ILASLA Again Pushes for a Practice Act

Illinois State Senator Ira Silverstein is sponsoring SB 573, the Landscape Architecture Practice Act.

 

We’ve reported in the past the Illinois ASLA Chapter’s (ILASLA) efforts to legislate a landscape architecture Practice Act. It was back in December 2005 we noted the ILASLA was engaging to upgrade its 1989 Title Act to a full Practice Act. Illinois is one of only eight states with only a Title Act. (That’s a good trivia question: The other seven are Maine, Maryland, Michigan, N.J., Va., Washington and Wisconsin. P.S. Vermont and Washington, D.C. still have no licensure law.)

The Title Act prohibits the use of the title “landscape architect” by unlicensed persons, but does not keep unlicensed persons from performing landscape architecture services, and therein lies the rub. The licensed LA has gone through all that schooling, often including a MLA program, plus two years of supervised professional experience, plus has passed a rigorous, comprehensive three-day Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.)

Well, it’s a new year. The Landscape Architecture Practice Act bill is SB 573, and the chapter is encouraging its members to contact their representatives. State Senator Ira Silverstein is the bill’s sponsor. Brian Hopkins chairs the chapter’s licensure committee.

Chicago, That “Toddling Town”

Shifting gears, ILASLA will host the ASLA Annual Expo & Meeting September 18-21, 2009 in Chicago. 2009 marks the centennial of the plan of Chicago by Burnham & Bennett. If you want to help with the preparation for that meeting, contact Richard Twitchell, ASLA 2009 chairman at 312.285.5801 or asla2009@yahoo.com.