NJ licensing boards authorized to address discrimination

Under new rules adopted earlier this year in New Jersey, over 720,000 licensees could now be subject to disciplinary action by state boards if they are found to be discriminating against clients, patients, students, colleagues, or employees. The new measures would affect dentists, nurses, physician’s assistants, pharmacists, hair stylists, and other professionals from across the state.

The Uniformed Rules on Discrimination in Licensed Professionals took effect on March 20. Under these rules, if a licensee is found to by their licensing board or by the Office of Administrative Law to have engaged in discriminatory behavior against any affiliate, that licensee could be subject to letters of warning, reprimands, civil penalties, license revocation, or other disciplinary measures.

Representatives from the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) have opposed the rules, arguing there are legal processes already in place to deal with discrimination from businesses and professionals. NJBIA VP of Government Affairs Althea D. Ford said an uptick in discrimination cases could overburden state licensing boards, who are already dealing with application backlogs for hundreds of thousands of licensees. Read more at NJBIA.org.

NH licensing overhaul faces bipartisan rejection

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu’s proposed occupational licensing overhaul is currently being met with serious resistance from both Republican and Democratic budget writers in the state House. Representatives from both parties have moved to maintain 31 of the 34 licenses that would be eliminated under the governor’s proposal, including licenses for foresters, radiologists, and licensed nursing assistants.

Ever since Sununu announced the proposal in February, professionals from dozens of industries have spoken out against it, arguing the new measure would endanger the integrity of professions across the state. With over 100 pages of changes having been proposed by the governor less than two months before the House budget deadline, many Republicans are opposing it on the grounds that there is simply not enough time.

Though the House Finance Committee rejected many of the license changes in the bill, these changes could be reinstated when the full House discusses the budget next week. If the proposal moves on, the Senate, too, could try reinstating parts of the measure that were struck down in the House. Budget writers are also attempting to strike down Sununu’s proposed Office of Regulatory Review, Reduction, and Government Efficiency. Read more at the New Hampshire Bulletin.

PA senators raise concerns over application processing times

Members of Pennsylvania’s Senate Appropriations Committee recently held a two-and-a-half-hour hearing in which they questioned Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt and his staff on his department’s plans to implement the new Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS). The new system, which cost $20 million, is intended to speed up processing time for applicants. Officials say it offers a more transparent, user-friendly interface.

Senators said long license application processing times are among the most frequent complaints their offices receive. They asked, too, about Governor Josh Shapiro’s recently issued money-back guarantee on licensees having their applications processed in a timely manner. Schmidt said his department, after cataloguing over 900 licenses and certifications, is currently in the process of determining what this timeline might look like.

Some senators questioned if office staff working from home was contributing to delays in license processing times. The Acting Secretary noted that managers in his department work to make sure employees reach the same goals in the same timeframes regardless of whether they work in-office or at home. Offering the option for telework, Schmidt said, is necessary to compete for labor in a department that is already short-staffed. Read more at PennLive.

Crypto execs frustrated over “lack of clarity” on regulation

In the eyes of many, the U.S. is at risk of falling behind on cryptocurrency regulation, and crypto companies are expressing frustration with the government over a perceived lack of clarity on rules for the industry. Executives have also taken issue with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for acting aggressively against digital currency firms. The commission, for example, recently warned Coinbase, one of the leading crypto exchanges, that it was possibly violating several U.S. securities laws.

Executives who spoke to CNBC described a crypto ecosystem that was “generally frustrated.” Some believe the SEC’s current playbook to reign in crypto, which often involves applying older regulations to the industry, fails to understand the nuances of the market. Oliver Linch, CEO of Bittrex Global, said crypto was neither a security nor a commodity and thus could not be reasonably treated by regulators as either.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler, however, suggested the commission’s rules are rather clear, and that companies are using these criticisms to deflect from the fact that their platforms may not offer investors the protection to which they are entitled. Meanwhile, other governments around the world are establishing their own crypto regulation measures, like in Dubai and Switzerland, which are marketing themselves as crypto-friendly environments with appropriate governmental oversight. Read more at CNBC.

Advocacy groups call on regulators to investigate ChatGPT

The U.S.’s Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP) has filed a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the wake of ChatGPT’s massive proliferation over the past several months. CAIDP’s complaint asks the commission to “halt further commercial deployment of GPT” until the software has been appropriately tweaked to protect readers from deception and biased information.

CAIDP is also calling for more transparency regarding OpenAI’s GPT products. The organization is asking for third-party assessments of GPT-4 to be conducted before and after launch, and for OpenAI to provide an easier interface through which users can report incidents in their interactions with it. President Marc Rotenberg said the FTC has a responsibility to enforce these measures.

Concurrently, The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) has also called on regulators, both in the E.U. and in national governments, to investigate ChatGPT.  Thanks to the Artificial Intelligence Act, proposed nearly two years ago, AI regulation has already begun, but because of how rapidly the technology has evolved, institutions are currently rushing to modernize the legislation to make sure it addresses concerns that have emerged as recently as the past few months. Read more at Fortune. 

More news: 

• The William Hill betting group has been handed a 19.2 million pound fine in the largest penalty ever issued by Britain’s Gambling Commission. Officials said the group’s misconduct, which endangered consumers and facilitated money laundering, was so severe that the Commission nearly suspended its license. This penalty arrives amidst a larger crackdown on gambling throughout the country. 
• Alberta Gaming, Liquor, & Cannabis (AGLC) has announced a policy change which will allow cannabis producers to distribute sample products to stores in the province. Up to 3.5 grams of dried cannabis flower (or its equivalent in any other form) can now be given out for marketing purposes, for store licensee use only.  
• A representative from the Philippines’ Northern Samar is calling for alternative licensing pathways for aspiring professionals who are unable to pass their certification exams. Rep. Paul Ruiz Daza said many of these applicants are from poor or disadvantaged backgrounds and would benefit from (for example) apprenticeship as an alternative to a formal licensing examination. 
• Cannabis legalization in Colombia is now one step closer to reality. A bill to legalize the drug has advanced through a legislative committee and is now more than halfway through the process toward becoming law. Sponsor Rep. Juan Carlos Losada said the bill represents “one of the most important and controversial discussions of recent times.” 

Also noteworthy:

Interesting opinion, commentary, and analysis from the web:

• It could get a whole lot easier to teach in a different state (EducationWeek) 
• OAA responds to CBC First Person opinion column (Canadian Architect) 
• Why government is the key to unlocking AI’s true potential (The Hill) 
• Has the time come for national medical licensure in Canada? (Medscape) 
• Universal recognition on its way to becoming All-American? (American Legislative Exchange Council) 

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.