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Texas House Bill 2649- Dealing with Lighting Design
Texas House Bill 2649- Dealing with Lighting Design
#1Texas House Bill 2649- Dealing with Lighting Design
Posted: 5/27/09 at 5:25pm
IALD and other Lighting Design organizations are in an uproar over this bill. Anyone on TX please call the governor and tell him to not allow this to pass.
most of us found out about this through people on twitter
This bill was put through with no input from those in the lighting design field.
Jim on Light Blog said
I just got information from John Baker in Houston about Texas House Bill 2649. I don?t know what your feelings are on this, but it deserves a read. IALD sent out a letter about voting this down - I have copied both the verbage in the bill and the letter from IALD below.
First and foremost, this bill is going to 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. From the Texas House Bill 2649:
Section 1001.3011 to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.3011. LIGHTING DESIGN; LICENSE OR REGISTRATION REQUIRED. (a) A person may not perform or offer to perform lighting design services unless the person is: (1)licensed as an engineer under this chapter;(2) registered as an architect, landscape architect, or interior designer under Subtitle B, Title 6; or (3) licensed under Chapter 1305. (b) In this section, ?lighting design services? means the preparation of plans and specifications that depict the placement and direction of illumination of mounted or installed lighting fixtures in the interior or exterior of a building, including the specification of bulbs, reflectors, lens, louvers, baffles, and other hardware. The term does not include the preparation of shop drawings or other directions from a manufacturer for the installation or operation of lighting fixtures.
Also, read this:
SECTION 5. Subchapter F, Chapter 1051, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1051.308 to read as follows: Sec. 1051.308. LIGHTING DESIGN; REGISTRATION OR LICENSE REQUIRED. (a) A person may not perform or offer to perform lighting design services unless the person is: (1) registered as an architect, landscape architect, or interior designer under this subtitle; (2) licensed as an engineer under Chapter 1001; or (3) licensed under Chapter 1305. (b) In this section, ?lighting design services? means the preparation of plans and specifications that depict the placement and direction of illumination of mounted or installed lighting fixtures in the interior or exterior of a building, including the specification of bulbs, reflectors, lens, louvers, baffles, and other hardware. The term does not include the preparation of shop drawings or other directions from a manufacturer for the installation or operation of lighting fixtures. SECTION 6. Subchapter D, Chapter 1305, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1305.1511 to read as follows: Sec. 1305.1511. LIGHTING DESIGN; LICENSE OR REGISTRATION REQUIRED. (a) A person may not perform or offer to perform lighting design services unless the person is: (1) licensed under this chapter; (2) licensed as an engineer under Chapter 1001; or (3) registered as an architect, landscape architect, or interior designer under Subtitle B, Title 6. (b) In this section, ?lighting design services? means the preparation of plans and specifications that depict the placement and direction of illumination of mounted or installed lighting fixtures in the interior or exterior of a building, including the specification of bulbs, reflectors, lens, louvers, baffles, and other hardware. The term does not include the preparation of shop drawings or other directions from a manufacturer for the installation or operation of lighting fixtures.
A letter from IALD:
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIGHTING DESIGNERS IALD STATEMENT ON TEXAS HOUSE BILL 2649
The Texas State Legislature is about to consider legislation that will have the unintended consequence of outlawing an entire profession-lighting design. The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) strongly urges all members of the Texas Legislature to drop this legislation, Texas House Bill 2649.
Slated for a vote on May 27, 2009, the legislation 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.
Members of the IALD abide by a strict code of ethics and bring both engineering knowledge and artistic sensibilities to bringing out the best in buildings and outdoor spaces. IALD professional lighting designers dedicate their careers exclusively to the art and science of lighting. There is no substitute for their level of expertise and professionalism.
The economic impact of the proposed legislation will be extensive: dozens of lighting designers practice in Texas, and hundreds of projects in the state depend on professional lighting designers for their full architectural expression.
We believe that the Texas Legislature does not mean to outlaw an entire profession, but that is the impact of the proposed legislation. Please vote against House Bill 2649.
Ok, lighting designers. CALL THESE PEOPLE EARLY TOMORROW and let them know that you do not approve:
Rep. Wayne Smith 512. 463.0733
Sen. Bob Deuell 512.463.0122
Sen. Kip Averitt 512.463.0102
The current status of the bill for Texas House Bill 2649 is here.
The text of Texas House Bill 2649 is here.
Look up your local Texas person here. MAKE SURE you do this step, this is who?s gonna vote!
Act quickly on this one, it gets voted on tomorrow, May 27, 2009.
it passes early today completely unopposed, this bill would not only effect resident theatre but tours and community theatre as well
Arch Lighting article from IALD
In the words of the great MargoChanning
"Broadwayworld.com -- Your One Stop on the Internet for All Things Broadway, Nasty Political Discussions, Meltdowns, Name-Calling and General Nonsense along with being a Premiere Pick-up Joint for Hotties, Shut-ins, Rambunctuous Teenagers With Bad Grammar, and All Manner of Bitter, Jaded Theatre Queens with WAY Too Much Time on Their Hands"?
#2re: Texas House Bill 2649- Dealing with Lighting Design
Posted: 5/27/09 at 5:27pmWhat about High Schools?
#2re: Texas House Bill 2649- Dealing with Lighting Design
Posted: 5/27/09 at 5:33pm
I would assume so, however your schools electrician would have to be the one who designs the lights for the shows... and let me tell you. You do not want that, my high school had it that way till I became the LD my junior year, he may know about overloading circuits but about the ability of an instruments or the use of color with them... no... all instruments were un-geled till I started doing it.
engineers, architects, electricians, and interior designers are knowledgeable in their fields, however lighting design for theatre is not part of the field
In the words of the great MargoChanning
"Broadwayworld.com -- Your One Stop on the Internet for All Things Broadway, Nasty Political Discussions, Meltdowns, Name-Calling and General Nonsense along with being a Premiere Pick-up Joint for Hotties, Shut-ins, Rambunctuous Teenagers With Bad Grammar, and All Manner of Bitter, Jaded Theatre Queens with WAY Too Much Time on Their Hands"?
