Legislation

Accomplishing this mission takes the GAC in many different areas. Each year the Legislative Subcommittee tracks individual bills as they are introduced and then taken through the legislative process, reporting to the GAC. The GAC then brings developing issues to the AIA Colorado board of directors to define an official position. On key issues, the GAC may testify at legislative hearings. The committee also works with our lobbyist to develop relationships with legislators, to encourage AIA Colorado members to become involved with legislators in their own districts, and to identify and work with those in the state House and Senate who support our positions on key issues.

Legislative Update: AIA Colorado Board Voted to Oppose SB 12-120

The AIA Colorado board of directors voted to oppose Senate Bill 12-120.

SB 12-120 was an unnecessary bill that:
- Benefited only a very small number of interior design practitioners
- Did not benefit the public welfare
- Neglected standard state regulatory procedures, responsibility and oversight
- Propagated poorly worded regulatory language into two new sections of unrelated Titles 30 and 31 of the Colorado Revised S
- Mandated local building officials’ actions without regard to their discretion and judgment.

Contrary to what was declared in the bill, there is NO existing statutory authorization for interior designers. Language similar to SB 12-120 is currently found in Title 12 as an EXEMPTION within the architect’s licensing law. Such an exemption simply defines project types that can be undertaken by individuals who are not architects without that individual being considered as practicing architecture without a license. This Exemption is NOT a permitting statute, is NOT recognized in established building codes, and does NOT mandate action by any local government officials.
Furthermore, additional language within this bill ("Upon submission of any such interior design construction documents and specifications, the county (municipal) building authority shall accept the same”) represents a distinct change to current legislation that adversely affects the health, safety and welfare of the public. As such, this bill is NOT simply a relocation of language within statute as represented by the proponents of this bill, but a circumvention of regulatory processes and procedures.

Senate Bill 12-120 was heard by the Local Government Committee on Wednesday, April 18, and was defeated by a vote of 8-3. The bill has been "postponed indefinitely."

Legislative Update: AIA Colorado Opposed Three Ballot Measures

The AIA Colorado board of directors voted to oppose three ballot measures on the Nov. 2, 2010, ballot that they felt could be potentially devastating to Colorado architects and the public. Proposition 101 and Amendment 60 would have eliminated funding to school districts, and cut revenue for Colorado cities and the state, potentially reducing investment in the built environment. Amendment 61 would have severely restricted or prohibited government borrowing, therefore eliminating Colorado’s ability to build or expand any of its capital infrastructure. For more information on Proposition 101, Amendment 60 and Amendment 61, click here. All three measures failed.

Legislative Update: HB 10-1148 Signed by Gov. Bill Ritter

Gov. Bill Ritter signed House Bill 10-1148, which repealed continuing professional competency requirements for an architect to maintain his or her license to practice architecture in the state of Colorado. Before the repeal, the provisions suggested that architects were not competent unless they could prove otherwise as a condition of renewal when, in fact, all licensed architects are already considered competent based on education, experience and examination. Furthermore, continuing competency would have called into question an architect’s ability to get liability insurance. House Bill 10-1148 was sponsored by Rep. Cheri Gerou, FAIA, and Sen. Abel Tapia. The bill passed through the Colorado House of Representatives and Senate without any opposition.

Legislative Update: AIA Colorado Board Voted to Support HB 10-1331

The AIA Colorado board of directors voted to support House Bill 10-1331. The bill would have created a green building incentive pilot program. Specifically, the bill directed the Governor's Energy Office (GEO) to create a pilot incentive program for home buyers to make improvements to increase energy efficiency to a primary home. The pilot program was intended to be for both new construction and retrofitting of existing homes. The bill also stated that the funds for this program were to be from federal funds that GEO has received already, but has not yet allocated. For more information about this bill, click here.

Legislative Update: AIA Colorado Board Voted to Support HB 10-1181

The AIA Colorado board of directors voted to support House Bill 10-1181. The bill dealt with matters relating to the administration of state government entities andd professional services solicitation. Specifically, the bill would have raised the solicitation limits for professional services, including architectural services, for state agencies up to $100,000, to be in alignment with the limits for institutions of higher education. Since this legislation was originally enacted in 1998 as part of Qualifications-Based Selection, the solicitation limits have always been the same for state agencies and institutions of higher education. This bill would once again allow that to happen, so that there would not be two different selection processes for the state. For more information about HB 10-1181, click here.

Legislative Update: AIA Colorado Voted to Oppose HB 10-1192

In late January 2010, AIA Colorado voted to oppose HB 10-1192 because it modifies state regulations to allow software renewals and upgrades of 12 months or less to be defined as personal property and therefore taxable as such. The board feels that this would cause further hardship to architecture firms. Unfortunately, because of the state budget crisis, the bill was signed into law in late February. For more information, click here.

Legislative Update: Senate Bill 08-029

Gov. Bill Ritter signed Senate Bill 08-029: "Concerning a Requirement That an Architect Obtain Continuing Education Prior to the Renewal of the License to Practice Architecture in Colorado, and Making an Appropriation in Connection Therewith." This act requires that architects demonstrate completion of continuing education (CE) as a condition for renewal of a license to practice architecture in the state of Colorado. The enactment of this bill is the culmination of the efforts of AIA Colorado over the past three years to get the state to be on par with the other 38 states with similar requirements, including six of the seven states that surround Colorado. For more information, click here.

AIA Colorado worked with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) during the rule-making process, which was completed by Dec. 31, 2008, to implement this act.