CLEAR

Canada: attorney client verification requirements

The Law Society of Upper Canada's new client identification and verification requirements take effect 31 December 2008. Lawyers and licensed paralegals (or their retained agents) must now verify the identity of clients, whether meeting with them in person or not. Read more.

Tennessee: no jury exemptions for professionals

The automatic exemption from jury duty for several state-licensed professions, including attorneys and physicians, is eliminated beginning 1 january, 2009. The change is intended to provide juries that represent the state's entire population.  Read more.

Florida: more mortgage reform proposed

The Office of Financial Regulation is proposing mortgage regulations that include conducting annual criminal background checks for everyone selling mortgages in Florida. This is the latest step in a reform push prompted by an investigative series in the Miami Herald revealing that brokers convicted of fraud kept their licenses. The top mortgage regulator subsequently resigned and emergency rules were imposed that include a lifetime ban on anyone convicted of a felony involving fraud or financial wrongdoing. Read more.

Texas: successful reform creates problem

The number of physicians practicing in Texas is up and the number of lawsuits down, due largely to medical malpractice reforms instituted five years ago. The Texas Medical Board staff was increased 28% to handle the anticipated need to settle more cases out of court, but settlements through the board grew 202%, creating an undesirable backlog. Read more. 

Washington: systematically tracking boards

In Review of Boards and Commissions - Pre-Audit Report, the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee (JLARC) proposes four approaches the legislature could use to more systematically track boards and commissions. It could focus on those With little activity; those with a high impact on state resources; those that license or adjudicate; and/or those that operate within a particular topic area. The report summarizes approaches used in selected other states.

Texas: medical board performance study

The Sunset Advisory Commission has released the Sunset Performance Study of the Texas Medical Board. This informational report contains no recommendations and focuses on the board's  licensing and enforcement processes. 

West Virginia: sunrise report recommends against CPMs

Licensing certified professional midwives would not signicantly enhance the health and welfare of the public compared to its costs concludes Sunrise Report: Licensing of Certified Professional Midwives. The nursing board opposed the proposal, saying the public is best served by licensed certified nurse midwifes.

Maryland: DLLR information systems not properly secured

The Office of Legislative Audits has released Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation– Office of the Secretary and Division of Administration (DLLR) for the period beginning August 1, 2004 and ending August 31, 2007. DLLR's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing regulates 21 non-health professions and occupations. Findings include that available security features were not fully used to control information systems and DLLR’s website, which is used to issue and renew occupational and professional licenses and collect the related fees. The lack of appropriate network security means that unauthorized users may view confidential application information. 

Dubai: doctors must make personal appearance

As the first phase of its licensing reform, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is requiring all 6,000 physicians working there to go in person to the Al Murooj Rotana hotel between January 16-30 to obtain user names and passwords. The physicians may then apply online for a new license. Employers and physicians are asking the DHA for more detail about the re-licensing procedures. Read more.

Nigeria: "war" on exam malpractice leads to threats

The Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Education says he has received no fewer than 150 threat messages over his ministry's declared war against examination malpractice in the state. Read more.