Vote NO on Texas House Bill 2649
Texas House Bill 2649 is going up for vote in the state Senate tomorrow and needs your immediate action!
2649 make it impossible for lighting designers who work in Texas to work on projects without being licensed as either an electrician, architect, engineer, landscape architect, or interior designer. If Texas passes this bill, there will probably be more bills just like this in other states. Read more at Jim on Light.
Here’s what I wrote to the state senator who represents my old area of Dallas. Feel free to use any of it that you would like:
Senator –
I am writing to urge you to vote NO on HB 2649. HB 2649 has been drafted without any input from lighting designers, and restricts the practice of lighting design to members of other professions and trades, such as architects, engineers and electricians. There are no provisions in the legislation for establishing a licensing standard for lighting designers.
I have a personal investment in this bill. My husband is a Lighting Designer. He is a professional in his craft, having received a Masters in Lighting Design from The Ohio State University and soon to receive a Masters in Architectural Lighting from KTH in Sweden. Additionally, he has taught lighting design as an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. He is also a member of the United Scenic Artists union, having had his professional credentials evaluated by his peers.
All of these accolades, education and experience will mean nothing if this bill passes. He is not an architect, interior designer, or engineer. He is a small business owner who provides Lighting Design consultation and services. He will be out of business if this bill passes.
Please consider the economic impact of this legislation. Professional, practicing Lighting Designers in Texas will be out of work.
The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) does not support House Bill 2649. Please consider doing the same.
Texans, please call your senator and tell them to VOTE NO on 2649.
Are they insane why would they even consider passing something as absurd as this bill. Only a person who has the education and training in lighting design should ever be allowed to do lighting for anything fine arts related.
Note that you should not contact your local Senator, but rather your local Representative. This is a House Bill, not a Senate Bill.
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/welcome.php
At the time I posted this last night, the bill was still in the Senate’s hands. Now, it’s gone back to the House, where hopefully we can get this stopped.
Jim on Light is keeping up with the latest.
The bill now sits on Governor Perry’s desk, awaiting his signature. This is fact. There will huge fallout from this and an amendment will have to be made regarding performing arts and public venue.
Bear — It’s not on Perry’s desk yet. The Senate added language that the House had not approved, so it is back in the hands of the House at the moment. Jim on Light is keeping up with the status and who you can still contact to hopefully get it squashed.
Please keep me in the loop on this matter. I have just written some emails and letters. I have also contacted the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals. I just can’t believe that I only heard about this less than an hour ago.