FLASLA 2015 Week 5 Legislative Report

Landscape Architecture Month

SB 452 by Senator Flores is the FLASLA resolution declaring April Landscape Architecture Month. It was published on April 1, so it is official – April has been declared Landscape Architecture Month.

Public Private Partnerships

SB 842 by Senator Evers was amended in committee this week to include landscape architects in the CCNA portion of the bill. SB 842 has one committee remaining. HB 63 by Representative Steube will be amended with identical language in its next committee. HB 63 has two committees remaining.

CCNA

The American Water Works Association would like to raise the CCNA caps for continuing contracts from $2 million to $5 million for construction projects and from $250,000 to $500,000 for studies. The architects and engineers would prefer not to open up the CCNA without getting the consensus of all affected stakeholders first. The geologists would also like to open up the CCNA to add themselves to it. This has also drawn concern from others, not because of the substance, but because of the sensitive nature of the CCNA. The GAC discussed this on our last call. It appears that we can monitor both items for now because there are no immediate plans for amendments on either issue. But we may need to take it up again before the end of session if this situation changes.

Other Legislation

Hazardous Walking Conditions

HB 41 by Representative Metz; SB 154 by Senator Hays

These bills require school boards and other governmental entities to cooperate to identify and correct hazardous walking conditions on roads that children use to walk to schools. HB 41 passed its last committee this week. SB 154 is in its last committee.

Public Records

HB 163 by Representative Beshears; SB 224 by Senator Simpson

These bills are intended to prevent the abuse of public records law. Following a law change two years ago, some attorneys have brought multiple public records requests before private companies in order to catch them in public records violations and settle the cases. One law firm was even requiring quotas of its employees and an investigation is ongoing. Some landscape architecture firms have received such public records requests. These bills clarify the point of contact for public records requests and will contain conditions that must be met before attorney’s fees can be awarded. HB 163 is in its last committee. SB 224 passed the Senate this week.

Engineers

HB 217 by Representative Van Zant; SB 338 by Senator Altman

These bills create a structural engineer designation. They do not appear to be problematic to landscape architects but will be watched closely. HB 217 passed the House this week. SB 338 passed its second of three committees this week.

2015 Session Dates

May 1, 2015 Last Day of Legislative Session

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