LICENSURE OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS H.B. 5025 (H-2) & 5026 (H-2):
FLOOR SUMMARY
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House Bill 5025 (Substitute H-2 as reported without amendment)
House Bill 5026 (Substitute H-2 as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Marie Donigan
House Committee: Commerce
Senate Committee: Economic Development and Regulatory Reform
CONTENT
House Bill 5025 (H-2) would amend Article 22 (Landscape Architects) of the Occupational Code to do all of the following:
-- Require licensure, rather than registration, for a person to engage in the practice of landscape architecture.
-- Allow an unlicensed person to perform or offer services as a landscape designer, landscape gardener, landscape contractor, or landscape nursery operator as long as he or she did not use the term "landscape architect".
-- Require the Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) to appoint one or more ad hoc committees to assist in adopting rules setting standards for continuing education and continuing competency courses and programs, providing for exceptions to the licensing standards in extraordinary cases, and establishing specific license sanction recommendations for certain violations.
-- Require a demonstration of continuing professional competence for license renewal.
-- Allow DLEG to issue a landscape architecture license without examination to an applicant who was legally registered, licensed, or regulated in another state or country whose requirements were at least substantially equivalent to Michigan's requirements.
House Bill 5026 (H-2) would amend the State License Fee Act to increase the application fee for landscape architects from $35 (or $30 after September 20, 2012) to $200, and require a $60 annual license fee rather than a $40 annual registration fee.
The bills are tie-barred and would take effect 120 days after their enactment.
MCL 339.2201-2211 (H.B. 5025) Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
338.2215 (H.B. 5026)
FISCAL IMPACT
It is estimated that the proposed fee changes would increase the revenue to the Department from application fees by approximately $34,000 over the two-year licensing period if there are 200 new applicants during that time. Revenue from the increased renewal fee is estimated at $24,700 every two years. Fee revenue is used for the operational costs of DLEG. The Department would experience some increases in responsibilities, including the development and administration of continuing education requirements for landscape architects, but these are expected to impose few additional costs, which could be covered by the additional revenue authorized by the bills.
Date Completed: 12-3-08 Fiscal Analyst: Elizabeth Pratt/Maria Tyszkiewicz
floor\hb5025 Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb5025&5026/0708