CLEAR

Ontario: teacher loses license for political extremism

Eric Fromm, a teacher who taught for 19 years without incident in a secondary school has lost his teaching license because of his public political extremism. Fromm, who is profiled on Wikipedia as a Canadian neo-Nazi leader and far-right political activist did not bring his political views into the school. Despite this, a disciplinary panel of the Ontario College of Teachers has ruled that "This case is not about the member's right to hold political views that are unpopular, or to participate in legal political activities. It is about whether a teacher who publicly expresses views which are contrary to the values of the profession and the education system, and which have a negative impact on the education system, is entitled to be a member of the college." Read more: The Mississauga News; National Post.

North Carolina: home inspectors may make safety recommendations

The Home Inspector Licensure Board has rejected a rule change that would have prevented home inspectors from recommending safety repairs and upgrades for the homes on which they write reports. The realtors' lobby supported the rule change while home inspectors, who came from across the state to picket the board meeting, did not. Read more.

Hawaii: discount for online license renewal

The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) is offering a 25% "customer appreciation credit" on renewal fees for professionals who renew their licenses online. Read more.

Canada: new website for accounting transition

The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) has developed a new website to assist with the transition to International Financial Reporting Standards. CICA asks users to provide input that can be used to expand the site's usefulness. Visit the website.

New Jersey: pharmacies must fill prescriptions

Governor Corzine has signed a law that "Establishes pharmacy’s duty to fill prescriptions for in-stock drugs or devices without delay, notwithstanding sincerely held moral, philosophical or religious beliefs of pharmacist." Preliminary copy of new act.

Illinois: new pharmacy practice act

A new state law expands the ways Illinois pharmacies and their licensed employees can help consumers. To help fill the current and anticipated pharmacist shortage, qualified pharmacists from other states and countries are provided a "simpler way" to obtain Illinois licensure. Standards for pharmacy technician registration are raised to reflect an increased professional status. State regulators can now discipline pharmacists for standard of care or unlicensed practice violations by meting out civil penalties of up to $10,000. Read more.   Full text of SB0509.

Pennsylvania: court waives fine for unlicensed midwife

A comonwealth court judge has waived an $11,000 fine the state medical board assessed an unlicensed midwife. He did not lift the board's cease and desist order that stopped her practice. The midwife is certified by the North American Registry of Midwives, but is not a registered nurse, which is a requirement for state licensure. She has a suit pending seeking clarification of the state's medical practice act regarding lay midwives. Read more.

New York: medical board has absolute judicial immunity

The plaintiff appealed a case in which she alleged race discrimination and deprivation of property in the form of her medical license without due process. District court had dismissed the case on the grounds of absolute judicial immunity, statute of limitations and failure to state a claim. The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's finding, writing "Absolute judicial immunity attaches to a state medical review board's disciplinary proceeding where, as here, the individual charged has the right to be represented by counsel, to present evidence and to cross-examine witnesses, and where the board articulates its findings and conclusions in a binding order under a preponderance of the evidence standard." U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals: Applewhite v. Briber, Case Number: 06-1923-cv

Washington: report recommends licensing home inspectors

The Washington State Department of Licensing has issued a report recommending that the legislature consider licensing home inspectors as a public protection measure. During its last session, the legislature did consider licensing the profession, but ordered further study before making a decision. The department held public meetings and collected input from all stakeholders which is included in the report. Appendices E and F contain by-state summaries of home inspector regulation as provided by two associations. Read the report.