Sections 71-6101 to 71-6108 shall be known and may be cited as the Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act.

In order to safeguard life, health, and property, to promote the public welfare, and to recognize the need for design professionals to obtain government-issued permits or approval that may only be obtained with a construction document stamp, the profession of interior design is declared to be subject to regulation in the public interest. On and after January 1, 2025, it shall be unlawful for any person to hold oneself out to be a registered interior designer unless the person is registered under the Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act.

For purposes of the Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act:

(1) Design means the preparation of schematics, layouts, plans, drawings, specifications, calculations, and other diagnostic documents which show the features of a registered interior design project;

(2) Direct supervision means having full professional knowledge over work that constitutes the practice of registered interior design;

(3) Good ethical character means such character that will enable a person to discharge the fiduciary duties of a registered interior designer to such person's client and to the public for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare;

(4) Interior alteration or construction project means a project for an interior space or area within a proposed or existing building or structure, including construction, modification, renovation, rehabilitation, or historic preservation that involves changing or altering:

(a) The design function or layout of rooms; or

(b) The state of permanent fixtures or equipment;

(5) Interior nonstructural element means an element or component of a building that does not require structural bracing, is not load-bearing, and is not essential to the structural or seismic integrity of the building;

(6)(a) Practice of registered interior design means the design of interior spaces as part of an interior alteration or construction project in conformity with public health, safety, and welfare requirements, including the preparation of any document relating to a building code description, any project egress plan that does not require additional exits in the space affected, any space planning, any finish material, any furnishing, any fixture, any equipment, and the preparation of any document and technical submission relating to interior construction; and

(b) Services that are not in the scope of the practice of registered interior design include:

(i) Services that constitute:

(A) The practice of professional engineering; or

(B) The practice of professional architecture, except as specifically provided for within the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act;

(ii) The construction or alteration of:

(A) The structural system of a building, including changing the building's live or dead load on the structural system;

(B) The building envelope, including an exterior wall, wall covering, or wall opening, an exterior window, an exterior door, any architectural trim, a balcony or similar projection, a bay, an oriel window, any roof assembly and rooftop structure, and any glass and glazing for exterior use in both vertical and sloped applications;

(C) Any mechanical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, ventilation, electrical, vertical transportation, fire sprinkler, or fire alarm system;

(D) An egress system beyond the exit access component of such system; and

(E) Any life safety system such as a fire safety or fire protection of structural elements and smoke evacuation and compartmentalization system or a fire-rated vertical shaft in multistory structures;

(iii) Changes to an occupancy classification of greater hazard as determined by the International Building Code; and

(iv) Changes to the construction classification of the building or structure according to the International Building Code;

(7) Project means one or more related activities that require the practice of registered interior design for completion; and

(8) Registered interior designer or registrant means a person who is listed on the registry of interior designers under the Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act.

To be a registered interior designer, an individual shall:

(1) Apply to the State Treasurer in a form and manner prescribed by the State Treasurer;

(2) Pay an application fee of not more than fifty dollars as determined by the State Treasurer; and

(3) Satisfy the requirements for placement on the registry as provided in section 71-6105.

(1)(a) The interior design registry is created.

(b) The State Treasurer shall list each interior designer registration in the registry. A listing in the registry shall be valid for the term of the registration and upon renewal unless such listing is refused renewal or is removed as provided in the Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act.

(c) The registry shall contain (i) the individual's full name and (ii) any other information as the State Treasurer may require by rules and regulations.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section or section 71-6107, the following shall be considered as the minimum evidence satisfactory to the State Treasurer that an applicant is eligible for listing on the interior design registry:

(a) Education eligibility as outlined by the Council for Interior Design Qualification to sit for an examination on technical and professional subjects of interior design as required by the council;

(b) Experience eligibility as outlined by the Council for Interior Design Qualification to sit for an examination on technical and professional subjects of interior design as required by the council;

(c) Successful passage of an examination on technical and professional subjects of interior design as required by the Council for Interior Design Qualification;

(d) Passage of an examination on the statutes, rules and regulations, and other requirements unique to this state regarding the practice of registered interior design; and

(e) Demonstration of good reputation and good ethical character by attestation of references. The names and complete addresses of references acceptable to the State Treasurer shall be included in the application for registration.

(3) An individual holding a credential to practice interior design issued by a proper authority of any jurisdiction, based on credentials that do not conflict with subsection (2) of this section, may, upon application, be listed on the interior design registry after:

(a) Successful passage of an examination on the statutes, rules and regulations, and other requirements unique to this state regarding the practice of registered interior design; and

(b) Demonstration of good reputation and good ethical character by attestation of references. The names and complete addresses of references acceptable to the State Treasurer shall be included in the application for registration.

(4) An individual who holds a current and valid certification issued by the Council for Interior Design Qualification and who submits satisfactory evidence of such certification to the State Treasurer may, upon application, be listed on the interior design registry after:

(a) Successful passage of an examination on the statutes, rules and regulations, and other requirements unique to this state regarding the practice of registered interior design; and

(b) Demonstration of good reputation and good ethical character by attestation of references. The names and complete addresses of references acceptable to the State Treasurer shall be included in the application for registration.

(5) An individual who has been credentialed to practice interior design for fifteen years or more in one or more jurisdictions and who has practiced interior design for fifteen years in compliance with the credentialing laws in the jurisdictions where such individual interior design practice has occurred since initial issuance of the credential may, upon application, be listed on the interior design registry after:

(a) Successful passage of an examination on the statutes, rules and regulations, and other requirements unique to this state regarding the practice of registered interior design; and

(b) Demonstration of good reputation and good ethical character by attestation of references. The names and complete addresses of references acceptable to the State Treasurer shall be included in the application for registration.

(6) None of the examination materials described in this section shall be considered public records.

(7) The State Treasurer or the State Treasurer's agent shall direct the time and place of the interior design examinations referenced in this section.

(8) The State Treasurer may adopt the examinations and grading procedures of the Council for Interior Design Qualification. The State Treasurer may also adopt guidelines published by the council.

(9) Registration shall be effective upon listing in the registry.

(1) Each registered interior designer shall obtain a seal. The design of the seal shall be determined by the State Treasurer. The following information shall be on the seal: State of Nebraska; registrant's name; registrant's business city; and the words Registered Interior Designer.

(2) Whenever the seal is applied, the registrant's signature shall be across the seal. The seal and date of its placement shall be on all technical submissions and calculations whenever presented to a client or any public or governmental agency. It shall be unlawful for a registrant to affix such registrant's seal or to permit such seal to be affixed to any document after the expiration of the registration or for the purpose of aiding or abetting any other person to evade or attempt to evade the Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act.

(3) The seal and date shall be placed on all originals, copies, tracings, or other reproducible drawing and the first and last pages of specifications, reports, and studies in such a manner that the seal, signature, and date will be reproduced and be in compliance with the Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act. The application of the registrant's seal shall constitute certification that the work was done by the registrant or under the registrant's control.

(4) A registered interior designer shall not affix such registered interior designer's seal and signature to technical submissions that are subject to the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act unless the technical submissions were:

(a) Prepared entirely by the registered interior designer; or

(b) Prepared entirely under the direct supervision of the registered interior designer.

(5) A registered interior designer may affix such registered interior designer's seal to technical submissions not subject to the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act if the registered interior designer has reviewed or adapted in whole or in part such submissions and integrated them into such registered interior designer's work.

(1) Beginning January 1, 2025, it is unlawful for any person to use the title registered interior designer or similar description to convey the impression that such person is a registered interior designer unless the person is registered under the Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act.

(2) Nothing in the Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act shall be construed to: (a) Require a person to be a registered interior designer in order to engage in an activity traditionally performed by an interior designer or interior decorator, including any professional service limited to the planning, design, and implementation of kitchen and bathroom spaces or the specification of products for kitchen and bathroom areas; or (b) prevent or restrict the practice, service, or activity of any person licensed to practice a profession or an occupation in this state from engaging in such profession or occupation.

(3) A licensed architect holding a license in good standing under the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act may register with the State Treasurer as a registered interior designer without having to meet the registration requirements outlined in section 71-6105.

(1) The State Treasurer shall:

(a) Operate an interior designer registry listing registered interior designers;

(b) Credit fees collected under the Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act to the State Treasurer Administrative Fund; and

(c) Prescribe individually identifiable seals to be used by registered interior designers pursuant to section 71-6106.

(2) The State Treasurer may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the Interior Design Voluntary Registration Act.