On March 7, 2001, the Illinois Interior Designers Coalition (IIDC) agreed not to seek a practice act in Illinois for 10 years in return for architects' not opposing their title act.

The agreement involved sunset legislation before the Illinois General Assembly, which the assembly approved the same day as the IIDC agreement with the AIA Illinois chapter.

In addition, the interior-design group and Illinois General Assembly accepted the AIA Illinois chapter's amendment changing the title of their act from "Illinois Interior Designers Profession Act" to "Illinois Interior Designers Title Act," among other clarifications regarding title versus practice.

This agreement indicates that the Illinois interior designers understand that practice protection is not needed or warranted now. Further, IIDC's action gives credence to the need for a moratorium on additional interior design legislative efforts so that the AIA and national interior design organizations can address some of the current shortcomings in the interior design training system. Ongoing legislative conflicts divert energy and resources that could be better used to find a solution that satisfies the needs of architects and interior designers and better serves the public.

The IIDC submitted its agreement, in the form of a letter, to the Illinois House Registration and Regulation Committee Chair Skip Saviano. The committee accepted the amendment and, after noting the agreement, passed House Bill 921 unanimously.

The Illinois Department of Professional Regulation still opposes the bill on the grounds it is unneeded regulation. The lobbyist for the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) opposes the bill because their proposed amendment to the Residential Interior Designer section was not accepted, which would have allowed the NKBA certified kitchen designer and certified bathroom designer examinations to be accepted for registration.

This agreement will also cover the Illinois Senate Bill(s) introduced by IIDC. Senator Duane Noland, sponsor of the Senate version, called the AIA Board member representing Illinois, Larry Livergood, AIA, to express his appreciative of the agreement.

Copyright 2001 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.