NCARB 2013 Annual Report

 

 

Region 5

Report

Chair: Bayliss Ward, AIA, NCARB

Region 5 comprises Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Upcoming FY13 Officers: Director:Dave L. Hoffman, FAIA, NCARB
Kansas Member Board Member Chair:Bayliss Ward, AIA, NCARB
Montana Member Board Member Vice Chair:Frank W. Chitwood, AIA, NCARB Oklahoma Member Board Member Secretary/Treasurer:Vince Mancini, AIA, NCARB
Kansas Member Board MemberHighlights/Year-End Summary

All states in Region 5 were represented at this year’s regional meeting, which was held in Charleston, SC. The event was hosted by Region 3 and was a huge success. The NCARB BOD introduced a new structure on how future regional meetings are going to be conducted—ensuring meetings are more beneficial to all participants. This region looks forward to the new program structure.

 

 

 

 

STATE REPORTSKansasThe Kansas Board of Technical Professions has worked for two years to review and revise our entire licensing statute chapter. These revisions were presented to the 2013 legislature. There was major opposition from the Association of Counties and League of Municipalities for a new definition of “ethical marketing of professional services,” which requires that licensees do not respond to an RFP that requires a bid. That language has now been placed in a separate bill to be reintroduced in the 2014 session. In the interim we are working with the opposition to reach a compromise regarding the language. The remainder of the rewrite bill has hit opposition from several senators. A year ago we reported that we had eight of our members up for appointment/reappointment and were concerned that the governor’s office might replace them all. Fortunately, that did not happen. Five members were reappointed; one public member was not; and we have three new very active members (two engineers and one public member).MontanaThe Montana Board of Architects and Landscape Architects has been reviewing and amending several rules. Currently, the board has been working on changing their rules to require continuing education for architects. The board has been researching continuing education requirements in other states and reviewing suggestions from NCARB to formulate draft language. In addition, the board formed a subcommittee with the Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors to draft rules on “incidental practice” for each profession. The subcommittee met several times and has moved forward with draft language on incidental practice for each board to incorporate into their rules. The Montana Board is still exploring the ongoing issue with the definition of a “public building,” as well as when a set of drawings is required to be stamped by the state as per Montana statute. Finally, the board is closely watching the state’s new governor and the current legislature for any statutory changes affecting the board; the board will then will publicize any amendments.NebraskaThe Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects is currently modifying their statutes to simplify the provisions of Nebraska law related to the use of an architect’s or professional engineer’s electronic seal and signature. The process to change board rules and regulations began in spring/summer 2013 to accommodate this change, along with the move to computer-based testing of the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, which begins January 2014. In addition, the board’s Legislative Committee is currently drafting a complete rewrite of their statutes. In July 2012, the board lowered the reciprocal licensing fee from $200 to $150, and the board continues to look for opportunities to balance application fees with expenditures. For example, data are being gathered on authorized organizations to look at possible future reduction or realignment of certificate of authorization fees. One idea is a tiered fee structure based on the total number of licensees at each organization. Planning continues for a board-sponsored continuing education event focused on ethics in October/November 2013 as well as preparing to host the 2014 NCEES Central/Western Zone meeting in Lincoln.North DakotaOver the past fiscal year, the North Dakota State Board of Architecture and Landscape Architecture has:● Finalized the draft of administrative rules, the most significant of which is guidance for the use of electronic indicia. The newly approved rules will now begin the process of hearings, mark-ups, and adoption by the legislature’s administrative rules committee.● Reacted to the increase in inquiries about licensing as well as actual licenses. This is a result of the solid economy in the state. The approximate increase in licenses over the past biennium is 23 percent.● Followed bills in the ND legislature including temporary licensing of military spouses and a bill, which could have required the reporting of funded travel to meetings where Model Law is discussed. The second bill failed to pass.● The board thanked Richard Nester who has completed 12 years of service and is now enjoying retirement and lots of travel with his wife, Mary. The board welcomes James Devine from Bismarck, who has recently been appointed by the governor to a six-year term.OklahomaOklahoma Board of Architects, Landscape Architects & Registered Interior Designers:●  The state implemented the new Budget & Appropriation Committee on non-appropriated agencies. More oversight appears to be on the horizon in all phases of the agency. Sunset review is scheduled for 2014.●  The board is implementing procedures to issue temporary licenses for military personnel and their spouses. The main focus of the board is that it these procedures are implemented in such a way that the board does not incur liability.●  The board continues to hold continuing education events each spring and fall providing six hours of HSW credit. These events are free or of minimal charge. The fall 2012 event had close to 200 in attendanceSouth DakotaThe South Dakota Board of Technical Professions is reviewing its statutes and rules for additional changes that may be required with the upcoming transition of the Fundamentals of Engineering exam from paper-and-pencil to computer-based testing. Since our recent reorganization of the administrative rules occurred last year, the board does not anticipate any changes other than those necessary for the FE CBT exam at this time. As far as the architect profession, we adopted the 12 HSW per calendar year as an alternative option for meeting continuing education requirements and allowed ARE testing concurrent with the IDP. The board is also monitoring the current legislative session, with particular interest in two bills: one requiring expedited licensure for military spouses and the second requiring licensure boards to take into account a military members’ “experience and training.” While our rules already address the military experience portion, concerns have arisen over military training possibly equaling (in part or whole) an education standard, as an accredited degree is the minimal accepted standard for most of the six professions that we license.WyomingNo Report