Florida moves toward universal licensing

A new bill from the Florida Senate aims to promote license mobility for professionals entering the state from other jurisdictions. Senate Bill 1364 would offer universal licensure under three different conditions: if the professional has already been licensed by a different licensing body, if the professional has a certain amount of prior work experience, or if the professional is privately certified and has work experience in a state without licensure in that field.

The bill has been amended to include language specifying that prior disciplinary actions are subject to review by Florida licensing boards, who can veto licensure if they find an offense deems any professional unqualified for it. The amendment also includes a clause that medical licensing boards can create their own licensing criteria for those who enter Florida with medical certification from another state.

According to Dr. Scot Ackerman, Chair of the Florida Board of Medicine, medical board officials had reservations about the bill that were assuaged by the amendments. With proper authority given to medical boards, Ackerman said, physicians could be more thoroughly assessed for competence. Proponents argue that, if passed, the bill could add over 200,000 new licensees to Florida’s workforce. Read more at the Washington Examiner.

Kansas joins Teacher Compact

Kansas has become the fourth state to enact the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, thanks to new legislation signed by Governor Laura Kelly. The compact, developed by the Council of State Governments in partnership with the Department of Defense, is part of a slew of interstate agreements being put forth across the country to promote professional mobility between different jurisdictions.

Compact legislation, recently enacted in Utah, Colorado, and Kentucky, has been put forth in about a dozen other states, including Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi, and Washington. The activation process will begin once a total of 10 states have passed the legislation, and stakeholders believe it could take up to two years for the compact to become fully operational.

Supporters believe widespread implementation of the compact would help to alleviate the teacher shortages plaguing underserved districts in the state, while critics have raised concerns about an influx of underqualified professionals. Some critics of interstate licensing at large believe it fails to address the low salaries and difficult working conditions that keep schools and other institutions understaffed. Read more at AP News.

Nevada considers licensing midwifery

Lawmakers in Nevada – the only state in the western U.S. without professional licensure for midwives – are currently debating a new bill that would create the state’s first-ever regulations for the profession. Assembly Bill 386, which passed out of the Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor on April 14 and would establish optional licensure for certified professional midwives (CPMs), has attracted controversy from critics who argue it could reduce medical autonomy in the state.

CPMs offer assistance to clients who choose to give birth outside of a hospital setting. Though roughly 2% of deliveries in Nevada in 2021 were home births overseen by midwives, this number has gone up over the past year. Proponents maintain that the licensure standards set forth in the bill are optional, and that certification would be available to midwives who want to be held to a higher standard of practice.

The Nevada Midwives Association, however, argues the bill does not include clear language establishing licensure as optional. Some critics believe regulators could interpret the bill’s provisions as applying to all midwives, while others believe optional licensure represents the first step toward making licensure mandatory throughout the state. Some opponents also believe the midwifery board established by the bill would not adequately represent the state’s CPMs. Read more at the Nevada Current.

Montana Gov. Gianforte signs ten deregulation bills

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has signed ten bills intended to reduce red tape in the state’s regulatory ecosystem. This most recent milestone in the governor’s deregulation effort includes legislation repealing rules in education, trucking, agricultural hauling, tourism, and other industries. The Red Tape Relief effort is sponsored by 84 legislators in the state and includes 188 bills, 100 of which have already been signed into law.

Among the bills signed are House Bill 117, which creates a simplified pathway for retired teachers who want to resume working as substitutes; House Bill 34, which exempts certain grants from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation from an environmental review process; and House Bill 266, which does away with a state advisory council on concealed weapon permits.

A “keystone” of the Red Tape Relief effort, House Bill 152, has not yet been passed but would overhaul the state’s occupational licensing rules. Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras said the administration’s deregulation effort will continue even after the end of the session, with agencies and stakeholders gearing up to propose more legislation reducing bureaucratic obstacles throughout the state. Read more at KTVH.com.

South Carolina governor urged to sign occupational licensing reform

The South Carolina chapter of Americans for Prosperity is calling on Governor Henry McMaster to sign legislation the group argues would simplify occupational licensure for those with prior criminal convictions. The bill would bar officials from rejecting a licensee over a conviction unless it “directly related to the duties, responsibilities, or fitness of the occupation or profession.”

The legislation would also require the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to notify professionals about any complaints filed against them if the complaints lead to an investigation. Under the law, licensees will also have to be informed once these complaints have been reviewed and resolved. The bill also gives licensees the right to request a state-appointed hearing officer at internal conferences.

Americans for Prosperity argues the bill would allow those who have exited the criminal justice system to have a path toward re-integrating into society. With the House and Senate both having passed the legislation, the group is calling on McMaster to quickly sign it into law. The governor is expected to look over the bill and make a decision in the coming days. Read more at The Center Square.

More news:

• Crypto industry leaders are praising a recent vote by the European Parliament to pass the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) bill, which would clarify regulations in the crypto market while still attempting to promote growth and innovation. In the works since 2019 and passed on April 20, the bill requires approval from the European Council before it can be passed into law.
• Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt recently signed a new bill into law which will require medical cannabis growers to submit a bond with their applications to conduct business in the state. The bill is intended to protect the land on which marijuana is grown, with many stakeholders arguing growers frequently abandon their land and leave it in disrepair.
• State officials in Massachusetts are working to simplify the licensure pathway for certified educators who want to move into teaching special education and English as a second language. The state education board is proposing amendments to licensing regulations that would offer provisional licenses for already-certified teachers in new fields.

Also noteworthy:

Interesting opinion, commentary, and analysis from the web:

• When should a criminal past be wiped from public view? Revived Wisconsin bill would change criteria (Wisconsin Public Radio)
• Actively managing the IT investment portfolio: A playbook for state government (NASCIO)
• Canada’s economic growth slowdown: The case for a new Macdonald Commission (Macdonald-Laurier Institute)
• Opinion: Utah is making it easier for foreign and out-of-state professionals to get licensed and get to work (Reason)
• What’s in a license? Stark Brewery hosts discussion on state of NH licensure laws (Manchester Ink Link)

Disclaimer: The thoughts, opinions, and commentary of the articles we share links to in Week in Brief do not necessarily reflect those of Ascend Magazine or Thentia.