State Board of Architectural Examiners public meetings in 2020
19 substantive meetings from 2020, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Board will discuss upcoming rule changes regarding military licensure and declaratory rulings. The meeting includes a review of the 2019 audit results and recent financial statements from August through October 2020.
- Review of upcoming rule changes for military licensure
- Presentation of 2019 audit results
- Ratification of issued licenses
- Review of August, September, and October 2020 financial statements
- Discussion of business name waiver requests
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Complaint Review Committee will meet via Zoom to discuss several specific cases in executive session. The committee is also scheduled to take action on multiple cases and approve three consent orders.
- Discussion of Cases 2019-15, 2019-18, 2020-01, 2020-02, and 2020-07
- Action on Case No. 2019-15
- Action on Case No. 2019-18
- Action on Case No. 2020-01
- Approval of Consent Orders for Cases 2019-14, 2019-20, and 2020-04
The Committee approved several consent orders and proposed sanctions for unlicensed or expired practice of architecture. It recommended pursuing a court judgment for unpaid fines in one case and issued a letter of caution in another.
- Approved September 11, 2020 minutes (3-0)
- Recommended Board accept consent order for case 2019-15 and seek judgment in East Baton Rouge District Court (3-0)
- Proposed consent order for case 2019-18 including $3,500 fine, cease & desist, and social media removal of architecture terms (3-0)
- Closed case 2020-01 and issued a letter of caution and warning (3-0)
- Proposed conditional consent order for case 2020-02 including $1,000 fine if research confirms architect was required (3-0)
- Proposed consent order for case 2020-07 including $1,500 fine (3-0)
- Accepted executed Consent Orders for cases 2019-14, 2019-20, and 2020-04 for Board ratification (3-0)
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Board accepted three consent orders involving fines and license suspensions for practitioners and firms. It also ratified 83 new or reinstated individual and firm licenses. Members discussed upcoming rule changes regarding military licensure and declaratory rulings.
- Approved minutes of September 11, 2020 meeting (7-0)
- Accepted consent order for Clifton James, LLC: $2,000 fine and $209.13 costs (4-0)
- Accepted consent order for Clifton C. James, Architect: one-year license suspension, $6,750 fine, and $2,110.41 costs (4-0)
- Accepted consent order for The Hill Firm, Inc.: $1,500 fine and $448.85 costs (4-0)
- Approved 83 licenses and certificates of authority issued Sept 5 to Nov 29, 2020 (7-0)
- Approved name waiver request from Architectural Building Solutions (7-0)
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Complaint Review Committee decided on sanctions for several architectural complaints, including a proposed one-year license suspension for Clifton C. James. The committee also proposed fines for Clifton James LLC and The Hill Firm, Inc., while dismissing two other complaints.
- Approved June 5, 2020 minutes (3-0)
- Dismissed complaint 2019-16 (Lisa M. Southern) and issued letter of caution and warning (3-0)
- Proposed consent order for Clifton James LLC: $2,000 fine and administrative costs (3-0)
- Proposed consent order for Clifton C. James: 1-year license suspension, 1-year probation, $6,750 fine, and administrative costs (3-0)
- Dismissed complaint 2019-21 (Gregory K. Bennett) (3-0)
- Proposed consent order for The Hill Firm, Inc.: $1,500 fine and administrative costs (3-0)
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Complaint Review Committee will meet via Zoom to discuss and take action on four specific cases. The meeting includes an executive session to discuss these matters.
- Review of Case 2019-16
- Review of Case 2019-20
- Review of Case 2019-21
- Review of Case 2020-04
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Board approved five individuals for service on the Architect Selection Board and ratified a list of licenses issued between May and September 2020. It also waived the 2020 continuing education requirement for 27 state fire marshal plan reviewers. The Board reviewed financial statements showing a $66K year-end surplus.
- Approved minutes of June 5, 2020 meeting (7-0)
- Approved minutes of June 15, 2020 meeting (7-0)
- Approved licenses and certificates of authority issued May 27 to September 4, 2020 (7-0)
- Approved Jill Maumus, Kay K. St. Amant, Kristopher M. Palagi, Michael McClure, and Benton R. Patterson, Jr. to the Architect Selection Board (7-0)
- Waived 2020 HSW Continuing Education requirement for 27 State Fire Marshal’s Office architect plan reviewers (7-0)
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners will meet via Zoom to discuss and potentially act on several administrative items. Key agenda items include a legal counsel report on proposed rule changes (LAPELS NOI and LAC 46.I.1109 for military licensure), ratification of previously issued licenses, and the executive director's report covering financial statements and a CE audit. The meeting is largely procedural with no major policy decisions expected.
- Legal review of LAPELS NOI: LAC 46:LXI.105
- Discussion of LAC 46.I.1109 Licensure for Military Applicants
- Ratification of licenses issued since last meeting
- Executive Director's report including June and July 2020 financial statements and 2020 audited financial statement
- CE audit and reporting to the state
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners will meet via Zoom to review and approve the FY21 budget, which includes firm fees. The board will also hear public comment and discuss a response from LAPELS. Other business and new business items may be addressed.
- FY21 Budget Review & Approval
- Firm fees discussion
- Response from LAPELS
- Public comment period
The Board extended the deadline for firm registration renewal fees to September 30, 2020. Members also approved the FY21 Operating Budget, which includes a proposed surplus of $148,000.
- Extended firm registration renewal deadline from June 30 to September 30, 2020 (7-0)
- Approved FY21 Operating Budget (7-0)
- Requested Legal Counsel be included in future Incidental Practice Task Force discussions
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Complaint Review Committee entered executive session to discuss investigative proceedings regarding allegations of misconduct. The committee requested additional information for cases involving Clifton C. James, Sr., Clifton James, Jr., and Lisa M. Southern, and decided to keep the Amahd Larkins case open.
- Entered Executive Session to discuss misconduct allegations (3-0)
- Requested additional information for cases 2019-14, 2019-20, and 2019-16
- Decided to keep case 2019-18 open due to new facts
- Approved February 21, 2020, CRC minutes (3-0)
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Complaint Review Committee of the Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners will meet via Zoom to discuss and take action on four disciplinary cases. The committee will also enter executive session as allowed by state law. The meeting is held remotely due to the governor's proclamation.
- Approval of minutes from February 21, 2020
- Discussion of Cases 2019-14, 2019-16, 2019-18, and 2019-20
- Executive session (La. R.S. 42:17(A)(4))
- Action on Cases 2019-14, 2019-16, and 2019-20
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Board approved a 2% salary increase for the Executive Director and Deputy Director. The Board also ratified a list of architectural licenses and certificates of authority issued between February 8 and May 26, 2020.
- Approved 2% salary increase for Executive Director and Deputy Director
- Ratified 14 initial and 32 reciprocal individual licenses (7-0)
- Ratified 14 architectural firm and 2 professional corporation certificates (7-0)
- Approved February 21, 2020 meeting minutes (7-0)
- Approved March 7, 2002 meeting minutes (7-0)
- Approved April 9, 2020 meeting minutes (7-0)
- Selected Ron Blitch as Voting Delegate for the 2020 NCARB Virtual Annual Business Meeting (7-0)
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners will meet via Zoom on June 5, 2020. The agenda includes a legal report on a proposed rule (LAC 46:LXI.105), ratification of licenses, and discussion of COVID-19-related fee waiver requests. The board will also review the FY21 draft budget and select a voting delegate for NCARB's virtual annual business meeting.
- Legal Counsel Report: LAPELS NOI on LAC 46:LXI.105
- Ratification of licenses issued
- COVID-19 issues: CE waiver and fee waiver requests
- March 2020 financial statement and FY21 draft budget
- Selection of voting delegate for NCARB virtual ABM
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners holds a virtual meeting due to the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. Agenda items include a staff update, continuing education audit, firm registration renewals, and a request for extension regarding the ULL AERF project. No votes or decisions are recorded in the agenda.
- Meeting held via Zoom due to JBE Proclamation 2020-41
- Continuing Education Audit update
- Firm Registration Renewals discussion
- Request for Extension – ULL AERF
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Board decided to postpone the new Continuing Education Audit/Reporting pilot until a later date. Members also approved a 12-month extension for the University of Louisiana – Lafayette's final report regarding FY20 AERF funds.
- Postponed new Continuing Education Audit/Reporting pilot
- Approved 12-month deadline extension for ULL Architecture and Education Research Fund report
- Agreed to check with other schools regarding potential fund report extensions
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Board directed staff to determine if LAPELS will pause rulemaking on Rule 105 to meet with the Incidental Task Force. If no commitment is made, staff and legal counsel are instructed to request an opinion from the Attorney General regarding Opinion 11-0048. The Board also approved a continuing education program for 5 HSW units.
- Directed staff to contact LAPELS regarding pausing Rule 105 rulemaking (7-0)
- Instructed staff to request Attorney General opinion if no commitment is reached (7-0)
- Approved Tree School program for 5 HSW (6-1)
- Recommended staff re-evaluate the Program Approval Form
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners will hold a regular meeting on February 21, 2020. Items include ratification of licenses, a legal counsel report on rules, and an executive director's report with a firm waiver request from Spirit Architects and a licensee inquiry on stamping drawings. The board will also discuss NCARB resolutions and officer candidates.
- Firm waiver request – Spirit Architects
- Licensee inquiry – Stamping drawings & specifications
- NCARB 2020 Regional Summit draft resolutions
- December 2019 financial statement
- LAPELS NOI: LAC 46:LXI.105
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners Complaint Review Committee will meet to discuss several disciplinary cases (2019-14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21) and a matter involving an architect's failure to disclose an investigation on renewal. After executive session discussion, the committee will take action on cases 2019-14, 16, 18, 20, and 21. The meeting also includes approval of previous minutes.
- Discussion of failure to disclose investigation on renewal
- Case 2019-14 discussion and action
- Case 2019-15 update
- Case 2019-16 discussion and action
- Case 2019-18, 2019-20, 2019-21 discussion and action
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Complaint Review Committee met to discuss various cases involving allegations of unlicensed practice and failure to disclose investigations. The committee requested additional information for multiple cases and scheduled respondents to attend the June 2020 meeting.
- Approved December 12, 2019, minutes (3-0)
- Entered Executive Session to discuss investigative proceedings (3-0)
- Requested Clifton James, LLC respondent attend June 2020 meeting (3-0)
- Requested Lisa M. Southern d/b/a Southern Custom Designs respondent attend June 2020 meeting (3-0)
- Requested Clifton C. James respondent attend June 2020 meeting (3-0)
- Voted to keep Gregory K. Bennett d/b/a D & G Line Designs case open and continue investigation (3-0)
State Board of Architectural Examiners
The Board approved December 2019 meeting minutes and a list of recently issued licenses. Members also voted to send a rebuttal letter to LAPELS regarding engineering practice definitions.
- Approved December 13, 2019 meeting minutes as amended (6-0)
- Approved list of licenses and certificates issued Nov 16, 2019 – Feb 7, 2020 (6-0)
- Agreed to submit rebuttal letter to LAPELS regarding incidental practice (6-0)
- Denied Spirit Architects request to use 'Architect' in business name (6-0)