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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Harrison

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

01/22/07

HB 128

SHORT TITLE

Landscape Architect Certification

SB

ANALYST Hanika Ortiz

REVENUE (dollars in thousands)

Estimated Revenue

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

FY09

$.01

recurring landscape

architects fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 128 amends Section 61-24B-3 NMSA 1978 and proposes a new professional designa-

tion called the “Landscape Architect in Training" to recognize individuals who have completed

the education requirements, have passed the Board’s examination for a landscape architect in

training certificate and are in the process of gaining practical experience. HB 128 clarifies the

educational qualifications for registration for graduates from an accredited or non-accredited

school, college or university; creates an additional avenue to allow a graduate in a related field of

study to be registered; and creates additional supervised practical experience requirements de-

pending upon path chosen.

House Bill 128 further enacts Section 61-24B-7 NMSA 1978 allowing the Landscape Architect

Board to appropriately grant, deny, renew, suspend or revoke landscape architect in training cer-

tificates in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Licensing Act.

House Bill 128 – Page

2

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

HB 128 requires the Board of Landscape Architects establish an initial and renewal fee for land-

scape architect in training certificates in an amount not to exceed two hundred dollars. All funds

collected under the Landscape Architects Act are credited to the landscape architects fund.

All

amounts paid into the landscape architects fund is used only for the purpose of implementing the

provisions of the Landscape Architects Act. All money unexpended or unencumbered at the end

of the fiscal year will remain in the landscape architects fund for use in accordance with the pro-

visions of the Landscape Architects Act. This revenue over time ought to cover any additional

costs of processing and administering licenses and certifications.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Current statute allows graduates from a minimum four-year accredited program with three years

practical experience register for the Landscape Architect Exam, with the additional masters de-

gree in landscape architecture accepted in lieu of one year practical experience. New language

allows for graduates from any accredited program in landscape architecture fulfill the education

requirements for licensure and reduces the practical experience requirement to two years for

these graduates. Graduates from non-accredited programs must at a minimum hold a four-year

bachelor’s degree or two-year masters degree with four years practical experience. A new section

allows graduates of related fields of study from schools with a minimum four-year degree cur-

riculum or two-year master’s degree curriculum and with five years practical experience fulfill

the requirements for registration. At least one-year of the practical experience requirement must

be under the supervision of a landscape architect no matter which track is used.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Landscape Architects’ Board will be required to develop a new examination for Landscape

Architect in Training certification and schedule examinations at least yearly.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

It is unclear if the practical experience requirement for licensure is for full time activity.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The change in statute language within HB 128 will enable students who graduate from the Uni-

versity of New Mexico’s accredited three-year Masters in Landscape Architecture program reg-

ister for the Landscape Architecture exam and obtain their license.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

There may be reduced opportunities for individuals to become licensed as Landscape Architects

in New Mexico.

AHO/mt