For the past 18 months, Senate Bill 1132, the bill that would allow those working on their architecture license to use the interim title “Architect-in-Training,” was at the forefront and a primary objective on the AIACC list of advocacy projects to pursue.
Here’s a quick map of the progress SB 1132 made in 2016:
Passed the First Hearing
Bill Advances.
Bill passes State Assembly
And then approved by State Legislature
However, the AIACC received the veto message from Gov. Brown on Sept. 25. In two succinct yet articulate paragraphs, the Governor declined to sign it. Click here to read the actual message, the letter that sits on the desk of our Director of Regulatory Affairs and Director of Legislative Affairs. He basically stated the word architect should be reserved for those who are licensed.
We had hoped, of course, that we would be able to convince him to sign the bill. In addition to the petition signed by 270 Assoc. AIA Members supporting SB 1132, we delivered a letter signed by some principals of firms from the Oakland area, that the Governor would recognize, and Kurt was able to secure a fantastic letter from Barry Wasserman, FAIA, who was Gov. Brown’s State Architect in the late 70s and early 80s.
But, as Director of Legislative Affairs, Mark Christian, was informed by the AIACC contract lobbyist a few weeks ago, this governor has a history of not supporting new “licensing laws” (yes, this bill was not a new licensing law, but it dealt with a licensing law).
It’s been a long haul and arduous fight. Our members called and we rose to the occasion. We will continue to do our best to protect the interests of the architects and the profession. Perhaps this will be on trial again in 2019.
