribing penalties. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that in order to 5
safeguard life, health, and property and to promote public welfare, 6
it is necessary to regulate the practice of registered commercial 7
interior design. The practice of registered commercial interior 8
design in Washington is declared a professional practice, subject to 9
regulation and control in the public interest. It is a matter of 10
public interest and concern that the practice of registered 11
commercial interior design, as defined under this chapter, merits and 12
receives the confidence of the public and shall be limited to those 13
persons determined by the board to be qualified and registered under 14
this chapter.15
It is the purpose of this chapter to promote, preserve, and 16
protect the public health, safety, and welfare by and through the 17
registration and regulation of persons, whether within or outside of 18
Washington, who engage in the practice of registered commercial 19
interior design within Washington. In furtherance of this purpose, 20
this chapter constitutes the Washington state board for architects 21
H-3341.1
HOUSE BILL 2721
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Volz and Zahn
Read first time 02/04/26. Referred to Committee on Consumer
Protection & Business.
p. 1 HB 2721
and registered commercial interior designers, whose members, 1
functions, and procedures shall be established in accordance with the 2
provisions of this chapter. 3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions in this section apply 4
throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires 5
otherwise.6
(1) "Administration of the construction contract" means the 7
periodic observation of materials and work to observe the general 8
compliance with the construction contract documents and does not 9
include responsibility for supervising construction methods and 10
processes, site conditions, equipment operations, personnel, or 11
safety on the worksite. 12
(2) "Applicant" means an individual who seeks registration in 13
accordance with the requirements and processes set forth in this 14
chapter and as may be established by the board. 15
(3) "Approved educational program" means an educational program 16
as approved by the board. 17
(4) "Architect" means an individual who is registered as an 18
architect under chapter 18.08 RCW to practice architecture.19
(5) "Board" means the Washington state board for architects and 20
registered commercial interior designers constituted under RCW 21
18.08.330 and governed by RCW 18.08.340. 22
(6) "Certificate of authorization" means a certificate issued by 23
the director to a business entity that authorizes the entity to 24
practice registered commercial interior design. 25
(7) "Certificate of registration" means the certificate issued by 26
the director to a newly registered commercial interior designer.27
(8) "Council for interior design qualification" or "CIDQ" means 28
the council for interior design qualification or its successor.29
(9) "Department" means the department of licensing.30
(10) "Director" means the director of licensing.31
(11) "Engineer" means an individual who is registered as an 32
engineer under chapter 18.43 RCW to practice engineering.33
(12) "Interior nonstructural construction and alteration project" 34
means interior work within the building envelope that involves the 35
construction, modification, or removal of nonstructural elements that 36
do not affect the structural, seismic, or exterior envelope systems 37
of a building or structure. 38
p. 2 HB 2721
(13) "Interior nonstructural element" means an interior assembly, 1
component, or finish located within a building that:2
(a) Does not bear, support, or transfer structural loads to the 3
foundation, frame, or structural system of a building;4
(b) Is not part of the building's primary or secondary structural 5
system, including but not limited to load-bearing walls, columns, 6
beams, floor and roof structural systems, and foundations;7
(c) Can be constructed, altered, relocated, or removed without 8
compromising the structural integrity, stability, or safety of the 9
building; 10
(d) Includes, but is not limited to: 11
(i) Nonload-bearing interior partitions and demountable partition 12
systems; 13
(ii) Interior glazing systems, including glazing in nonload-14
bearing walls; 15
(iii) Nonload-bearing interior ceiling assemblies, including 16
ceiling systems that do not contribute to the structural or seismic 17
integrity of the building, and raised access floor systems not 18
integral to the structural frame; 19
(iv) Interior finish assemblies such as flooring finishes, wall 20
and ceiling finishes, and applied surface treatments;21
(v) Interior stairs that are not structural and are outside of 22
protected exit stairways; 23
(vi) Interior millwork, casework, cabinetry, and trim;24
(vii) Interior hardware and door assemblies; 25
(viii) Decorative interior architectural elements that do not 26
affect structural performance; and 27
(ix) An element designed and installed in accordance with 28
prescriptive requirements for the seismic anchorage, bracing, or 29
restraint of interior nonstructural assemblies and components, as 30
permitted by applicable codes and standards, and not requiring 31
engineering analysis or certification. 32
(14) "National council for interior design qualification 33
certification" or "NCIDQ certification" means the certification 34
issued by the CIDQ for successful completion of the NCIDQ 35
examination. 36
(15) "Person" means any individual, partnership, professional 37
service corporation, corporation, joint stock association, joint 38
venture, or any other entity authorized to do business in the state.39
p. 3 HB 2721
(16) "Practice of registered commercial interior design" means 1
the analysis, planning, design, coordination, documentation, and 2
management of interior nonstructural construction and alteration 3
projects in compliance with applicable codes, standards, regulations, 4
and guidelines. The "practice of registered commercial interior 5
design" includes the following: 6
(a) Programming, space planning, predesign analysis, and 7
conceptual design of interior nonstructural elements;8
(b) Preparation of documents and technical submissions related to 9
interior construction, finish materials, furnishings, fixtures, and 10
equipment; 11
(c) Rendering of designs, plans, drawings, specifications, 12
contract documents, and other interior technical submissions;13
(d) Construction and contract administration for interior 14
nonstructural construction and alteration projects within a proposed 15
or existing building or structure; 16
(e) Alteration or construction of interior nonstructural 17
elements; 18
(f) Integration of interior nonstructural elements with 19
mechanical, electrical, and plumbing distribution systems, including 20
coordination of interior systems at points of connection to central 21
building infrastructure, as permitted by code. This may include, but 22
is not limited to, the layout of branch distribution, integration of 23
local equipment or panels dedicated to that space, and coordination 24
of consultant work as required; 25
(g) Coordination with structural engineers, as appropriate, to 26
confirm compatibility of interior nonstructural work with structural 27
elements and to identify any requirements affecting interior 28
construction; 29
(h) Documentation of prescriptive seismic anchorage and restraint 30
of interior nonstructural elements in accordance with code-recognized 31
methods; any required engineering analysis or certification remains 32
under the responsible design or manufacturing professional;33
(i) Preparation of a physical plan of space within a proposed or 34
existing building or structure, in compliance with creating and 35
maintaining accessible, safe, and code-conforming environments, 36
including any of the following: 37
(i) Determination of spatial layouts creating or modifying 38
circulation paths; 39
p. 4 HB 2721
(ii) Determination of egress requirements, including calculation 1
of occupant load, travel distance, egress width, number, and 2
arrangement of exits; 3
(iii) Design of interior egress components, including exit access 4
up to the protected vertical exits and exit discharge, and 5
modifications to an existing horizontal exit access within a 6
building, provided the resulting occupant load does not exceed the 7
existing or potential capacity of the building's shared egress 8
systems; 9
(iv) Assessment and analysis of interior life safety and fire 10
protection needs to comply with codes, standards, regulations, and 11
guidelines related to interior nonstructural elements, encompassing 12
the integration of design requirements for passive fire protection 13
systems and the coordination of active fire protection systems as 14
they affect interior construction and egress; 15
(v) Interior material selection and application for all portions 16
of an interior construction project, including the means of egress 17
system; 18
(vi) Compliance with applicable codes, standards, regulations and 19
guidelines, including coordination and verification of how existing 20
building systems outside the scope of practice may affect interior 21
nonstructural work; 22
(j) Documenting or referencing building systems, assemblies, 23
elements, or components outside the scope of practice defined in this 24
section for purposes of demonstrating compliance with applicable 25
codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines when those systems 26
affect the interior work within the registered commercial interior 27
designer's responsible control. 28
(i) Verification of such conditions shall be based on record 29
documents, design documents under the responsible control of licensed 30
design professionals associated with the project, prior approved 31
permits, or other evidence acceptable to the authority having 32
jurisdiction. 33
(ii) Responsible control for systems, assemblies, elements, or 34
components outside the registered commercial interior designer's 35
scope remains with the licensed design professional of record for 36
those portions of the project. 37
(iii) When any system, assembly, element, or component of a 38
project extends beyond the scope of practice defined in this section, 39
the registered commercial interior designer shall promptly notify the 40
p. 5 HB 2721
client in writing and recommend consultation with a design 1
professional licensed to perform that work. 2
(17) "Registered commercial interior designer" means an 3
individual holding a valid certificate of registration or certificate 4
of authorization issued by the director authorizing the practice of 5
registered commercial interior design. 6
(18) "Registered professional commercial interior design firm" 7
means a business entity registered in Washington to offer and provide 8
registered commercial interior design services under section 8 of 9
this act. 10
(19) "Responsible control" means the direct personal supervision 11
over, and detailed knowledge of, the content of all technical 12
submissions that are ordinarily exercised by a registered commercial 13
interior designer when applying the requisite standard of care.14
(20) "Review" means a process of examination and evaluation, of 15
the documents, for compliance with applicable codes, standards, 16
regulations, and guidelines affecting the built environment that 17
includes the ability to control the final product.18
(21) "Structure" means any construction consisting of load-19
bearing members such as the foundation, roof, floors, walls, columns, 20
girders, and beams, or a combination of any number of these parts, 21
with or without other parts or appurtenances. 22
(22) "Technical submissions" means the documents covering the 23
practice of registered commercial interior design necessary to 24
demonstrate compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and/or 25
to fabricate or construct a project including, but not limited to, 26
drawings, digital models, specifications, performance criteria, and 27
installation requirements. 28
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) Nothing in this chapter shall be 29
construed to authorize a registered commercial interior designer to 30
engage in the practice of architecture under chapter 18.08 RCW or 31
engineering under chapter 18.43 RCW or provide services that 32
constitute the practice of architecture or engineering.33
(2) The practice of registered commercial interior design does 34
not include modifications or additions to any of the following:35
(a) Changes of building use to occupancies not already allowed by 36
the current building or structure, or to occupancies of a greater 37
hazard as defined by the means of egress hazard categories table in 38
p. 6 HB 2721
chapter 10, change of occupancy, in the international existing 1
building code; 2
(b) The construction classification of the building or structure;3
(c) The structural system of a building, including changing the 4
building's dead load on the structural system and the seismic design 5
of interior elements, including analysis and structural calculations 6
for anchorage, bracing, or restraint beyond prescriptive requirements 7
permitted by code; however, registered commercial interior designers 8
may coordinate with structural engineers to confirm compatibility of 9
interior nonstructural elements with existing structural elements;10
(d) The building envelope, including load-bearing and nonload-11
bearing exterior walls, exterior wall claddings, exterior wall 12
openings, exterior windows and doors, balconies and similar 13
projections, roof assemblies and rooftop structures, and glass and 14
glazing for exterior use in both vertical, horizontal, and sloped 15
applications, and any element or assembly that affects the building's 16
weather resistance, moisture management, thermal performance, or 17
structural weatherproofing, including any new penetrations or 18
modifications to existing building envelope penetrations;19
(e) Engineering of mechanical, plumbing, heating, air 20
conditioning, ventilation, electrical, low voltage, active fire 21
protection, or fire alarm systems; 22
(f) Integration of central mechanical, electrical, and plumbing 23
infrastructure serving the building as a whole, including plant 24
equipment (boilers, chillers, cooling towers, etc.), electrical 25
service and distribution (service entry, transformers, switchgear, 26
main distribution panels), and plumbing mains and pumps;27
(g) Elevators and conveying systems; 28
(h) Shared building egress systems that serve the building as a 29
whole, including vertical protected exit enclosures and the exit 30
discharge points, or modifications that would increase occupant loads 31
beyond the designed capacity of those systems; or 32
(i) Life safety systems pertaining to fire safety of primary 33
structural elements or the fire protection of primary structural 34
elements, smoke evacuation and compartmentalization systems, or fire-35
rated vertical shafts in multistory structures. 36
(3) The following individuals and firms are not required to 37
obtain a registration to practice registered commercial interior 38
design pursuant to this chapter: 39
p. 7 HB 2721
(a) An individual or firm who has a certificate or authorization 1
to practice as an architect under chapter 18.08 RCW shall be 2
qualified for a registration upon approval of a completed application 3
for such registration and payment of the corresponding application 4
fee. An architect who is licensed or registered is not required to 5
obtain a registration to practice registered commercial interior 6
design but must register as a registered commercial interior designer 7
prior to using the title "registered commercial interior designer";8
(b) An individual who prepares plans, drawings, or specifications 9
for buildings for their personal private residential use, including 10
single-family or multifamily homes in concert with local governing 11
zoning, codes, and jurisdictional requirements such as 12
"appurtenances"; 13
(c) A person who prepares drawings of the layout of materials or 14
furnishings or who participates in the selection of materials or 15
furnishings used in commercial interior design including, but not 16
limited to: 17
(i) Decorative accessories; 18
(ii) Wallcoverings, wall finishes or paint; 19
(iii) Floor coverings, tile, wood, stone, or concrete;20
(iv) Window coverings; 21
(v) Lighting fixtures which do not disrupt structural elements;22
(vi) Plumbing fixtures which do not disrupt structural elements;23
(vii) Professional services limited to the design of kitchen and 24
bath spaces or the specification of products for kitchen and bath 25
areas in noncommercial settings; and 26
(viii) Spatial arrangements, interior construction assemblies, 27
millwork, fixtures, equipment, and furniture, if the preparation or 28
implementation of those drawings or the installation of those 29
materials or furnishings is not regulated by any building code or 30
other law, ordinance, rule, or regulation governing the alteration or 31
construction of a structure. 32
(4) This chapter shall not affect or prevent: 33
(a) The practice of naval architecture, landscape architecture as 34
authorized in chapter 18.96 RCW, engineering as authorized in chapter 35
18.43 RCW, or the provision of space planning or interior design 36
services not affecting public health or safety; 37
(b) Drafters, clerks, project managers, superintendents, and 38
other employees of architects from acting under the instructions, 39
control, or supervision of an architect; 40
p. 8 HB 2721
(c) The construction, alteration, or supervision of construction 1
of buildings or structures by contractors registered under chapter 2
18.27 RCW or superintendents employed by contractors or the 3
preparation of shop drawings in connection therewith;4
(d) Owners or contractors registered under chapter 18.27 RCW from 5
engaging persons who are not architects to observe and supervise 6
construction of a project; 7
(e) Any person from doing design work including preparing 8
construction contract documents and administration of the 9
construction contract for the erection, enlargement, repair, or 10
alteration of a structure or any appurtenance to a structure 11
regardless of size, if the structure is to be used for a residential 12
building of up to and including four dwelling units or a farm 13
building or is a structure used in connection with or auxiliary to 14
such residential building or farm building such as a garage, barn, 15
shed, or shelter for animals or machinery; 16
(f) Except as otherwise provided in this section, any person from 17
doing design work including preparing construction contract documents 18
and administering the contract for construction, erection, 19
enlargement, alteration, or repairs of or to a building of any 20
occupancy up to a total building size of 4,000 square feet; or21
(g) Any person from doing design work, including preparing 22
construction contract documents and administration of the contract, 23
for alteration of or repairs to a building where the project size is 24
not more than 4,000 square feet in a building greater than 4,000 25
square feet and when the work contemplated by the design does not 26
affect the life safety or structural systems of the building. The 27
combined square footage of simultaneous projects allowed under this 28
subsection (4) may not exceed 4,000 square feet. 29
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) To obtain a certificate of 30
registration to engage in the practice of registered commercial 31
interior design in Washington, an applicant must be of good moral 32
character, at least 18 years of age, and shall submit the following 33
qualifications to the board:34
(a) A complete and signed written application in the form 35
prescribed by the board; 36
(b) Evidence of graduation and receipt of a degree from an 37
approved educational program; 38
p. 9 HB 2721
(c) Evidence indicating the successful completion of the 1
experience deemed necessary by the board; 2
(d) Evidence of the successful completion of the NCIDQ 3
examination administered by CIDQ; 4
(e) Evidence of the successful completion of a Washington state 5
law review examination for registered commercial interior designers, 6
as established by the board; and 7
(f) Payment of all applicable fees specified by the board.8
(2) In lieu of furnishing evidence supporting subsection (1)(b), 9
(c), and (d) of this section, an applicant may provide a copy of the 10
applicant's NCIDQ certification. 11
(3) The board may use documentation and verified data stored by 12
CIDQ in the same way that it may use data stored by the board to 13
establish an applicant's qualifications for a registration. 14
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the board 15
shall share such information with CIDQ as may be reasonably requested 16
from time to time, provided that CIDQ agrees to maintain the 17
confidentiality of such information. 18
(4) A certificate of registration shall be effective upon 19
issuance by the director. A person issued a registration may use the 20
title of registered commercial interior designer in Washington, 21
subject to the provisions of this chapter and the board regulations.22
(5) An applicant for registration as a registered commercial 23
interior designer shall be of a good moral character and at least 18 24
years of age. 25
(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any 26
individual or firm who has a certificate or authorization to practice 27
as an architect under chapter 18.08 RCW shall be qualified for a 28
registration for commercial interior design upon approval of a 29
completed application for such registration and payment of the 30
corresponding application fee. An architect who is licensed or 31
registered within Washington is not required to obtain a registration 32
to practice registered commercial interior design but must register 33
as a registered commercial interior designer prior to using the title 34
"registered commercial interior designer" in Washington. For 35
architects registered as registered commercial interior designers, 36
satisfaction of the requirements for renewal of licensure or 37
registration as an architect shall be deemed to satisfy the 38
requirements for renewal of the registration as a "registered 39
commercial interior designer." 40
p. 10 HB 2721
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The director may, upon receipt of the 1
current registration fee, grant a certificate of registration to an 2
applicant who:3
(1) Is a registered commercial interior designer in another state 4
or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or 5
another country; 6
(2) Has qualifications and experience determined by the board to 7
be equivalent to the qualifications and experience required of a 8
person registered under section 4 of this act; and 9
(3) Provides evidence of successful completion of the Washington 10
state law review examination for registered commercial interior 11
designers, as established by the board. 12
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) The renewal date for certificates of 13
registration shall be set by the director in accordance with RCW 14
43.24.086. Registrants who fail to pay the renewal fee within 30 days 15
of the due date shall pay all delinquent fees plus a penalty fee 16
equal to one-third of the renewal fee. A registrant who fails to pay 17
a renewal fee for a period of five years may be reinstated under such 18
circumstances as the board determines. The renewal and penalty fees 19
and the frequency of renewal assessment shall be authorized under 20
this chapter. The renewal date for certificates of authorization 21
shall be the anniversary of the date of authorization.22
(2) The director may, in their discretion, consider any relevant 23
extenuating circumstances duly submitted in conjunction with any 24
petition and application for the reinstatement of a registration 25
where the applicant can demonstrate hardship, so long as the board 26
maintains its public protection mission in considering any such 27
petition and application. The board shall by regulation set forth 28
procedures and requirements for the reinstatement of a registered 29
commercial interior designer's registration. 30
(3) Any registrant in good standing may withdraw from the 31
practice of registered commercial interior design by giving written 32
notice to the director, and may within five years thereafter resume 33
active practice upon payment of the then-current renewal fee. A 34
registrant may be reinstated after a withdrawal of more than five 35
years under such circumstances as the board determines.36
(4) A registered commercial interior designer must demonstrate 37
professional development since the individual's last renewal or 38
initial registration, as the case may be. The board shall by rule 39
p. 11 HB 2721
describe professional development activities acceptable to the board 1
and the form of documentation of the activities required by the 2
board. The board may decline to renew a registration if the 3
registered commercial interior designer's professional development 4
activities do not meet the standards set by the board by rule. When 5
adopting rules under the authority of this subsection, the board 6
shall strive to ensure that the rules are consistent with the 7
continuing professional education requirements and systems in use by 8
national professional organizations representing registered 9
commercial interior designers and in use by other states.10
(i) Registered commercial interior designers shall, as part of 11
their license renewal, certify that they have completed the required 12
continuing professional development required by this section.13
(ii) The board may adopt reasonable exemptions from the 14
requirements of this section. 15
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. (1) The director shall issue a certificate 16
of registration to any applicant who has, to the satisfaction of the 17
board, met all the requirements for registration upon payment of the 18
registration fee as provided in this chapter. All certificates of 19
registration shall show the full name of the registrant, have the 20
registration number, and shall be signed by the chair of the board 21
and by the director. The issuance of a certificate of registration by 22
the director is prima facie evidence that the person named therein is 23
entitled to all the rights and privileges of a registered commercial 24
interior designer.25
(2) Each registrant shall obtain a seal of the design authorized 26
by the board bearing the registered commercial interior designer's 27
name, registration number, the title "registered commercial interior 28
designer," and the name of this state. All technical submissions 29
prepared by a registered commercial interior designer and filed with 30
public authorities must be sealed and signed by the registered 31
commercial interior designer. It is unlawful to seal and sign a 32
document after a registrant's certificate of registration or 33
authorization has expired, been revoked, or is suspended.34
(3)(a) A registered commercial interior designer may seal and 35
sign technical submissions under the following conditions:36
(i) Prepared by the registered commercial interior designer;37
(ii) Prepared by the registered commercial interior designer's 38
regularly employed subordinates; 39
p. 12 HB 2721
(iii) Prepared in part by an individual or firm under a direct 1
subcontract with the registered commercial interior designer; or2
(iv) Prepared in collaboration with a registered commercial 3
interior designer who is licensed in a jurisdiction recognized by the 4
board, provided there is a contractual agreement between the 5
registered commercial interior designers. 6
(b) A registered commercial interior designer who seals and signs 7
the technical submissions under this subsection (3) is responsible to 8
the same extent as if the technical submissions were prepared by the 9
registered commercial interior designer. 10
(4) Technical submissions filed with a public authority should 11
include a board prescribed scope of practice attestation form 12
affirming that the work is within the practice of registered 13
commercial interior design under this chapter. The board shall adopt 14
rules for the form's use and requirements for acceptance by 15
permitting authorities. 16
(5) A new certificate of registration or certificate of 17
authorization to replace any certificate lost, destroyed, or 18
mutilated may be issued by the director. A charge, determined as 19
provided in RCW 43.24.086, shall be made for such issuance.20
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. (1) Any business entity, including a sole 21
proprietorship, offering registered commercial interior design 22
services in Washington state must register with the board, regardless 23
of its business structure. A business entity shall file with the 24
board a list of individuals registered under this chapter as 25
responsible for the practice of registered commercial interior design 26
by the business entity in this state and provides that full authority 27
to make all final design decisions on behalf of the business entity 28
with respect to work performed by the business entity in this state. 29
Further, the person having the practice of registered commercial 30
interior design in their charge is themself a general partner (if a 31
partnership or limited liability partnership), a manager (if a 32
limited liability company), or a director (if a business corporation 33
or professional service corporation) and is registered to practice 34
registered commercial interior design in this state.35
(2) A business primarily engaged in, or representing itself as 36
primarily being engaged in, the sale or distribution of furniture, 37
fixtures, or equipment is not eligible for registration as a 38
registered commercial interior design firm. This does not prohibit 39
p. 13 HB 2721
collaboration with such businesses for client-directed procurement or 1
specification services, nor prevent an individual registered 2
commercial interior designer employed by such a business from 3
maintaining individual registration. 4
(3) The business entity shall furnish the board with such 5
information about its organization and activities as the board shall 6
require by rule. 7
(4) Upon filing with the board of the application for certificate 8
of authorization, the certified copy of the resolution, and the 9
information specified in subsection (1) of this section, the board 10
shall authorize the director to issue to the business entity a 11
certificate of authorization to practice registered commercial 12
interior design in this state. 13
(5) Any business entity practicing or offering to practice 14
registered commercial interior design, whether or not it is 15
authorized to practice registered commercial interior design under 16
this chapter, shall be jointly and severally responsible to the same 17
degree as an individual registered commercial interior designer and 18
shall conduct their business without misconduct or malpractice in the 19
practice of registered commercial interior design as defined in this 20
chapter. 21
(6) For each certificate of authorization issued under this 22
section there shall be paid a certification fee and an annual 23
certification renewal fee as prescribed by the director under RCW 24
43.24.086. 25
NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A registered commercial interior designer 26
shall maintain documentation of technical submissions for at least 27
five years and make records available to the director upon request. 28
Records must be adequate to demonstrate the registered commercial 29
interior designer's responsible control over the technical 30
submissions.31
NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. (1) Except as otherwise provided under 32
this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the 33
practice of registered commercial interior design or use the 34
designation "registered commercial interior designer" or any other 35
designation, words, or letters indicating registration as a 36
registered commercial interior designer, including abbreviations, or 37
hold themself out as a registered commercial interior designer unless 38
p. 14 HB 2721
duly registered as such by the board. This subsection does not 1
prohibit a person who is exempt, pursuant to this chapter, from 2
holding themselves out to the public or soliciting business as an 3
interior designer. 4
(2) A person may not knowingly: 5
(a) Use or attempt to use the registration of another registered 6
commercial interior designer; 7
(b) Use or attempt to use a registration that has been suspended, 8
revoked, or placed on inactive or delinquent status;9
(c) File or cause to be filed a false or misleading registered 10
commercial interior design scope of practice attestation form;11
(d) Obtain or attempt to obtain registration from the board by 12
fraud; 13
(e) Make any willfully false oath or affirmation to the board;14
(f) Accept or receive compensation, directly or indirectly, from 15
a source other than their client or employer for a project under the 16
registered commercial interior designer's engagement, if such 17
compensation could compromise or appear to compromise their 18
professional judgment or responsible control. 19
NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. (1) Any person who violates any provision 20
of this chapter or any rule promulgated under it is guilty of a 21
misdemeanor and may also be subject to a civil penalty in an amount 22
not to exceed $1,000 for each offense.23
(2) It shall be the duty of all officers in the state or any 24
political subdivision thereof to enforce this chapter. Any public 25
officer may initiate an action before the board to enforce the 26
provisions of this chapter. 27
(3) The board may apply for relief by injunction without bond to 28
restrain a person from committing any act that is prohibited by this 29
chapter. In such proceedings, it is not necessary to allege or prove 30
either that an adequate remedy at law does not exist or that 31
substantial irreparable damage would result from the continued 32
violation thereof. The members of the board shall not be personally 33
liable for their actions in any such proceeding or in any other 34
proceeding instituted by the board under this chapter. The board in 35
any proper case shall cause prosecution to be instituted in any 36
county or counties where any violation of this chapter occurs, and 37
shall aid the prosecution of the violator. 38
p. 15 HB 2721
(4) No person practicing registered commercial interior design is 1
entitled to maintain a proceeding in any court of this state relating 2
to services in the practice of registered commercial interior design 3
unless it is alleged and proved that the person was registered or 4
authorized under this chapter to practice or offer to practice 5
registered commercial interior design at the time the design services 6
were offered or provided. 7
NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. The board shall have the power to impose 8
any action listed in section 11 of this act upon the following 9
grounds:10
(1) Engaging in or committing any prohibited act as described in 11
section 10 of this act, including but not limited to acts that 12
compromise or appear to compromise professional judgment, 13
independence, or responsible control; 14
(2) Offering to pay, paying, or accepting, either directly or 15
indirectly, any substantial gift, bribe, or other consideration to 16
influence the award of professional work; 17
(3) Being willfully untruthful or deceptive in any professional 18
report, statement, or testimony; 19
(4) Having a financial interest in the bidding for or the 20
performance of a contract to supply labor or materials for or to 21
construct a project for which employed or retained as a registered 22
commercial interior designer except with the informed consent of the 23
client or employer after full disclosure; or allowing such interest 24
to influence professional judgment; 25
(5) Signing or permitting a seal to be affixed to any drawings or 26
specifications that were not prepared or reviewed by the registered 27
commercial interior designer or under the registered commercial 28
interior designer's personal supervision by persons subject to the 29
registered commercial interior designer's direction and control; or30
(6) Willfully evading or trying to evade any law, ordinance, 31
code, or regulation governing construction of buildings.32
NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. There is established in the state 33
treasury the registered commercial interior designer's license 34
account, into which all fees paid pursuant to this chapter shall be 35
deposited, except as provided in section 17 of this act.36
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NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. The board, through the director, shall 1
immediately suspend the certificate of licensure to practice 2
registered commercial interior design of a person who has been 3
certified under RCW 74.20A.320 by the department of social and health 4
services as a person who is not in compliance with a support order or 5
a residential or visitation order. If the person has continued to 6
meet other requirements for reinstatement during the suspension, 7
reissuance of the certificate shall be automatic upon the director's 8
receipt of a release issued by the department of social and health 9
services stating that the individual is in compliance with the order.10
NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. The uniform regulation of business and 11
professions act, chapter 18.235 RCW, governs unlicensed practice, the 12
issuance and denial of licenses, and the discipline of licensees 13
under this chapter.14
NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. An applicant with military training or 15
experience satisfies the training or experience requirements of this 16
chapter unless the board determines that the military training or 17
experience is not substantially equivalent to the standards of this 18
state.19
NEW SECTION. Sec. 17. (1) There is imposed a fee of $6.50 on 20
each certificate of registration, renewal of a certificate of 21
registration, certificate of authorization, and renewal of a 22
certificate of authorization, issued by the director under this 23
chapter. The director must collect this fee and must quarterly remit 24
moneys collected under this subsection to the state treasury.25
(2) The fee established by subsection (1) of this section is in 26
addition to other fees authorized by this chapter and prescribed by 27
the director under RCW 43.24.086. 28
(3) All moneys collected under subsection (1) of this section 29
must be deposited into the building code council account in the state 30
treasury. 31
Sec. 18. RCW 18.08.330 and 2010 c 129 s 3 are each amended to 32
read as follows: 33
There is ((created)) constituted a state board for architects and 34
registered commercial interior designers consisting of ((seven)) nine 35
members who shall be appointed by the governor. Six members shall be 36
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registered architects who are residents of the state and have at 1
least ((eight)) five years' experience in the practice of 2
architecture as registered architects in responsible charge of 3
architectural work or responsible charge of architectural teaching. 4
Two members shall be registered commercial interior designers who are 5
residents of the state and have at least eight years' experience in 6
responsible charge of the practice or teaching of registered 7
commercial interior design. For the initial appointments to the 8
board, a registered commercial interior designer may qualify with 9
equivalent professional experience in commercial interior design 10
prior to the establishment of the registration system, as determined 11
by the board.12
One member shall be a public member, who is not and has never 13
been a registered architect and who does not employ and is not 14
employed by or professionally or financially associated with an 15
architect. 16
The terms of each newly appointed member shall be six years.17
Every member of the board shall receive a certificate of 18
appointment from the governor. On the expiration of the term of each 19
member, the governor shall appoint a successor to serve for a term of 20
six years or until the next successor has been appointed.21
The governor may remove any member of the board for cause. 22
Vacancies in the board for any reason shall be filled by appointment 23
for the unexpired term. 24
The board shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary. The 25
secretary may delegate his or her authority to the executive 26
director. 27
Members of the board shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 28
43.03.240 and shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance 29
with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. 30
The board shall have oversight authority over both the practice 31
of architecture under chapter 18.08 RCW and the practice of 32
registered commercial interior design under chapter 18.--- RCW (the 33
new chapter created in section 20 of this act).34
Sec. 19. RCW 18.08.340 and 2010 c 129 s 4 are each amended to 35
read as follows: 36
(1) The board may adopt such rules under chapter 34.05 RCW as are 37
necessary for the proper performance of its duties under this 38
chapter. 39
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(2) The director shall employ an executive director subject to 1
approval by the board. 2
(3) The executive director shall have oversight authority over 3
the state board of architects and registered commercial interior 4
designers constituted under RCW 18.08.330.5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 20. Sections 1 through 17 of this act 6
constitute a new chapter in Title 18 RCW.7
--- END ---
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