Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Alaska State Legislature, fetched 2026-08-28. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official page appears here in brackets. This is the enrolled version. The official bill page.
Enrolled SB 54 Relating to registered interior designers and interior design; relating to project costs for the construction, enlargement, or improvement of airports; extending the termination date of the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; relating to the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors; establishing requirements for the practice of registered interior design; relating to the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture, and registered interior design; relating to the scope of the certification requirements for architects, engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects, and registered interior designers; relating to immunity for design professionals; relating to the cost of construction for recreation centers; relating to liens for labor or materials furnished; relating to the procurement of landscape architectural and interior design services; relating to the cost of construction of safe water and hygienic sewage disposal facilities in villages; and providing for an effective date. _______________ * Section 1. AS 02.15.155 is amended to read: Sec. 02.15.155. Project costs defined. In AS 02.15.120 - 02.15.155, "project costs" includes, in addition to costs directly related to the project, the sum total of all costs of financing and carrying out the project, including [, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,] the costs of all necessary studies, surveys, plans and specifications, architectural, engineering, land surveying, landscape architectural, registered interior design, or other special services, acquisition of real property, site preparation and development, purchase, construction, reconstruction and improvement of real property, and the acquisition of machinery and equipment as may be necessary in connection with the project; an allocable portion of the administrative and operating expenses of the grantee; the cost of financing the project, including interest on bonds issued to finance the project; and the cost of other items, including any indemnity and surety bonds and premiums on insurance, legal fees, fees and expenses of trustees, depositaries, financial advisors, and paying agents for the bonds issued as the issuer considers necessary. * Sec. 2. AS 08.03.010(c)(3) is amended to read: (3) State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AS 08.48.011) - June 30, 2033 [2025]; * Sec. 3. AS 08.48.011(b) is amended to read: (b) The board consists of 13 [11] members appointed by the governor having the qualifications as set out in AS 08.48.031. The board consists of (1) two civil engineers; (2) [,] two land surveyors; (3) [,] one mining, petroleum, or chemical engineer; (4) [,] one electrical engineer; (5) one [OR] mechanical engineer; (6) [,] one engineer from another branch of the profession of engineering; (7) [,] two architects; (8) one interior designer; (9) [,] one landscape architect; [,] and (10) one public member. * Sec. 4. AS 08.48.011(b), as amended by sec. 3 of this Act, is amended to read: (b) The board consists of 13 members appointed by the governor having the qualifications as set out in AS 08.48.031. The board consists of (1) two civil engineers; (2) two land surveyors; (3) one mining, petroleum, or chemical engineer; (4) one electrical engineer; (5) one mechanical engineer; (6) one engineer from another branch of the profession of engineering; (7) two architects; (8) one registered interior designer; (9) one landscape architect; and (10) one public member. * Sec. 5. AS 08.48.055(b) is amended to read: (b) The executive administrator of the board shall perform duties as prescribed by the board, including the review and approval of comity applications. The executive administrator is entitled to receive a monthly salary equal to a step in Range 23 on the salary schedule set out in AS 39.27.011(a). * Sec. 6. AS 08.48.071(f) is amended to read: (f) The department shall assemble statistics relating to the performance of its staff and the performance of the board, including (1) the number of architects, engineers, land surveyors, [AND] landscape architects, and registered interior designers registered over a five-year period; (2) the rate of passage of examinations required by the board; (3) the number of applicants for registration over a five-year period; (4) an account of registration fees collected under AS 08.01.065; (5) a measure of the correspondence workload of staff. * Sec. 7. AS 08.48.101 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: (c) The board shall adopt regulations establishing (1) a definition of "interior design" for the purposes of this chapter; a person may practice interior design without registration as a registered interior designer while not using the title "registered interior designer"; and (2) the type of documents that a registered interior designer is authorized to sign and stamp with an official seal under AS 08.48.221 for the purpose of obtaining requisite permits for construction projects. * Sec. 8. AS 08.48.111 is amended to read: Sec. 08.48.111. Power to revoke, suspend, or reissue certificate. The board may suspend, refuse to renew, or revoke the certificate of or reprimand a registrant, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership who is found guilty of [(1)] fraud or deceit in obtaining a certificate; [(2)] gross negligence, incompetence, or misconduct in the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architecture, or registered interior design; or [(3)] a violation of this chapter, a regulation adopted under this chapter, or the code of ethics or professional conduct as adopted by the board. [THE CODE OF ETHICS OR PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED IN WRITING TO EVERY REGISTRANT AND APPLICANT FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THIS CHAPTER. THIS PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE CODE OF ETHICS OR PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT CONSTITUTES DUE NOTICE TO ALL REGISTRANTS.] The board may revise and amend its code and, upon doing so, shall immediately notify each registrant in writing of the revisions or amendments. The board may, upon petition of the registrant, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership, reissue a certificate if a majority of the members of the board vote in favor of the reissuance. * Sec. 9. AS 08.48.171 is amended to read: Sec. 08.48.171. General requirements and qualifications for registration. An applicant for registration as an architect, engineer, land surveyor, [OR] landscape architect, or registered interior designer must be of good character and reputation and shall submit evidence satisfactory to the board of the applicant's education, training, and experience. * Sec. 10. AS 08.48.181 is amended to read: Sec. 08.48.181. Registration upon examination. Except as provided in AS 08.48.191, for registration as a professional architect, professional engineer, professional land surveyor, [OR] professional landscape architect, or registered interior designer, a person shall be examined in this state in accordance with the regulations of procedure and standards adopted by the board under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act). The procedure and standards shall at least meet the requirements adopted by recognized national examining councils for these professions. * Sec. 11. AS 08.48.191 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: (e) A person holding a certificate of registration authorizing the person to practice registered interior design in a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a foreign country that, in the opinion of the board, meets the requirements of this chapter, based on verified evidence, may, upon application, be registered in accordance with the regulations of the board. * Sec. 12. AS 08.48.201(a) is amended to read: (a) Application for registration as a professional architect, a professional engineer, a professional land surveyor, [OR] a professional landscape architect, or a registered interior designer shall be submitted in the manner prescribed by the board. * Sec. 13. AS 08.48.211(b) is amended to read: (b) The certificate of registration is prima facie evidence that the person named in it is entitled to all rights and privileges of a professional architect, professional engineer, professional land surveyor, [OR] professional landscape architect, or registered interior designer while the certificate remains unrevoked or unexpired. * Sec. 14. AS 08.48.215(a) is amended to read: (a) On retiring from practice and payment of an appropriate one-time fee, an individual who is registered as a professional architect, engineer, land surveyor, or landscape architect and [A REGISTRANT] in good standing with the board may apply for the conversion of a certificate of registration to a retired status registration. The registrant may not practice architecture, engineering, land surveying, or landscape architecture in the state. A retired status registration is valid for the life of the registration holder and does not require renewal. * Sec. 15. AS 08.48 is amended by adding a new section to read: Sec. 08.48.218. Untitled practice of interior design. This chapter does not prohibit the practice of interior design by a person who is not registered as a registered interior designer if the person does not use the title "registered interior designer." * Sec. 16. AS 08.48.221(a) is amended to read: (a) Each registrant may obtain a seal of the design authorized by the board, bearing the registrant's name, registration number, and the appropriate legend for architect, engineer, land surveyor, [OR] landscape architect, or registered interior designer. When a registrant issues final drawings, specifications, surveys, plats, plates, reports, or similar documents, the registrant shall stamp the documents with the seal and sign the seal. The board shall adopt regulations governing the use of seals by the registrant. An architect, engineer, land surveyor, [OR] landscape architect, or registered interior designer may not affix or permit a seal and signature to be affixed to an instrument after the expiration of a certificate or for the purpose of aiding or abetting another person to evade or attempt to evade a provision of this chapter. The registrant, by sealing and signing the document, certifies that the document was prepared by or under the registrant's responsible charge and is within the registrant's field of practice or is design work of minor importance. * Sec. 17. AS 08.48.241(a) is amended to read: (a) This chapter does not prevent a corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership from offering architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design services; however, the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership shall file with the board (1) an application for a certificate of authorization on a form to be prescribed by the board and containing information required to enable the board to determine whether the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership is qualified in accordance with the provisions of this chapter to offer to practice architecture, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architecture, or registered interior design in this state; (2) a certified copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the corporation, the managing members or manager of the limited liability company, the general partners of a limited liability partnership, or the general partners of a limited partnership designating persons holding certificates of registration under this chapter as responsible for the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architecture, or registered interior design by the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership in this state and providing that full authority to make all final architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design decisions on behalf of the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership with respect to work performed by the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership in this state is granted by the board of directors of the corporation, the managing members or manager of the limited liability company, the general partners of the limited liability partnership, or the general partners of the limited partnership to the persons designated in the resolution; however, the filing of this resolution does not relieve the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership of any responsibility or liability imposed on it by law or by contract; (3) a designation in writing setting out the name of one or more persons holding certificates of registration under this chapter who are in responsible charge of each major branch of the architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design activities in which the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership specializes in this state; if a change is made in the person in responsible charge of a major branch of the architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design activities, the change shall be designated in writing and filed with the board within 30 days after the effective date of the change. * Sec. 18. AS 08.48.241(b) is amended to read: (b) Upon filing with the board the application for certificate of authorization, certified copy of resolution, affidavit, and designation of persons specified in this section, the board shall, subject to (c) of this section, issue to the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership a certificate of authorization to practice architecture, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architecture, or registered interior design in this state upon a determination by the board that (1) the bylaws of the corporation, the articles of organization or operating agreement of the limited liability company, the partnership agreement of the limited liability partnership, or the partnership agreement of the limited partnership contain provisions that all architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design decisions pertaining to architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design activities in this state will be made by the specified architect, engineer, land surveyor, [OR] landscape architect, or registered interior designer in responsible charge, or other registered architects, engineers, land surveyors, [OR] landscape architects, or registered interior designers under the direction or supervision of the architect, engineer, land surveyor, [OR] landscape architect, or registered interior designer in responsible charge; (2) the application for certificate of authorization states the type of architecture, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architecture, or registered interior design practiced or to be practiced by the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership; (3) the applicant corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership has the ability to provide architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design services; (4) the application for certificate of authorization states the professional records of the designated person who is in responsible charge of each major branch of architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design activities in which the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership specializes; (5) the application for certificate of authorization states the experience, if any, of the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership in furnishing architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design services during the preceding five-year period; (6) the applicant corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership meets other requirements related to professional competence in the furnishing of architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design services as may be adopted by the board in furtherance of the objectives and provisions of this chapter. * Sec. 19. AS 08.48.241(d) is amended to read: (d) The certificate of authorization must specify the major branches of architecture, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architecture, or registered interior design of which the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership has designated a person in responsible charge as provided in this section. The certificate of authorization shall be conspicuously displayed in the place of business of the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership, together with the names of persons designated as being in responsible charge of the professional activities. * Sec. 20. AS 08.48.241(e) is amended to read: (e) If a corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership that is organized solely by [EITHER] a group of architects, a group of engineers, a group of land surveyors, [OR] a group of landscape architects, or a group of registered interior designers, each holding a certificate of registration under this chapter, applies for a certificate of authorization, the board may, in its discretion, grant a certificate of authorization to the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership based on a review of the professional records of the incorporators of the corporation, organizers of the limited liability company, partners who formed the limited liability partnership, or partners who formed the limited partnership in place of the required qualifications set out in this section. If the ownership of the corporation is altered, the membership of the limited liability company is altered, the partners of the limited liability partnership change, or the general partners of the limited partnership change, the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership shall apply for a revised certificate of authorization, based on the professional records of the owners of the corporation, the members of the limited liability company, the partners of the limited liability partnership, or the general partners of the limited partnership, if exclusively architects, engineers, land surveyors, [OR] landscape architects, or registered interior designers, or otherwise under the qualifications required by (b)(1) - (4) of this section. * Sec. 21. AS 08.48.241(f) is amended to read: (f) A corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership authorized to offer architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design services under this chapter, together with its directors, officers, managing members, manager, and partners for their own individual acts, is responsible to the same degree as the designated individual registrant, and shall conduct its business without misconduct or malpractice in the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architecture, or registered interior design as defined in this chapter. * Sec. 22. AS 08.48.251 is amended to read: Sec. 08.48.251. Certain partnerships. This chapter does not prevent the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architecture, or registered interior design by a partnership if all of the members of the partnership are registrants under this chapter. In this section, "partnership" does not include a limited liability partnership or a limited partnership. * Sec. 23. AS 08.48.281 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: (c) A person may not use a title tending to convey the impression that the person is a "registered interior designer" while offering to practice or practicing interior design, as defined in regulation by the board, unless the person has been registered or authorized under this chapter. * Sec. 24. AS 08.48.291 is amended to read: Sec. 08.48.291. Violations and penalties. A person who practices or offers to practice architecture, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architecture, or registered interior design in the state without being registered or authorized to practice in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or a person presenting or attempting to use the certificate or the seal of another, or a person who gives false or forged evidence of any kind to the board or to a member of the board in obtaining or attempting to obtain a certificate, or a person who impersonates a registrant, or a person who uses or attempts to use an expired or revoked or nonexistent certificate, knowing of the certificate's status, or a person who falsely claims to be registered and authorized to practice under this chapter, or a person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both. * Sec. 25. AS 08.48.295(a) is amended to read: (a) In addition to any other provision of law, if a person practices or offers to practice architecture, engineering, [OR] land surveying, or registered interior design in the state without being registered or authorized to practice in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the board may enter an order levying a civil penalty. * Sec. 26. AS 08.48.311 is amended to read: Sec. 08.48.311. Rights not transferable. The right to engage in the practice of architecture, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architecture, or registered interior design is considered a personal and individual right, based on the qualifications of the individual as evidenced by the individual's certificate of registration, which is not transferable. * Sec. 27. AS 08.48.321 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: (b) A person uses a title tending to convey the impression that the person is a "registered interior designer" while offering to practice or practicing interior design if the person by verbal claim, sign, advertisement, letterhead, card, or other means represents to be a registered interior designer or through the use of some other title implies that the person is a registered interior designer when offering to practice or practicing interior design. * Sec. 28. AS 08.48.331(a) is amended to read: (a) This chapter does not apply to (1) a contractor performing work designed by a professional architect, engineer, or landscape architect or the supervision of the construction of the work as a supervisor or superintendent for a contractor; (2) workers in building trades crafts, earthwork, grounds keeping, or nursery operations, and superintendents, supervisors, or inspectors in the performance of their customary duties; (3) an officer or employee of the United States government practicing architecture, engineering, land surveying, or landscape architecture as required by the person's official capacity; (4) an employee or a subordinate of a registrant if the work or service is done under the direct supervision of a registrant; (5) associates, consultants, or specialists retained by a registrant, [A] partnership of registered individuals, [A] corporation, [A] limited liability company, [A] limited liability partnership, or [A] limited partnership authorized to practice architecture, engineering, land surveying, or landscape architecture under this chapter, in the performance of professional services if responsible charge of the work remains with the registrant, the partnership, or a designated representative of the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership; (6) a person preparing drawings or specifications for (A) a building for the person's own use and occupancy as a single family residence and related site work for that building; (B) farm or ranch buildings and their grounds unless the public health, safety, or welfare is involved; (C) a building that is intended to be used only as a residence by not more than (i) four families and that is not more than two stories high and the grounds of the building; or (ii) two families and that is not more than three stories high and the grounds of the building, if the building is located in a municipality that has adopted a building or residential code that applies to the building and if the building complies with the building or residential code; (D) a garage, workshop, or similar building that contains less than 2,000 square feet of floor space to be used for a private noncommercial purpose and the grounds of the building; (7) a specialty contractor licensed under AS 08.18 while engaged in the business of construction contracting for work designed by an architect, engineer, or landscape architect that is within the specialty to be performed or supervised by the specialty contractor, or a contractor preparing shop or field drawings for work that the specialty contractor has contracted to perform; (8) a person furnishing drawings, specifications, instruments of service, or other data for alterations or repairs to a building or its grounds that do not change or affect the structural system or the safety of the building, or that do not affect the public health, safety, or welfare; (9) a person who is employed by a postsecondary educational institution to teach engineering, architectural, or landscape architectural courses; in this paragraph, "postsecondary educational institution" has the meaning given in AS 14.48.210; (10) an officer or employee of an individual, firm, partnership, association, utility, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership, who practices engineering, architecture, land surveying, or landscape architecture involved in the operation of the employer's business only [, AND FURTHER] if neither the employee nor the employer offers engineering, architecture, land surveying, or landscape architecture services to the public; exclusions under this paragraph do not apply to buildings or structures whose primary use is public occupancy; (11) a person while involved in revegetation, restoration, reclamation, rehabilitation, or erosion control for disturbed land that the board determines does not affect the public health, safety, or welfare; (12) a person while maintaining or directing the placement of plant material that the board determines does not affect the public health, safety, or welfare; (13) an employee, officer, or agent of a regulatory agency of the state or a municipality when reviewing drawings and specifications for compliance with the building codes of the state or a municipality if the drawings and specifications have been sealed and signed by an architect, engineer, land surveyor, or landscape architect or the preparation of the drawings and specifications is exempt under this section from the requirements of this chapter; in this paragraph, "building codes" includes codes relating to building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire safety standards, and zoning; (14) a person who is designing fire protection systems and is authorized by the Department of Public Safety to design fire protection systems; (15) a person who is (A) authorized to construct, install, or modify a conventional onsite wastewater system by the Department of Environmental Conservation under AS 46.03.100; and (B) constructing, installing, or modifying a conventional onsite wastewater system that serves a commercial facility and has a design flow of less than 500 gallons of wastewater a day. * Sec. 29. AS 08.48.331(a), as amended by sec. 28 of this Act, is amended to read: (a) This chapter does not apply to (1) a contractor performing work designed by a professional architect, engineer, or landscape architect or the supervision of the construction of the work as a supervisor or superintendent for a contractor; (2) workers in building trades crafts, earthwork, grounds keeping, or nursery operations, and superintendents, supervisors, or inspectors in the performance of their customary duties; (3) an officer or employee of the United States government practicing architecture, engineering, land surveying, or landscape architecture as required by the person's official capacity; (4) an employee or a subordinate of a registrant if the work or service is done under the direct supervision of a registrant; (5) associates, consultants, or specialists retained by a registrant, partnership of registered individuals, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership authorized to practice architecture, engineering, land surveying, or landscape architecture under this chapter, in the performance of professional services if responsible charge of the work remains with the registrant, the partnership, or a designated representative of the corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership; (6) a person preparing drawings or specifications for (A) a building for the person's own use and occupancy as a single family residence and related site work for that building; (B) farm or ranch buildings and their grounds unless the public health, safety, or welfare is involved; (C) a building that is intended to be used only as a residence by not more than (i) four families and that is not more than two stories high and the grounds of the building; or (ii) two families and that is not more than three stories high and the grounds of the building, if the building is located in a municipality that has adopted a building or residential code that applies to the building and if the building complies with the building or residential code; (D) a garage, workshop, or similar building that contains less than 2,000 square feet of floor space to be used for a private noncommercial purpose and the grounds of the building; (7) a specialty contractor licensed under AS 08.18 while engaged in the business of construction contracting for work designed by an architect, engineer, or landscape architect that is within the specialty to be performed or supervised by the specialty contractor, or a contractor preparing shop or field drawings for work that the specialty contractor has contracted to perform; (8) a person furnishing drawings, specifications, instruments of service, or other data for alterations or repairs to a building or its grounds that do not change or affect the structural system or the safety of the building, or that do not affect the public health, safety, or welfare; (9) a person who is employed by a postsecondary educational institution to teach engineering, architectural, or landscape architectural courses; in this paragraph, "postsecondary educational institution" has the meaning given in AS 14.48.210; (10) an officer or employee of an individual, firm, partnership, association, utility, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or limited partnership, who practices engineering, architecture, land surveying, or landscape architecture involved in the operation of the employer's business only if neither the employee nor the employer offers engineering, architecture, land surveying, or landscape architecture services to the public; exclusions under this paragraph do not apply to an officer or employee (A) practicing engineering, architecture, land surveying, or landscape architecture on buildings or structures whose primary use is public occupancy; or (B) of a utility that owns, operates, manages, or controls a pipeline that furnishes by transmission or distributes natural or manufactured gas to the public for compensation and who is practicing engineering on the facilities of the pipeline that operate at a pressure greater than 100 pounds per square inch gauge in one of the following manners: (i) the installation of a new district pressure regulator station, compressor station, or gate station; (ii) the reconfiguration or physical change of a district pressure regulator station, compressor station, or gate station that alters or modifies the configuration or overpressure protection of equipment; in this sub-subparagraph, "reconfiguration or physical change" does not include a routine operating adjustment or similar replacement; or (iii) the installation, uprating, repair by replacement, or abandonment of the pipeline; (11) a person while involved in revegetation, restoration, reclamation, rehabilitation, or erosion control for disturbed land that the board determines does not affect the public health, safety, or welfare; (12) a person while maintaining or directing the placement of plant material that the board determines does not affect the public health, safety, or welfare; (13) an employee, officer, or agent of a regulatory agency of the state or a municipality when reviewing drawings and specifications for compliance with the building codes of the state or a municipality if the drawings and specifications have been sealed and signed by an architect, engineer, land surveyor, or landscape architect or the preparation of the drawings and specifications is exempt under this section from the requirements of this chapter; in this paragraph, "building codes" includes codes relating to building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire safety standards, and zoning; (14) a person who is designing fire protection systems and is authorized by the Department of Public Safety to design fire protection systems; (15) a person who is (A) authorized to construct, install, or modify a conventional onsite wastewater system by the Department of Environmental Conservation under AS 46.03.100; and (B) constructing, installing, or modifying a conventional onsite wastewater system that serves a commercial facility and has a design flow of less than 500 gallons of wastewater a day. * Sec. 30. AS 08.48.331 is amended by adding new subsections to read: (c) The Department of Environmental Conservation may adopt regulations limiting the locations in the state in which (a)(15) of this section applies. (d) Notwithstanding (a)(10)(B) of this section, this chapter does not apply to an officer or employee of a utility that owns, operates, manages, or controls a pipeline that furnishes by transmission or distributes natural or manufactured gas to the public for compensation and who is practicing engineering in an emergency on the facilities of the pipeline that operate at a pressure greater than 100 pounds per square inch gauge. The utility shall notify the Regulatory Commission of Alaska when an officer or employee of the utility practices engineering in an emergency under this subsection. * Sec. 31. AS 08.48.341(4) is amended to read: (4) "certificate of authorization" means a certificate issued by the board authorizing a corporation, a limited liability company, a limited liability partnership, or a limited partnership to provide professional services in architecture, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architecture, or registered interior design through individuals legally registered by the board; * Sec. 32. AS 08.48.341(23) is amended to read: (23) "registrant" means a person registered by the board as a professional architect, professional engineer, professional land surveyor, professional [OR] landscape architect, or registered interior designer; * Sec. 33. AS 08.48.341 is amended by adding new paragraphs to read: (27) "registered interior design" means the practice of interior design as a registered interior designer; (28) "registered interior designer" means a person who is (A) registered and qualified by education, training, experience, and examination to engage in the practice of interior design, as defined by the board, while using the title "registered interior designer"; and (B) authorized to sign and stamp documents with an official seal under AS 08.48.221, as determined by the board, for the purpose of obtaining requisite permits for construction projects. * Sec. 34. AS 23.30.017(c)(1) is amended to read: (1) "design professional" means a person registered under AS 08.48 as an architect, engineer, [OR] land surveyor, landscape architect, or registered interior designer; * Sec. 35. AS 29.60.400(c) is amended to read: (c) In this section, "costs of construction" means, in addition to costs directly related to a project, the sum of all costs of financing and carrying out the project, including the costs of all necessary studies, surveys, plans and specifications, architectural, engineering, land surveying, landscape architectural, registered interior design, or other special services, acquisition of real property, site preparation and development, purchase, construction, reconstruction, and improvement of real property, and the acquisition of machinery and equipment necessary to the project; an allocable portion of the administrative and operating expenses of the grantee; and the cost of financing the project, including interest on bonds issued to finance the project, the cost of indemnity and surety bonds, premiums on insurance, legal fees, fees and expenses of trustees, depositaries, and financial advisors, and the costs associated with the issuance of bonds. It does not include the cost of feasibility studies. * Sec. 36. AS 34.35.050 is amended to read: Sec. 34.35.050. Lien for labor or materials furnished. A person has a lien, only to the extent provided under this chapter, to secure the payment of the contract price if the person (1) performs labor on [UPON] real property at the request of the owner or the agent of the owner for the construction, alteration, or repair of a building or improvement; (2) is a trustee of an employee benefit trust for the benefit of individuals performing labor on the building or improvement and has a direct contract with the owner or the agent of the owner for direct payments into the trust; (3) furnishes materials that are delivered to real property under a contract with the owner or the agent of the owner that are incorporated in the construction, alteration, or repair of a building or improvement; (4) furnishes equipment that is delivered to and used on [UPON] real property under a contract with the owner or the agent of the owner for the construction, alteration, or repair of a building or improvement; (5) performs services under a contract with the owner or the agent of the owner in connection with the preparation of plans, surveys, or architectural, [OR] engineering, landscape architectural, or registered interior design plans or drawings for the construction, alteration, or repair of a building or improvement, whether or not actually implemented on that property; or (6) is a general contractor. * Sec. 37. AS 35.15.010(c) is amended to read: (c) In this section, "professional services" means architectural, engineering, [OR] land surveying, landscape architectural, or registered interior design services. * Sec. 38. AS 36.30.270(a) is amended to read: (a) Notwithstanding conflicting provisions of AS 36.30.100 - 36.30.260, a procurement officer shall negotiate a contract for an agency with the most qualified and suitable firm or person of demonstrated competence for architectural, engineering, [OR] land surveying, landscape architectural, or registered interior design services. The procurement officer shall award a contract for those services at fair and reasonable compensation as determined by the procurement officer, after consideration of the estimated value of the services to be rendered, and the scope, complexity, and professional nature of the services. When determining the most qualified and suitable firm or person, the procurement officer shall consider the (1) proximity to the project site of the office of the firm or person unless federal law prohibits this factor from being considered in the awarding of the contract; and (2) employment practices of the firm or person with regard to women and minorities. * Sec. 39. AS 36.30.270(d) is amended to read: (d) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a procurement officer may include price as an added factor in selecting architectural, engineering, [AND] land surveying, landscape architectural, and registered interior design services when, in the judgment of the procurement officer, the services required are repetitious in nature, and the scope, nature, and amount of services required are thoroughly defined by measurable and objective standards to reasonably enable firms or persons making proposals to compete with a clear understanding and interpretation of the services required. In order to include price as a factor in selection, a majority of the persons involved by the procurement officer in evaluation of the proposals must be registered in the state to perform architectural, engineering, [OR] land surveying, landscape architectural, or registered interior design services. * Sec. 40. AS 36.30.305(e) is amended to read: (e) Architectural, engineering, [AND] land survey, landscape architectural, and registered interior design contracts under AS 36.30.270 may not be made under this section. * Sec. 41. AS 36.30.990(19) is amended to read: (19) "preconstruction services" means information, research, advice, and related tasks regarding the impacts of design on the physical construction of a project; "preconstruction services" does not mean architectural, engineering, [OR] land surveying, landscape architectural, and registered interior design services; * Sec. 42. AS 36.90.100 is amended to read: Sec. 36.90.100. Contracts for architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design services. The state or a municipality may not award a contract for architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design services to (1) an individual who is not registered under AS 08.48 to perform the architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design services required by the contract; (2) a partnership, except as provided by (3) of this section, that is not qualified under AS 08.48.251 to provide the architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design services required by the contract; or (3) a corporation, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership that is not authorized under AS 08.48.241 to offer the architectural, engineering, land surveying, [OR] landscape architectural, or registered interior design services required by the contract. * Sec. 43. AS 46.07.040(c) is amended to read: (c) In (a) of this section, "cost of the construction of a facility" includes, in addition to costs directly related to the project, the sum total of all costs of financing and carrying out the project. These include [, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO,] the costs of all necessary studies, surveys, plans and specifications, architectural, engineering, land surveying, landscape architectural, or other special services, acquisition of real property, site preparation and development, purchase, construction, reconstruction, and improvement of real property, and the acquisition of machinery and equipment as may be necessary in connection with the project; an allocable portion of the administrative and operating expenses of the grantee; the cost of financing the project, including interest on bonds issued to finance the project; and the cost of other items, including any indemnity and surety bonds and premiums on insurance, legal fees, fees and expenses of trustees, depositaries, financial advisors, and paying agents for the bonds issued as the issuer considers necessary. * Sec. 44. AS 08.48.011(c) and AS 36.30.270(e) are repealed. * Sec. 45. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: TRANSITION: BOARD APPOINTMENT. Notwithstanding AS 08.48.031, an interior designer appointed to the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors under AS 08.48.011(b), as amended by sec. 3 of this Act, must be certified by the Council for Interior Design Qualification and have resided in the state for at least two years immediately preceding appointment. On and after the effective date of sec. 4 of this Act, an interior designer appointed to the board under AS 08.48.011(b), as amended by sec. 3 of this Act, may continue to occupy the seat on the board reserved for the registered interior designer until a registered interior designer is appointed to the seat. An interior designer appointed to the board under AS 08.48.011(b), as amended by sec. 3 of this Act, is eligible for reappointment to the board on or after the effective date of sec. 4 of this Act if the interior designer meets the requirements of AS 08.48.011(b), as amended by sec. 4 of this Act. * Sec. 46. Sections 3 and 45 of this Act take effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). * Sec. 47. Section 29 of this Act and AS 08.48.331(d), enacted by sec. 30 of this Act, take effect January 1, 2026. * Sec. 48. Except as provided in secs. 46 and 47 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 2025.
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