CLEAR

Massachusetts: lawmakers considering regulation of mixed martial arts

The Massachusetts Senate and House have voted in favor of legalizing and regulating ultimate fighting, or mixed martial arts. The bill would expand the state Boxing Commission by adding a specialist in mixed martial arts. The Commission would license and regulate fighters and promoters. The sport is currently regulated in 37 states.

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EU: compliance with Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications

The European Commission will send letters of formal notice to Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom regarding their failure to notify the Commission of measures they have taken to comply with the Directive on recognition of professional qualifications.  The Directive simplifies the structure of the system of recognition of professional qualifications in order to facilitate professional mobility. A fine could be imposed on these members states.

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Illinois: regulation changes proposed for cemetary workers

Proposed legislation in Illinois would require background checks, licensing and registration for cemetary owners and some types of cemetary employees. The legislation was put forth after a cemetary scandal involving the desecration of as many as 300 graves.

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Florida: changes to contractors' license look-up

Recently passed legislation eliminating the Qualified Business license for construction companies will make it easier for consumers to verify if a contractor is licensed. Consumers will only need to enter a contractor's first and last name in order to search online; the name of the business will no longer be necessary.

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Australia: water brokers call for regulation

Water brokers in Australia are calling for better regulation of their industry. Water trading involves the buying and selling of water access entitlements, or water rights, particularly within the farming sector. Waterfind, a national water broker, calls for licensing of water brokers and the establishment of other standards.

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Wisconsin: changes proposed to "opt-out" law

An "opt-out" law passed in 2000 allows license holders to request that their names not be included in lists that marketers and the public can acquire. The law was intended to protect drivers' and hunters' personal information, but in practice it also made it more difficult for the public to obtain information about professional license holders. A proposed revision to the bill would still allow professional license holders to opt out of release of information such as Social Security numbers, phone and address, but name, city and zip code would not be subject to the opt out.

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England: trade union calls for registration of nannies

A report published by the Children's Workforce Development Council finds that more than 80% of nannies in England feel that their profession is not given sufficient recognition by the general public. The trade union Voice has called for nannies to be added to Ofsted's (Office for Standards in Education, Child's Services and Skills) compulsory register for childcare workers.

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Caricom: regulation of journalists?

A Model Professional Services Bill proposed by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat could come into effect in three years and would regulate media professionals such as journalists. The draft bill calls for a government-appointed council for each profession to be tasked with the licensing and regulation of that profession. The Guyana Press Association, Association of Caribbean MediaWorkers, and Press Association of Jamaica, among others, oppose the bill.

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New Zealand: changes to teacher regulation

The New Zealand Teachers Council has released a consultation paper on proposed registration changes. To make a distinction between registration as membership of a profession and the ability to practise competently, the Council proposes that registration would have to be supplemented by a current practising certificate to be able to teach. Consultation on the proposed changes will close November 27.

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Scotland: new Chief Nursing Officer

Ros Moore has been named the new Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Scotland.  Her responsibilities will include providing professional, policy and organisational advice across the country on nursing, midwifery,  and matters on public health nursing.

Ms. Moore will also take a lead role on policy preventing HCAI, professional regulation and patient care.

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