STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 51st Legislature (2007)

SENATE BILL 60	By:	Ford

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to professions and occupations; amending Section 17, Chapter 163, O.S.L. 2006, as amended by Section 6, Chapter 193, O.S.L. 2006 and Section 29, Chapter 163, O.S.L. 2006 (59 O.S. Supp. 2006, Sections 46.21b and 46.40), which relate to the State Architectural and Interior Designers Act; modifying certain Code Use Group exempted from Act; changing certain requirement for registration that may be waived; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     Section 17, Chapter 163, O.S.L. 2006, as amended by Section 6, Chapter 193, O.S.L. 2006 (59 O.S. Supp. 2006, Section 46.21b), is amended to read as follows:
Section 46.21b  A.  An architect shall be required to plan, design and prepare plans and specifications for the following building types except where specifically exempt from the provisions of the State Architectural and Interior Designers Act.  All use groups in this section are defined by the 2003 International Building Code.
B.  The construction, addition or alteration of a building of any size or occupancy in the following Code Use Groups shall be subject to the provisions of the State Architectural and Interior Designers Act:
1.  Code Use Group I — Institutional;
2.  Code Use Group R-2 – Residential, limited to dormitories, fraternities and sororities, and monasteries and convents;
3.  Code Use Group A-1 – Assembly and theaters;
4.  Code Use Group A-4 – Assembly, arenas and courts;
5.  Code Use Group A-5 – Assembly, bleachers and grandstands; and
6.  Buildings for which the designated Code Use Group changes are not exempt from this act the State Architectural and Interior Designers Act.
C.  The following shall be exempt from the provisions of the State Architectural and Interior Designers Act; provided that, for the purposes of this subsection, a basement is not to be counted as a story for the purpose of counting stories of a building for height regulations:
1.  The construction, addition or alteration of a building no more than two stories in height and with a code–defined occupancy of no more than fifty (50) persons for the Code Use Groups A-2 and A-3 – Assembly and Code Use Group E - Education;
2.  The construction, addition or alteration of a building no more than two stories in height and no more than sixty-four transient lodging units per building for the Code Use Group R1 — Residential, including, but not limited to, hotels and motels;
3.  The construction, addition or alteration of a building no more than two stories in height and with a gross square footage not exceeding one hundred thousand (100,000) in the Code Use Group B – Business;
4.  The construction, addition or alteration of a building no more than two stories in height and with a gross square footage not exceeding two hundred thousand (200,000) in the Code Use Group M – Mercantile; and
5.  The construction, addition or alteration of a building no more than two stories in height in the following Code Use Groups or buildings:
a.	Code Use Group U — Utility,
b.	Code Use Group F – Factory and Industrial,
c.	Code Use Group H – High hazard,
d.	Code Use Group S – Storage,
e.	Code Use Group R2 — Residential, including apartments and dormitories containing no more than thirty-two dwelling units or thirty-two guest units per building,
f.	Code Use Groups R3 and R4 — Residential,
g.	all buildings used by a municipality, county, state, public trust, public agency or the federal government with a construction value under One Hundred Fifty-eight Thousand Dollars ($158,000.00),
h.	incidental buildings or appurtenances associated with paragraphs 1 through 5 of this subsection, and 
i.	all uninhabitable, privately owned agricultural buildings.
D.  The renovation or alteration of a building where the intended use is exempt as new construction shall be exempt from the provisions of this act the State Architectural and Interior Designers Act.
E.  Addition, renovation or alteration of buildings where the intended use is not exempt from the provisions of this act, but where the planned addition or alteration, as determined by the applicable building official, does not affect the primary structural, mechanical, or electrical systems, life-safety systems or exit passageways shall be exempt from the provisions of this act the State Architectural and Interior Designers Act.
SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     Section 29, Chapter 163, O.S.L. 2006 (59 O.S. Supp. 2006, Section 46.40), is amended to read as follows:
Section 46.40  A.  The Board of Governors of the Licensed Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers of Oklahoma may waive the educational and experience examination requirements of the State Architectural and Interior Designers Act for registration as an interior designer for persons with diversified and appropriate experience in the practice of interior design for a period of fifteen (15) years prior to July 1, 2007, if the person is not registered under this act the State Architectural and Interior Designers Act and not exempt from the requirement for registration in order to use the title “Interior Designer”.
B.  The State Architectural and Interior Designers Act shall not be construed to prohibit or interfere with the ability of a licensed architect to perform those activities that are associated with his or her practice as provided under the provisions of the act Architectural and Interior Designers Act, and therefore, a licensed architect is granted the use of the term interior design.
SECTION 3.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

51-1-177	LKS	1/31/2007 2:52:34 PM