02.12.20

Advocacy Monthly In a Nutshell

As we continue our efforts to elevate interior design as a profession and seek legal licensure to accommodate our working needs, January was an important table-setting month for the rest of the year. IIDA has confirmed we will pursue legislation in 2020 and has submitted unbacked bill language which will be the vehicle for the IIDA study bill.

Calendar To Date

• Legislature reconvened from winter break – January 6
• Governor Newsom released January Budget Proposal – January 10
• CCIDC Board Meeting – January 18
• Southern CA Board Retreat – January 25
• CCIDC/AIA/CAB/IIDA Meeting – January 30
• Northern CA Retreat – January 31

Advocacy

2020 is the second year of a two-year legislative session. During January, legislators work with constituents and stakeholders to begin considering what their legislative package will look like for the year. After confirmation in mid-January that IIDA would pursue legislation, Christina engaged with the legislature to feel out who our allies would be. A draft fact sheet was started, that explains the problem our bill seeks to solve.

Building off of the grassroots work that was conducted in early 2019, Christina reached out to the office of Assemblymember David Chiu (D – San Francisco) to gauge his interest in carrying our bill. As of the end of January, he had not yet committed to be the author, but, he did submit unbacked intent language (meaning we have a vehicle for our bill). The bill introduction is February 21, so Christina will continue to work to secure an official author. The work ahead will include:

• Continuing the conversation with Senator Hertzberg (D – Los Angeles), who offered to be helpful
• Reaching out to Assemblymember Friedman (D – Glendale who has previously expressed interest in working with us
• Reaching out to Senator Jackson (D – Santa Barbara), who is a champion for gender equity issues and would be a good champion for our argument that the current regulatory structure has an undue burden on small, mostly women-owned businesses.

Ongoing Items of Interest

Split Role Tax Measure: The Schools and Communities First campaign is currently collecting signatures to qualify their tax measure, which would change the way commercial property is assessed and taxed. Residential properties will not be impacted. Commercial properties will be taxed every three years, at a minimum, and would be assessed at market value for property tax purposes.

As of the end of January, they had reached the 25% signature point – it’s more than likely this measure will qualify and be on the November presidential ballot. If the measure passes, the design community could be impacted – both clients and practitioners. Proceeds from the tax increases would be distributed to K-14 schools (about 40%) and local government (about 60%).

CCIDC Sunset Review: CCIDC is working on garnering support for their proposed scope changes, which it seems they hope to incorporate into the Business and Professions Code in their 2021 Sunset Review. Their language proposal is currently being reviewed by stakeholders, including AIA.