Tag: Regulations

The Impact of Regulatory Agencies on the Practice of Architecture

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in: From the AIACC / 0 Comments

Often times the term “Regulations”, makes people cringe. But in the practice of architecture, regulations play a critical role ensuring the public’s health, safety and welfare. The efforts of the AIACC Regulatory Affairs programs are essential to the profession of architecture, not only in providing members with a voice, but also enabling them to be a participant in how regulations impact the profession. In order to strengthen member’s participation, a newly formed State Agency Liaison Committee (SALC) has been developed with the goal of monitoring and maintaining direct AIACC member contact with California State Agencies that have a direct impact on the practice of architecture. The new SALC team will bring forward the proposed slate of Agencies each year for review and approval by the AIACC Executive Committee. Four annual meetings are proposed to be conducted via conference calls with specific topics to be discussed on each meeting agenda. This newly formed team includes 15 AIACC members who are assigned to maintain contact and build relationships with specific agencies and work with the VP of Regulation and Practice to establish these bridges. Paul Schroeder, AIA, Vice President of Regulation and Practice, is looking forward to the impactful results this new structure will provide for the AIACC, as well as the profession at large. He has been active in AIACC leadership for several years, and has worked diligently to organize this new liaison team.

Schroeder states the liaisons will work with AIACC staff and the individual agencies in tackling specific issues related to each organization. Agencies like the California Architects’ Board, (CAB). Efforts will work toward improving the enforcement of unlicensed practice, and address possible changes to the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), as well as improve the profession’s knowledge and understanding of disability access regulations through continuing education. Efforts to address the Academy of Emerging Professionals and Intern Development Program issues will continue as well.

In addition to working with CAB, the identified individual liaisons will work with many other agencies such as Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), in analyzing the California healthcare infrastructure and in facilitating development of sustained capacity for communities to address local healthcare issues. The AIACC will participate in program activities and policy decisions affecting healthcare facilities, and work with OSHPD to identify issues of concern, and address the identified issues with the Capitol Forum Healthcare Group.

SALC will also work with the Division of State Architect (DSA) in providing oversight for K-12 schools, community colleges and various other state-owned facilities, becoming more involved in issues of significance to the profession such as building codes, access compliance, plan review, education, and much more, as well as reviewing CASp programs to ensure they are performing as it was intended to, and places no additional burden on the profession. Also, in working with the Department of General Services (DGS), the SALC team will identify issues of concern and foster constructive discussion on issues of mutual interest such as sustainability, procurement, and contract language.

In addition, The Office of Emergency Services (OES) relationship will now be enhanced by the implementation of the SALC team in maintaining communication to better provide members education and training assistance, improving architect’s ability to effectively respond to disasters as they occur. The California Department of Water Resources liaison will review the carrying out of the work of the FloodSafe California programs, partnering with local, regional, and state offices in creating sustainable integrated flood management and emergency response systems throughout California.

This is just a partial list of some of the agencies the SALC team will be working with. For a complete list of agencies, please contact Kurt Cooknick, Director Regulation and Practice at AIACC.

Many other goals exist for the Regulation and Practice programs as well. Not only for those with the new SALC group, but also in working with the DSA the next 13 months in helping to restructure the division, as well as to put forth a viable candidate for appointment as the next State Architect. Schroeder states, “We will also continue our efforts in working toward unifying the sustainability codes; International Green Codes; CalGreen Codes; and develop local chapter workshops with the needed information AIACC members need.”

 

Regulated to Death

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in: Practice Issues / 3 Comments

By Kurt Cooknick - It’s no secret – nor is there any attempt to make it one – that California businesses are the most regulated, or over regulated, (depending on how you look at it), in the country. In fact, many businesses have been over regulated to the point they have chosen to leave the state to move to business friendly climates, while others have had no choice but to go out of business – effectively, regulated to death.

According to business relocation specialist Joseph Vranich, between January 1 and July 20, 2010 there were “85 known disinvestment events” (occurrences of businesses leaving California) in response to California’s over regulation. What is not known, nor can it ever be quantified, is how many businesses will never come to California because of its over regulation, furthering the state’s economic malaise.

This is a problem for the profession of architecture, not only because it too is caught in the regulation web, but also because any loss of business for California is also a loss of business for California architects.

This over regulation has caught the attention of California’s Little Hoover Commission, which is now in the process of studying the state’s regulatory processes. The Little Hoover Commission is an independent state oversight agency comprised of a balanced bipartisan board of 13 members (five public members appointed by the Governor, four public members appointed by the Legislature, two Senators and two Assembly members). The Commission’s mission is to investigate state government operations and – through reports, makes recommendations and legislative proposals – promotes efficiency, economy and improved service.

In this instance, the goal of the Commission’s study is to improve clarity and accountability, in the way the state develops regulations and assesses their impacts and outcomes. Once this is accomplished, the Commission will then work to implement its recommendations either through legislation or administrative changes. That’s an ambitious undertaking when one considers that the main source of new regulations is California’s own legislature, which is responsible for pumping out no less than 2000, and sometimes as many as 3000, legislative bills per year.

Architects are business men and women who happen to be in the business of architecture. Onerous regulations affect them just as they do any other business, and The AIACC will make sure that the Little Hoover Commission understands that.

By Kurt Cooknick, Assoc. AIA