In the halls of the Capitol and in front of twenty-three state regulatory agencies, boards and commissions in Sacramento, the Government Relations team advocates for state and federal building codes and regulations which are both sensible and workable for architects, creating safe, functional, and legally compliant buildings. Some of our most active advocacy efforts are with the following agencies:
The CAB falls under the California Department of Consumer Affairs and is responsible for licensing and regulating architects in the state. It sets the standards and qualifications for architectural licensure, oversees the licensing process, and ensures compliance with relevant laws and regulations. We currently collaborate with CAB to implement Zero Net Carbon Design continuing education requirements, to eliminate the rolling clock on ARE exams, and to implement our sponsored bill for the collection of demographic information.
The CBSC is responsible for the development and implementation of building codes and standards in California. Architects must adhere to these codes and standards when designing structures to ensure safety, accessibility, and compliance with state regulations. Included in our 2023 outreach to CBSC is a proposal to strengthen CALGreen in the code development process at CBSC (link to code advocacy).
The DSA is responsible for the review and approval of plans and specifications for public school construction and other state-owned or state-leased facilities. Architects working on public projects must comply with the DSA’s regulations and guidelines to ensure the safety and accessibility of these structures.
HACI/OSHPD regulates and oversees the construction and renovation of healthcare facilities in California. Architects involved in designing healthcare facilities need to follow OSHPD’s guidelines and regulations to ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal supports the mission of the CAL FIRE by focusing on fire prevention. The Office of the State Fire Marshal provides support through a wide variety of fire safety responsibilities including: regulating buildings in which people live, congregate, or are confined and by developing and reviewing regulations and building standards. In 2023, we are cooperating with the State Fire Marshalls Office on a number of issues, including the adoption of seven missing chapters from the International Existing Building Code.
The California Energy Commission is the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency, responsible for promoting energy efficiency by setting the state’s appliance and building efficiency standards and working with local government to enforce those standards.
CalEMA is responsible for the coordination of overall state agency response to major disasters in support of local government. The Agency is responsible for assuring the state’s readiness to respond to and recover from all hazards – natural, manmade, war-caused emergencies and disasters – and for assisting local governments in their emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and hazard mitigation efforts
