Florida Interior Designers Want Changes to Restrictive Law
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Updated: 8:31 PM May 27, 2009
Florida Interior Designers Want Changes to Restrictive Law
Florida interior designers are taking a stand, asking lawmakers to make some changes in what they call over-regulation.
Posted: 7:17 PM May 27, 2009
Reporter: Tara Herrschaft
Email Address: tara.herrschaft@wctv.tv
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Several interior designers, the Institute for Justice, and many other organizations spoke out at the capitol Wednesday, May 28th.

The group has filed a civil rights lawsuit seeking "the Plantiffs' right to earn an honest living and communicate truthfully about interior design services they lawfully perform in Florida."

"It's absolutely riddled with constitutional problems that prevent people from earning a living in the occupation of their choice and we're going to get rid of that law by challenging in court," said Clark Neily, the Institute for Justice attorney.

"If people want to get licensed, more power to them. But I don't think the government should be involved. It should be a private thing, handled by a private agency," said Pat Levenson, an interior design graduate.

Neily explained that Florida's law is by far the most restrictive and aggressively enforced and that only three states in the country even regulate the practice of interior design.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Alabama Location: Guess on Sep 7, 2009 at 06:58 PM

Licensing interior designers makes as much sense as licensing the person that mows your lawn or cleans your toilets. It might even make more sense to license them in lieu of the designers! If your truly concerned about protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public within the context of the built environment, there is a licensed category to do it, it's called architecture. If you want to practice architecture, get an Architect's license. Why should the public settle for someone less?
Posted by: Steve Location: Delray Beach, Fl on Jun 2, 2009 at 07:29 PM

The interior design of any built-environment significantly affects the health, safety and welfare of the public. The public benefits from knowing that the individuals they entrust with the design of their interior spaces are qualified. • Legal recognition (Chapter 481, Part 1, Florida Statutes) establishes standards of minimum competency, including design education, experience and examination, which are enforceable (ss. 481.201; 481.209; ch 61G1-20; ch 61G1-22). • Interior designers improve the health, safety and welfare of the public in the spaces they design. Legal definition and recognition ensures that only qualified individuals design interior spaces or represent themselves to the public as interior designers. “Registered interior designer” or “Interior designer” means a natural person who is licensed under this part (ss. 481.203(9) ). • By providing a legal definition of the scope of interior design practice (ss. 481.203(8) ), legislation helps consumers differentiate
Posted by: gus Location: tally on Jun 2, 2009 at 04:47 PM

Any reason for a bunch of idiots to complain instead of getting licenced as required by law. Clueless people complaining...I think there should be some NAACP for them too, we can call if NAACP'D...National Organization of Always Complaining People and Designers!
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