HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1203

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                      Commerce & Labor

Title:  An act relating to landscape architects.

Brief Description:  Revising provisions for registration of landscape architects.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives R. King and Fuhrman; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, February 12, 1991, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fuhrman, Ranking Minority Member; Lisk, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Franklin; Jones; R. King; O'Brien; Prentice; Vance; and Wilson.

Staff:  Jim Kelley  (786-7166).

Background:  The composition of the Board of Registration for Landscape Architects is three landscape architects and two members from the general public.

Current law requires that applicants file applications for registration with the director, but is unclear regarding the collection of fees and does not provide for the timely submission of applications.

The law provides that the board is to prescribe the scope of the examination and the procedure.  Applicants who fail any subject areas of the test may retake those parts of the test.  However, if the applicant does not pass every part of the exam within five years, he or she must retake the entire exam.

The director may issue registration without examination to any applicant who is registered in another state that has substantially equivalent requirements as Washington and that extends reciprocity to applicants who are registered in Washington.

A license that is delinquent for more than one year may only be reinstated upon successful completion of the same examination required of applicants.

Summary of Bill:  Board composition is changed to four landscape architects and one member of the general public.

The director may set the necessary fees for applications, examinations, and reexaminations in rule.  A deadline is established for applications and examination fees.

The board is authorized to use a national examination.  A passing score on any section of the examination exempts the applicant from retaking that section of the examination for five years.

Applicants seeking reciprocal registration in Washington must be approved by the board as having met the minimum requirements for registration in Washington.

A license that is delinquent for more than one year may be reinstated, without reexamination, by paying all delinquent license fees and applicable penalties.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill makes technical changes that are important to the Department of Licensing.  Board members need to have expertise in the area so they can administer and grade examinations.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Marsha Tadano-Long and James Hanson, Department of Licensing.