New Hampshire Governor calls for sweeping occupational licensing reform in budget message  

A new budget proposal in New Hampshire calls for occupational licensing reform within the state. In a recent budget message, Governor Chris Sununu relayed his commitment to break down regulatory barriers, lower the cost of entry to do business in the state, and increase free-market competition.   

According to the executive budget summary, Sununu wants to eliminate 692 “unnecessary” statutory provisions, 14 regulatory boards, and 34 license types. Further, he wants to standardize licensing time frames for all professions in the name of eliminating administrative burdens and ensuring that everyone who applies for a license in New Hampshire gets it in a timely manner. He also wants to adopt universal license recognition of licensed professionals in other states to make it easier to relocate to the state.  

Also proposed is the creation of an Office of Regulatory Review, Reduction, and Government Efficiency to find and clear other regulatory hurdles. 

Next, the Republican-controlled state legislature will have to approve and implement the budget. Sununu has acknowledged licensing reform will be challenging, noting previous efforts have faced resistance from in-state license holders concerned about competition, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin. 

Washington state closer to joining Nurse Licensure Compact 

Licensing mobility advocates expressed their desire for Washington state to join the expanding Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) during a recent public hearing. In the meeting, the state’s Senate Committee on Health and Long Term Care deliberated Senate Bill 5499. If passed, the bill would enter the state into the compact, which includes 37 other member states.  

Currently, getting a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) license in the state means an applicant must successfully finish an approved nursing education program as well as a licensure exam. If implemented, the NLC would hasten licensure for RNs and LPNs already licensed in other NLC-member states and also allow RNs, LPNs, and vocational nurses to possess one multi-state license to practice in their home state and other compact states without requiring more licenses.  

One sticking point: Mark Mullet, a state senator, relayed feedback from Washington nurses suggesting sensitivity around suicide prevention training, which some states do not require. Read more at State of Reform.     

Kentucky discusses joining interstate compact for teachers 

Kentucky’s Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) met last week to discuss the possibility of joining an interstate compact that proponents say would better facilitate the mobility of working teachers across state lines. The compact, which has not yet been implemented and currently exists in draft form, tackles district-and-school-level hiring barriers for out-of-state applicants by creating an adaptive, responsive licensing structure for educators relocating to other states.

The planned compact would be run by a commission with a representative from each member state, whose legislatures would have to pass legislation expressing their involvement. The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) is coordinating and contributing to the compact’s development alongside prospective member states and the Council of State Governments and the National Education Association (NEA). Read more about Kentucky’s possible involvement at 95.3 WIKI. 

Georgia considers removing licensing barriers for people with criminal records  

Georgia is considering removing licensing barriers for individuals with criminal records, joining a number of other states that have made similar moves recently. The Georgia Justice Project (GLP) hopes to change the state’s professional licensing process and the state legislature has created a task force to assess what would be involved and what it would mean for Georgia. Senator Brian Strickland, who co-leads the task force, said the proposed legislation is meant to provide a more standardized licensing process. GJP Executive Director Doug Ammar says criminal records shouldn’t disqualify people from getting licensed in their chosen professions. 

Arkansas, Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Maryland have already passed what the National Employment Law Project calls “Fair Chance Licensing,” reforms that seek to remove barriers for individuals with criminal records so they can join an array of licensed professions – some of which are facing critical labor shortages. Read more at Georgia Law News. 

Meanwhile, Arizonians with criminal records are one step closer to working in a licensed field despite their past records. In 2020, Arizona voters approved Proposition 207 of the Smart and Safe Arizona Act, which, in addition to legalizing recreational cannabis use, also provided for the expungement of some minor marijuana-related offenses. A 2021 law passed by the Arizona legislature, Set Aside, allowed individuals with certain criminal records to receive a “second-chance certificate” allowing them to get licensed in a variety of professions. The most recent law, which came into effect earlier this year, lets Arizona residents petition courts to have criminal records sealed from public view. Learn more at My Background Check. 

More news:  

• The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is waiving a portion of the licensure test in an effort to get more school bus drivers. 
• Arkansas’ Senate passed legislation to repeal language in state law that allows medical facilities to be licensed to perform abortions. 
• The Journal of Accountancy published portions of an interview with Ken Bishop, President and CEO of the National Assembly of State Boards of Accounting (NASBA), where he clearly indicated that lowering the 150-hour requirement associated with getting a CPA license is not on the table.   

Also noteworthy:  

• Puerto Rico debuts in Institute for Justice’s occupational licensing study (News is my Business)
• Breaking the stigma: Why doctors are afraid to seek mental health treatment (KevinMD)
• Georgia should ease up on its ‘permission to work’ regulations (Times-Herald) 
• Proposed bill sets dangerous precedent of removing licensure provision for therapists (Myrtle Beach Online)
• Opinion: North Carolina should be the next universal licensure state (Carolina Journal)  
• Fixing articling needs to be a priority for the Law Society of Ontario (Canadian Lawyer Magazine) 
• Career-Focused Credentials Are Booming. We Need to Know What They’re Worth. (Governing.com)
• Occupational Crosswalk’ to connect vets, service members with civilian employment  (Latrobe Bulletin)
• Why Modernizing IT Is a Top Priority for State and Local Governments (State Tech 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.