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Wisconsin considers Occupational License Review Council

Legislation introduced in Wisconsin would create an Occupational License Review Council to review occupational licensing laws to determinewhich are necessary and which are not. The Council would consist of four members appointed by the governor, two by the Senate majority leader, and two by the speaker of the Assembly, with the secretary of the Department of Safety and Professional Services serving as a non-voting member. The Council would produce a report by December 31, 2018.

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Japan eliminates tourist guide licensing requirement

After almost 70 years of tourist guide licensure laws, Japan is faced with a record number of tourists and a shortage of guides. A new law allows guide interpreters to work for pay without obtaining the national license. Guide interpreters conduct tours in the native language of the tourists, with about 70% of registered guides specializing in English. However, about 26% of tourists are from China and 21% from South Korea. The amended law hopes to alleviate the shortage of guides. The national certification program will now be voluntary.

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US House and Senate consider bill to reduce licensing requirements

The New Hope and Opportunity through the Power of Employment Act (New HOPE Act) has been introduced in the US House and Senate. The bill would give state governors the authority to use career and technical funds for the "identification, consolidation or elimination of licenses or certifications that pose an unnecessary barrier to entry for aspiring workers and provide limited consumer protection." The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

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Florida considers deregulation or reduced training for some professions

Both the Florida House and Senate have approved changes to regulations to remove licensing requirements for some professions: hair braiders, hair wrappers, body wrappers, boxing announcers and boxing timekeepers. Training hour requirements would be reduced for some professions: barbers, nail specialists, facial specialists and full specialists. The bill awaits the governor's signature.

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Arizona: Executive Order to justify occupational licensing

The governor of Arizona has issued an Executive Order requiring the state's occupational licensing boards to submit data to justify their regulatory standards. The boards will have to submit details of how they set requirements and fees and compare the standards to those in other states. If Arizona's standards are found to be stricter or more burdensome that those in other states, the board will have to justify its standards "with specific reference to potential harm to individuals in the State of Arizona." The boards must submit the initial reports by June 30.

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Iowa considers bill for professional licensing task force

HSB 174 in Iowa would create a professional licensing task force to "review the requirements for each professional license in the state and make recommendations regarding each profession that is subject to state licensure requirements with the goals of protecting public health and safety, removing barriers to practice, streamlining application processes, reducing the size, scope, and cost of government, and reducing licensing fees.” Task force members would include legislators and three public members with professional licenses to be appointed by the Governor, as well as seeking input from members of each licensed profession and the corresponding professional associations.

The bill would also establish that "an executive branch administrative unit shall not assess a fee, require authorization to practice, or otherwise impose regulations on a profession if the administrative unit did not regulate the profession prior to July 1, 2017."

The bill also includes repeal of the Interior Design Examining Board, as well as changing the Electrical Examining Board to an advisory council under the Department of Public Safety and shifting regulatory authority over electricians accordingly.

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Update: Iowa deregulation bill will not move forward

Iowa legislation to remove or lessen licensing requirements for a number of professions did not advance out of subcommittee in order to be considered this legislative session. Those working with the bill received thousands of emails in opposition to the changes, including from industry groups representing licensed professions and citizens who attended the hearing. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has indicated that he still supports removal of the professional licensing requirements and that dealing with the issue is still a priority.

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Iowa considers deregulation of massage therapists, social workers

A bill from the Iowa governor's office would remove licensing requirements for massage therapists, barbers and social workers, among others. The governor's office has indicated an interest in pursuing less expensive ways to credential professionals, such as a state registry or certification. Professions listed in the bill also include dieticians, orthotists, funeral directors, marriage and family therapists, audiologists, respiratory care therapists, and polysomnographic technologists.

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Indiana considers hair-braiding deregulation bill

A bill under consideration in Indiana would have Indiana joint the 20 other states that have removed cosmetology license requirements for African-American hair braiders. The bill passed the Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee and will be voted on by the House. Currently, hair braiders must complete 1500 hours of practice before becoming licensed. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency indicated that they have never received a complaint about unlicensed hair braiding.

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Virginia considers annual evaluation of professional regulations

Legislation under consideration in Virginia would charge the Joint Commission on Rules with evaluating at least three professional regulations annually to make sure that they are not more restrictive than necessary. Another bill being considered would allow local school boards to waive certain licensing requirements for career and technical education teachers teaching in vocational fields. Both bills have passed in the House of Delegates and now move to the Senate.

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