BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY

AND THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

                                                                      STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the amendment of ARM 24.101.413 renewal dates and requirements and 24.114.401 fee schedule

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NOTICE OF AMENDMENT

 

TO:  All Concerned Persons

 

            1.  On January 28, 2010, the Department of Labor and Industry (department) and the Board of Architects and Landscape Architects (board) published MAR notice no. 24-114-31 regarding the public hearing on the proposed amendment of the above-stated rules, at page 200 of the 2010 Montana Administrative Register, issue no. 2.

 

            2.  On February 18, 2010, a public hearing was held on the proposed amendment of the above-stated rules in Helena.  A few comments were received by the February 26, 2010 deadline.

 

            3.  The board has thoroughly considered the comments received.  A summary of the comments received and the board's response are as follows:

 

COMMENT:  Two commenters opposed changing the biennial renewal to an annual renewal cycle.  The commenters stated that the reasons provided in the notice did not justify the change and that administrative costs would increase due to sending renewal notices every year, rather than every other year.  A commenter questioned whether the renewal fee for annual would be half as much as biennial renewal and another commenter expressed general support for the amendments.

 

RESPONSE:  As noted in the proposal notice, the annual renewal fee will be half as much as biennial renewal.  Due to the automation of sending renewal forms and the high percentage of online renewals, staff does not anticipate a significant increase in workload.  If, as hoped by the board, annual renewal serves to decrease the individuals whose licenses terminate for failure to renew and therefore the number of nonroutine applications before the board, then the overall workload of board staff should decrease.  Finally, the budget projection will be more accurate if based on annual renewal figures.

 

            4.  The board has amended ARM 24.101.413 and 24.114.401 exactly as proposed.

 

                                                                     BOARD OF ARCHITECTS AND

                                                                     LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
                                                                     BAYLISS WARD, PRESIDENT

 

/s/ DARCEE L. MOE                                 /s/ KEITH KELLY

Darcee L. Moe                                           Keith Kelly, Commissioner

Alternate Rule Reviewer                            DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY

 

 

            Certified to the Secretary of State April 19, 2010