Hackettstown, NJ — The National Kitchen & Bath Association is urging members to write to the New York State Governor’s Office in an effort to get Gov. David Paterson to reject a proposed change to the New York title act that would prevent anyone from using the term “interior designer” unless licensed by New York state.

Acting in response to members’ requests for assistance, the NKBA said last month that it has established a procedure for either New York residents or out-of-state designers to access the association’s legislative page and write to Gov. Paterson, who has yet to sign the legislation into law. Similar bills were previously vetoed twice by former Gov. George Pataki.

The proposed legislation, S 3659, recently approved by the New York State Senate, amends the state’s existing interior designer title act to restrict the use of the title “interior designer” to only those who have (a) at least seven years of professional training consisting of academic study and work experience relating to interior design (with two to five years of post secondary education in an approved program of interior design); and (b) passed an examination satisfactory to the Board (the NCIDQ exam) and a separate examination relative to the fire, safety and building codes of the state.

“While this is ‘only’ a title act, it’s a step toward licensing the practice of design, which will [impede] our members’ work,” said NKBA officials, advising members send a letter to Gov. Paterson “and urge him to reject this effort by a few designers to degrade the vast majority of the design community and limit their competition.”

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