HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1643

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Commerce & Labor

Title:  An act relating to landscape architects.

Brief Description:  Modifying licensure requirements for landscape architects.

Sponsors:  Representatives King, Veloria, Heavey, Reams and Jacobsen; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, February 19, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; G. Cole, Vice Chair; Lisk, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Conway; Horn; King; Springer; and Veloria.

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.

Applicants must file applications for registration with the director, including the submission of five professional references.  The law 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, reexaminations, renewals, and penalties by rule.  An applicant must supply three professional references.  The director may establish a deadline 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 recommended by the board as having met the minimum requirements for registration in Washington.

A license that is delinquent for more than five years may be reinstated under the circumstances as the board determines.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The board needs more expertise because the board members are required to grade many examinations.  The bill also clarifies some confusion in the industry regarding the law.  The provision easing reciprocity is extremely important.  This bill opens up the licensing requirements to more people.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Jim Hanson, Department of Licensing; Don Shimono, Board of Registration for Landscape Architects; G. Joan Lawson, C.L.A.R.B.; Len Zickler and Robert Shimbo, American Society of Landscape Architects; and Bill Talley, Holly Godard, and Mark Hafs, Campus Landscape Architects, University of Washington (all in favor).