« July 2005 | Main | September 2005 »
The Scottish Consumer Council recently issued a proposal for reform of the law Society, calling for governance by a mojority of non-solicitors. A key component of the proposal is that consumer confidence in the complaints system can improve only if complaints are handled by an impartial party, not by members of the profession.
The American Institute for CPAs and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy have issued draft revisions to their jointly published Uniform Accountancy Act and Uniform Accountancy Act Rules. The revisions can be viewed at www.aicpa.org or www.nasba.org.
Thirty states currently regulate home inspectors - 26 of the 30 have enacted their laws within the past eight years - and the American Society of Home inspectors expects that the trend will continue. ASHI has recently released a position statement ranking each state based on their regulations' emphasis on education, experience, examination requirements, and use f a standard of practice and tough code of ethics.
The ultra-powerful magnets used in modern MRI scanners have caused a great increase in the number and frequency of accidents - metal objects being pulled into the scanners and injuring patients or others nearby. Safety experts and some members of the American College of Radiology are calling for federal or state laws to mandate safe operation rules.
A doctor and an unlicensed practitioner are under investigation by the Georgia Board of Medical Examiners for providing an herbal treatment to cancer patients which resulted in disfigurement and eating away of the flesh. Dan Raber may face felony charges for practicing without a license and Dr. Lois March could lose her license for collaborating with Raber.
The number of suspectd incidents of mortgage fraud reported to the FBI last year has more than doubled nationwide since 2003. A recent FBI investigation and federal court case in Louisville, Kentucky involved a mortgage broker accused of 20 counts of fraud. The state Office of Financial Institutions, which regulates mortgage-brokers in Kentucky, is calling for stronger laws.
The Illinois Attorney General's Office has opened an investigation into "ghost" locksmiths, out-of-state companies posing as locksmiths in Illinois, after receiving six complaints from consumers. These out-of-state ghost locksmiths obtain a local phone number and phonebook listing and have been providing services to Illinois residents even though they are not licensed in the state of Illinois. After performing services, they tend to charge more than twice what local licensed locksmiths charge.
Following the governor's veto of HB 315, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is holding meetings to develop a possible new law regarding home inspectors and mold assessors/mold remediators licensure. HB 315, which would have allowed a lower level of regulation for home inspectors and mold assessors/mold remediators, was vetoed by Gov. Jeb Bush because he thinks more consumer protection is needed in these fields.
An article by Morris M. Kleiner, "Regulating Occupations: The Growth and Labor-Market Impact of Licensing," is available. The article presents the labor-market effects of licensing and asks: "does licensing raise quality relative to its impact on wages and prices, and what is the impact on consumers of this form of labor-market regulation?" Link to the article.
The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that administrative law judges must state a reason before deciding to seal records or close hearings in cases that involve the discipline of physicians. The Court stated that, as a public body, the administrative law court "is required to make specific, express findings of fact when faced with an issue in which there is dispute."
