The West Virginia Legislative Auditor's Performance Evaluation and Research Division has recommended the elimination of the Board of Licensed Dietitians. The review indicated that the Board essentially duplicates the function of the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the national regulatory organization for dietitians. The audit recommends title protection for licensed dietitians and nutritionists who are required to be licensed by the National Commission on Dietetic Registration.
September 16, 2021
September 02, 2021
New licensing laws in effect in Texas
Several laws went into effect September 1 affecting the Texas department of Licensing and Regulation. The TDLR has been extended for 12 years, with the next sunset review scheduled for 2033. Some professions have been deregulated: polygraph examiners, wig stylists and wig salons, and combative sports event coordinator and others. The barbering program and the cosmetology program are combined into a new board. Under SB40 and HB4, telehealth and telemedicine will be allowed for programs administered by TDLR.
February 13, 2020
Florida: out-of-state dental license law sunsetted
A 2008 Florida law, the Health Access Dental License, was sunsetted on January 20, 2020. The Florida Dental Association is advocating for the law to be reinstated to allow out-of-state dentists to practice in underserved areas and federally qualified health settings. Another group, Floridians for Dental Access, is advocating for a new healthcare license, dental therapists. Dental therapists, requiring a high school diploma and three years additional training, would be allowed to perform basic dental treatment and preventative services under the supervision of a licensed dentist.
October 10, 2019
CSG hosts webinar on sunrise/sunset reviews
The Council of State Governments will host a webinar on November 5 related to occupational licensing sunrise and sunset reviews, highlighting several state approaches. The presentation will discuss the rationale for and outcomes of having such an approach to evaluating the necessity of occupational regulation.
Florida governor renews call for occupational licensing reform
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced his 2020 occupational licensing reform objectives. One bill would allow an occupational license from one Florida county to be valid in all Florida counties. Another bill would create sunset legislation to require the Legislature to re-authorize licensing requirements on a regular basis. The Governor would also like to see a "comprehensive bill to limit or remove unnecessary occupational licensing requirements," including prohibiting boards from denying a license based solely on student loan default.
August 07, 2019
Vermont Sunset Advisory Committee decision on Office of Professional Regulation
The Vermont Sunset Advisory Committee is tasked with reviewing all state-run boards and panels by 2020. The Committee recently decided to honor the request of the Office of Professional Regulation to continue overseeing the state's professional licensing boards. The Committee will not review the boards under the Office of Professional Regulation.
June 05, 2019
Texas plumber regulatory board sunseted
Effective September 1, 2019, the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners will be abolished. The Sunset Advisory Commission had recommended that the regulatory functions of the Board be transferred to the Department of Licensing and Regulation, but the legislature adjourned without taking action. Plumbers are planning a rally at the State Capitol and calling for a special session to re-visit the issue. With a "ind-down" period of one year, the TSBPE has indicated the potential to create a database showing which plumbers were previously licensed.
February 20, 2019
Ohio: sunset review law signed
Ohio's governor has signed a law requiring review of every occupational license requirement in the state over the next six years. The law automatically repeals any licensing laws that are not specifically renewed or modified to a lesser type of regulation. The law also creates a sunrise review process for new licensing laws and requires the use of the least restrictive form of regulation.
February 23, 2017
Texas Sunset Advisory Commission reports
The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission's report on the State Board of Dental Examiners recommends continuing the agency for 12 years but makes a number of recommendations for reform. The size of the Board would be reduced from 15 to 11 members. The Board's statutory advisory groups would be eliminated in favor of clearer processes for stakeholder input. The structure and conduct of informal settlement proceedings would be more well-defined. The Board's four dental assistant certificate programs would be merged into one registration for dental assistants. The Board would be required to establish minimum standards, education and training for dentists administering anesthesia, particularly for high-risk and pediatric patients.
Read more of the recommendations
The report on the Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, and Board of Social Work Examiners recommends consolidating these boards with the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the Council on Sex Offender Treatment and licensed chemical dependency counselors to form the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. Such merger would take place by September 1, 2018. Each board would appoint one of its professional members and one of its public members to serve on the Executive Council, which would have final authority over rules of scope of practice, standards of care, ethics, and all operational and regulatory procedures.
March 01, 2016
Colorado: surgical technologists call for more regulation
A Colorado law requiring surgical technologists to register with the state is scheduled to sunset September 1, 2016. HB16-1160, currently being considered by the House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee, would continue the requirement that surgical technicians and surgical assistants register with the Division of Professions and Occupations in the Department of Regulatory Agencies until September 1, 2021 when another sunset review would take place. The National Association of Surgical Technologists is citing cases where technicians have put patients at risk of blood-borne illnesses and is calling for stricter regulation of the profession.
