NASCIO explores trends in digital government
According to a new report from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), state CIOs share many of the same priorities in improving digital government experiences as they did over 20 years ago. The report, “Creating a Citizen Centric Digital Experience: How Far Have We Come?,” draws upon state IT strategic plans, interviews with state CIOs, and past surveys to illustrate how the challenges of digital government have changed since the publication of a 2001 report on the same topic.
Though states have been able to digitize many public services over the past two decades, including taxes, permitting, and licensing, the report identifies several new obstacles to improving digital government, including workforce constraints and limited funding. It also highlights cybersecurity and user privacy as priorities for the future and recommends officials create a user experience where citizens can receive the services they need regardless of how they approach government.
The report predicts that with the continued proliferation of broadband connectivity, the demand for accessible digital services from governments will increase, and citizen experiences will remain a high priority for years to come. It also highlights the advancement of artificial intelligence and its potential to address workforce constraints by automating certain routine processes and freeing up public sector employees to work on higher level activities. Read more at StateScoop.
Universal license recognition benefits Arizona, think tanks say
Recent reports from multiple think tanks argue that Arizona’s universal license recognition law, which took effect in late 2019 and streamlines the licensing process for out-of-state professionals, has helped foster economic growth throughout the state. According to the Common Sense Institute of Arizona (CSI), the legislation has led to the creation or support of roughly 13,100 jobs and the generation of roughly $1.3 billion in “annual economic activity.”
While the legislation, signed into law by Gov. Doug Ducey in 2019, does not automatically recognize credentials from states with comparable licensing requirements, professionals from these states who apply through Arizona licensing boards are no longer required to retake training courses or duplicate experience requirements as part of the process, according to the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration.
A report from the Goldwater Institute estimates that over 8,000 professionals have been licensed in Arizona since the law’s passage. The CSI report projects a total increase of $3.3 billion in “annual economic activity” and the creation of 33,190 jobs by 2030. It also argues there is no evidence the universal license recognition measures have endangered public safety or led to a reduction in service quality. Read more from The Herald/Review Media.
Iowa regulatory review committee submits final recommendations
The Iowa Boards and Commissions Review Committee has published its final report offering recommendations to consolidate or eliminate more than 100 of the state’s boards and commissions. The report also recommends that members of Iowa’s Board of Regents, Board of Education, and Council on Health and Human Services receive an annual salary of $10,000 for the “significant responsibilities” and “significant breadth of expertise” their positions require.
The committee, which was tasked with reviewing Iowa’s regulatory ecosystem as part of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ government restructuring project, intended to reduce the size and cost of government through its work. Its final recommendations include eliminating 111 of the state’s boards and commissions, reducing the remaining panels by a total of 450 members, removing gender-balance requirements for board members, and eliminating certain professional continuing education requirements.
The committee’s report, which has now been sent to Gov. Reynolds and state legislators, also requests regular evaluation of the state’s remaining panels to ensure they are necessary and effective. Reynolds said the committee’s findings offer insight into “the most effective and efficient way to preserve Iowans’ engagement in their government,” and that she plans to submit a bill incorporating its recommendations to state lawmakers during next year’s legislative session. Read more at Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Nebraska considers three new interstate compacts
Lawmakers in Nebraska are considering legislation that would enter the state into three different interstate licensing compacts for health care workers. Sen. Carol Blood recently presented to the state legislature three separate bills which, if passed, would enter the state into the Social Work Licensure Compact, the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, and the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact.
These license reciprocity agreements, which are gaining momentum across several different professions throughout the U.S., are intended to address workforce shortages and promote worker mobility by offering streamlined licensure for professionals in compact states. According to Blood, Nebraska’s health care industry is the one that suffers most from the state’s ongoing workforce shortage.
The compact’s supporters include stakeholders in both dentistry and social work throughout the state. Joey Enright, a member of the Nebraska Dental Hygienist Association, said the compacts would improve access to care for Nebraskans while also providing more opportunities for health care workers and increasing the odds that they remain in the state. Read more about the legislation at WOWT.
Economic research institute offers “microgrants” to programs for incarcerated individuals
The Platte Institute, an organization that seeks to remove barriers to economic growth in Nebraska, has announced the recipients of its first ever “microgrants,” which aim to assist recently incarcerated individuals in job searches. The grants will go to several organizations, including the Heart Ministry Center, On the Inside, Bridges to Hope, QUEENS Butterfly House, and Nebraskans Unafraid.
According to Jim Vokal, CEO of the Platte Institute, these organizations each play a unique and pivotal role in assisting incarcerated individuals throughout Nebraska, whether it’s through job training and placement, alternative social training, supporting incarcerated women, or supplying clothes and hygiene products for the purpose of job searches.
The criminal justice system is new territory for the institute, which primarily focuses on eliminating unnecessary barriers in occupational licensing. Vokal said the disbursement of these microgrants is meant to highlight the importance of passing universal recognition and “second chances” legislation in Nebraska. Read more at the North Platte Post.
More news:
- Consumer advocates in Ohio are pushing to increase protections for homeowners who are offered predatory liens. Stakeholders say certain companies are offering quick cash to homeowners in exchange for exclusive real estate listing agreements with restrictive terms lasting up to 40 years. Homeowners with existing liens are being advised to file complaints with the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing.
- A new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives seeks to do away with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), a national body that regulates horse racing, and replace it with the Racehorse Health and Safety Organization (RHSO), which would return regulatory power to states and establish an interstate compact. Critics of HISA say it has placed a financial burden on the horse racing industry and failed to adequately involve stakeholders in drafting policy.
- U.S. legislators have reintroduced legislation that would create regulations for the use of artificial intelligence systems. The Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2023 intends to create new protections for citizens who are affected by AI implementation in decisions regarding housing, credit, education, and other fields. It has been endorsed by several advocacy groups, including Access Now, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Center for Democracy and Technology.
Also noteworthy:
Interesting opinion, commentary, and analysis from the web:
- Who has an occupational license in the United States (Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis)
- Universal licensing could avail more professionals in tight labor markets (The Journal Gazette)
- Occupational licensing hurts job prospects for people with criminal records (PBS NewsHour)
- AI regulation debate highlights lack of data privacy protection (GovTech)
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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