CLEAR

New tool to analyze occupational licensing laws

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy has released a study that includes a model for reviewing occupational regulation laws "to help ensure they protect public safety without overburdening workers and consumers." The report describes different factors that policy makers should consider and provides a process to help identify "the most cost-effective and public welfare-enhancing regulatory tool needed for any occupation."

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California: license reciprocity bill introduced

California has introduced Assembly Bill 2185 to allow licensees in good standing in another state to transfer their license to California. To be eligible, individuals must have been actively practicing the professions for three of the past five years without any disciplinary action against their license.  California boards would still be able to require a state-specific exam if it is a requirement for California licensure.

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Arizona considers restructuring of regulatory boards

A bill under consideration in the Arizona Senate would change the composition of the Arizona Board of Technical Registration, Board of Barbers, Board of Cosmetology, State Board of Accountancy, State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, and Board of Massage Therapists such that the governor would appoint board members who are not licensed professionals in the field and the majority on the board would be public members.

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UK Government releases Paterson Inquiry report

In 2017, in response to a high-profile case of a surgeon convicted of wounding with intent, the UK Government commissioned an independent inquiry to make recommendations to improve patient safety. The report makes recommendations around information to patients, consent, multidisciplinary teams, complaints, patient recall and ongoing care, improving recall procedures, clinical indemnity, effective collaboration of regulators, investigations of healthcare professionals' practice and behaviours, and corporate accountability.

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Wisconsin bill proposes time window for sunrise reports

An amended bill AB-605 being considered in the Wisconsin Assembly would set a 270-day window for the Legislative Audit Bureau to complete a sunrise report evaluating any proposals to require new licenses for occupations. State representatives opposed to the bill warn that the time window could result in licensing bills intorduced later in the legislative session "timing out" before a sunrise report is completed.

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Ohio considers License Reciprocity Act

A bill under consideration by the Ohio House State and Local Government Committee would require state agencies to grant a license to an applicant who holds a comparable license in the same occupation in another state. Similar legislation is being considered in the Senate.

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Arizona governor urges more public members on boards

A proposal under consideration in Arizona would require many licensing boards in Arizona to shift their board composition to a majority of public members. A professor at Vanderbilt University has conducted a study showing that 85% of US occupational licensing boards are required by statute t be made up of currently licensed professionals.

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Governors meet for "Governors' Initiative on Regulatory Innovation"

Governors and other elected officials from Idaho, New Mexico, Arkansas, Alaska, Indiana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Mississippi, and the Southern Ute Indian Reservation met with the President and Vice-President to discuss issues related to cutting regulations and costs, advancing occupational licensing reform, and better aligning state and federal regulations.

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BC: steering committee proposes changes to healthcare regulation

A legislative committee in British Columbia is proposing changes to "streamline and modernize the province’s health professions regulatory system, to increase transparency and to put a 'relentless focus on patient safety.'” One aspect of the changes would allow consumers more information online about complaints, actions and sanctions against health professionals. Another aspect of the plan calls for the 20 health regulatory colleges to be consolidated into 5 - podiatrists would join physicians and surgeons, midwives would join nursing professionals, and the four oral health colleges would become one. Other changes would be an umbrella entity to oversee the colleges and equal numbers of professional and public members on boards. Comments are sought on the proposed changes through January 10, 2020.

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Wisconsin: bill would require "least restrcitive" regulation

A bill under consideration in Wisconsin would require the Wisconsin department of Safety and Professional Services to review proposals for new occupational licensing to consider the financial impact on people and businesses and to compare the proposal to how other states regulate the occupation. The agency would need to consider the least restrictive form of regulation in order to benefit the public.

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