Landscape Architect Articles

What Does AB937 Say?01-31-08 | News

What Does AB937 Say?

Gov. Schwarzenegger beefed up the landscape architecture law by signing AB937.

We?EUR??,,????'???ve read in several California ASLA chapter newsletters a brief mention of AB937, a bill signed on Oct. 5, 2007 by Gov. (there is no ?EUR??,,????'??t?EUR??,,????'?? in his name so why do people insist on putting one there) Schwarzenegger. The newsletters gave the same synopsis of the bill: It ?EUR??,,????'??aligns the contract language for landscape architects with that of architects and also more completely and specifically defines the unlicensed practice of landscape architecture.?EUR??,,????'??

We found that highly vague, so we actually read the bill. Reading bills is painful, we agree, but here?EUR??,,????'???s what we translated:

Before AB937, Calif. law required landscape architects to provide clients with detailed written contracts, including ?EUR??,,????'??descriptions of the procedure that the landscape architect and client would use to accommodate additional services.?EUR??,,????'??

AB937 requires the contract be executed before the landscape architect commences work (you think?!), except as specified and requires the written contract to include a description of how either party can end the contract. The bill also specifies the written contract include a contract in electronic form.

AB937 makes it a misdemeanor for an unlicensed person to use the stamp of a licensed landscape architect or to advertise or put oneself forward in any way to the public that he or she is a licensed landscape architect or qualified to engage in landscape architecture.