Blueprint disappoints

Vienna Romesburg’s work as an interior designer for a Richmond-area firm has brought her jobs with such specialized clients as Rockingham Memorial Hospital and the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board.

But the Waynesboro woman and many of her Virginia interior design colleagues are anxious about Gov. Robert F. McDonnell’s plans to deregulate the profession of interior design.

Interior design is one of three professions that would be deregulated by the state under the government reorganization outlined by the governor this past week.

Romesburg and others say state certification is a requirement to get state and federal interior design jobs. They fear losing state and federal contracts.

Romesburg said her job would be in jeopardy if the Virginia General Assembly deregulates interior design.

Currently, interior designers are regulated by the same Virginia agency as architects, engineers and surveyors, the state Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.

Designers pay annual dues to the department.

Jeff Caldwell, McDonnell’s press secretary, said only 27 U.S. states have some kind of regulation of interior designers.

He said Virginia interior designers could still receive a certificate of interior design from the National Council for Interior Design Qualification and be eligible for federal contracts.

“By proposing the deregulation of interior designers in Virginia, we are not removing the opportunity to qualify for federal projects,’’ Caldwell said.

Chris Good, an interior designer and associate principal with the same business as Romesburg, KSA Interiors of Glen Allen, disputes this assertion by Caldwell.

He said the National Council for Interior Design Qualification is not recognized as a regulatory body. He said the council administers an exam of competency for interior designers, but does not regulate them.

And Good said when he has done work in states where there is no regulation over interior designers, he has been required to hire an architect to work with him.

Good said certification broadens the opportunities for interior designers to submit drawings for permits to do work on commercial and government projects more ambitious than private residential ones.

 Romesburg has written Del. Steve Landes, R-Weyers Cave, to ask for his help in stopping the deregulation of interior design in Virginia.

Landes was prepared for resistance when McDonnell’s reform proposals were unveiled last week.

The delegate said he anticipated lobbying and turf battles about the changes.

Landes anticipates much debate about the changes when the General Assembly convenes next month.

The changes include eliminating two state agencies and 19 boards and commissions, and merging seven agencies and 23 boards and commissions into others as well as deregulating interior design, mold inspectors and remediators and hair braiding.

The proposals came from McDonnell’s commission on government reform and restructuring.

Landes said the announcement about changes by the McDonnell administration was only the start. The General Assembly must act.

As for deregulating interior design, Landes said, “we will hear the pros and cons of doing away with that certification.”

And there may be room for compromise, he said.

“There may be a way to do what the governor wants and not interfere with the livelihood of folks,’’ Landes said.

Landes said McDonnell’s reform proposals would involve numerous pieces of legislation, not just one large bill.

But he anticipates the changes will get the full attention of the General Assembly.

“If the legislation is proposed by the administration those bills are heard out of common courtesy,’’ he said.

Romesburg said beyond losing work, she fears that the deregulating of interior design in Virginia would stifle the independence and creativity of the profession.

“If this is passed we will be under the purview of architects,’’ she said.