Missouri seeks to join new interstate licensing compacts
Lawmakers in Missouri are awaiting the executive approval of new legislation that would enter the state into the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), which enables physicians in participating states to obtain licensure more easily in other participating states. The traditional licensing process, which involves a substantial amount of paperwork, including the submission of college transcripts, can take anywhere from four to six months.
Rep. Patty Lewis said entering Missouri into the IMLC could reduce the wait times for these credentials to just a few weeks. The legislation comes as part of a larger licensing package aimed at reducing barriers to certification for professional counselors. Senate Bill 70, sponsored by Sen. Travis Fitzwater, would also enter the state into the Counseling Interstate Compact, speeding up the licensing process for social workers and counselors from out of state.
Lawmakers in favor of the legislative measures say compact participation is nothing new for the state, as Missouri is already a member of several different interstate licensing agreements. Rep. Lewis said joining the IMLC could increase access to health care providers and “help to save lives of Missourians.” The legislation is now at the desk of Gov. Mike Parson, who has until July 14 to either approve or veto it. Read more at Missourinet.
Nevada governor lifts six-month freeze on new regulations
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has issued a new executive order lifting a six-month freeze that disallowed agencies, commissions, and boards in the state from creating new regulations. The governor’s office also announced that its plan to eliminate licensing rules for professions that are not licensed in most states will be put on hold, as the office has not yet compiled a proper list of occupations that should no longer require licensing.
The announcement comes as a follow-up to an executive order issued in January that required regulatory boards in the state to submit recommendations of licensing requirements that should be eliminated. The governor’s office said that though it received responses from 36 of the 37 boards affected by the order, licenses recommended to be eliminated under the new criteria will be reviewed sometime between now and next year’s legislative session.
The lift on January’s regulatory freeze also includes language permitting licensing entities to begin “repealing, streamlining, clarifying, reducing, or otherwise improving” the reviewed regulations. It also states that any new regulations should be “concise and easily understandable.” According to Lombardo’s office, legislation to eliminate or consolidate certain regulatory boards will likely be proposed for the state’s next legislative session. Read more at The Nevada Independent.
New Hampshire streamlines licensing for out-of-state professionals
A new law signed by New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu will allow professionals licensed in other jurisdictions to more easily obtain credentials to work in the state. The law, which requires that the state issue occupational licenses to professionals with credentials in good standing from other states with similar requirements, is intended to help struggling businesses and to encourage out-of-state workers to come to New Hampshire, according to the governor.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Joe Schapiro, included a provision that had previously been a part of an occupational licensing overhaul proposed by the governor earlier this year. Gov. Sununu’s previous proposal, which was met with controversy by lawmakers and regulatory officials alike, would have reorganized many of New Hampshire’s professional licensing boards and eliminated over 30 occupational licenses.
The passage of this bill represents a victory for Sununu in his effort to cut down on professional licensing regulations in the state. The governor called the new law a major improvement in the state’s professional licensing ecosystem and said he would still like to see the elimination of “outdated” licenses as well as administrative changes amongst New Hampshire’s various licensing bodies. The law is set to take effect after 60 days. Read more at New Hampshire Public Radio.
Impending regulations will require licensure for THAs in Ontario
A new regulation announced by the Ontario government will require temporary help agencies (THAs) in the province to obtain licensure beginning in January 2024. The regulation is intended to rein in certain THAs that officials say are illegally paying workers less than the minimum wage and denying them other basic employment rights that are provided by law-abiding agencies.
Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development, said THAs have historically been allowed to operate in a legal grey area that endangers the rights of vulnerable workers, and that the new licensing system will help bolster confidence in agencies and recruiters, harshly punish those who take advantage of workers, and even ban these agencies from operating in the province.
Advocates believe the new licensing rules will level the playing field for THAs and create a fairer ecosystem for agencies, clients, and assignment employees alike. The regulation will establish a public online database containing information on all licensed THAs, and companies that knowingly work with unlicensed entities will have to repay workers for any financial damages they incur. Read more at Canadian Occupational Safety.
Yukon, Canadian governments agree to invest in health care services
The Government of Canada and the Yukon government have announced an Agreement in Principle that will invest $380 million in federal funding in the Yukon over 10 years, with a special focus on increasing funding to health care services in the territory. The announcement comes on the heels of an investment announced in February which will allocate $46.2 billion to health care services in multiple provinces throughout the country.
The new investment, which is intended to improve access to family health services, particularly in rural areas and underserved communities, includes $171 million allocated for Canadian Health Transfer (CHT) growth between 2022 and 2033 as well as an immediate $2 million allocation to address urgent health care needs, particularly in pediatric clinics and emergency rooms.
According to the governments, the funding will also help to bolster the territory’s health workforce, increase access to mental health and substance use services, and help Yukoners to access their own electronic health information. The Government of Yukon will soon begin working with the Canadian government to follow through on a three-year action plan detailing targets and timelines for the disbursal of the funds. Read more at Yukon.ca.
More news:
- Recreational cannabis legalization has officially taken effect in Maryland. Under the state’s new rules, adults over the age of 21 may now possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis flower. Possession of between 1.5 and 2.5 ounces, despite being decriminalized, is still not entirely legal. Adults may also possess up to 12 grams of concentrates and/or 750 milligrams of THC-infused edibles. Additionally, eligible individuals with cannabis-related convictions under previous laws may now apply for expungement of these offenses.
- Indiana’s Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) will soon undergo a rapid transformation, thanks to changes enacted by the state’s General Assembly this year. These changes, some of which became effective July 1, include allowing regulatory boards to meet electronically, requiring boards to publicly post agendas, public meeting minutes, and vacancies online, and providing a strict 90-day timeline for boards to fill new vacancies.
- The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has conducted a one-week undercover sting operation on electricians and AC contractors in the Houston area, resulting in the opening of 37 new cases regarding the illicit provision of unlicensed services. The department’s findings included eight electricians and AC conductors operating with expired licenses as well as a high-risk sex offender offering unlicensed services in the area.
Also noteworthy:
Interesting opinion, commentary, and analysis from the web:
- Most states have seen an increase in nursing licenses. So why are there still shortages? (The Intelligencer)
- Universal licensing law eases burden for newcomers to state (The Suffolk News-Herald)
- How the federal government is using Artificial Intelligence so far (FedTech Magazine)
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.
IN BRIEF
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