SENATE BILL 61

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO LICENSURE; AMENDING THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS ACT; LOWERING THE REQUIRED MINIMUM YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FOR A LICENSE APPLICANT WITHOUT A DEGREE FROM TEN TO EIGHT YEARS; AUTHORIZING THE BOARD OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS TO INCREASE THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FOR A LICENSE APPLICANT WITH OR WITHOUT A DEGREE TO BRING NEW MEXICO'S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORD WITH NATIONAL MODEL LEGISLATION OR ACCREDITATION STANDARDS BY RULE.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 61-24B-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1985, Chapter 151, Section 8, as amended) is amended to read:

     "61-24B-8. QUALIFICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION.--

          A. A person desiring to become registered as a landscape architect shall make application to the board on a written form and in such manner as the board prescribes, pay all required application fees and certify and furnish evidence to the board that the applicant:

                [A.] (1) has graduated from an accredited program in landscape architecture at a school, college or university and has a minimum of two years of practical experience acceptable to the board; [at least one year of which shall be under the supervision of a landscape architect;

                B.] (2) has graduated from a nonaccredited program of landscape architecture at a school, college or university offering a minimum four-year bachelor's degree curriculum or a minimum two-year master's degree curriculum and has a minimum of four years of practical experience acceptable to the board; [at least one year of which shall be under the supervision of a landscape architect;

                C.] (3) has graduated from a program in a field related to landscape architecture at a school, college or university offering a minimum four-year bachelor's degree curriculum or a minimum two-year master's degree curriculum and has a minimum of [five] six years of practical experience acceptable to the board [at least one year of which shall be under the supervision of a landscape architect]; or

                [D.] (4) has a minimum of [ten] eight years of practical experience in landscape architectural work that is acceptable to the board [at least one year of which shall be under the supervision of a landscape architect]; provided that:

                     [(1)] (a) each satisfactorily completed year of study in an accredited program of landscape architecture may be accepted in lieu of one year of practical experience required under this [subsection] paragraph; or

                     [(2)] (b) a baccalaureate degree from a school, college or university may be accepted in lieu of two years of practical experience required under this [subsection] paragraph.

          B. The board may increase the required number of years of experience required under this section in order to bring New Mexico into accord with national model legislation or accreditation standards by rule."

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