Wisconsin increases regulatory funding amid criticism over licensing delays
Though lawmakers in Wisconsin have approved a budget that will increase funding for the state’s Department of Safety and Professional Services, the new funding falls significantly short of an initial proposal from Gov. Tony Evers. The department, which oversees licensing for hundreds of professions throughout the state, has come under criticism for delays in the credentialing process.
Though the governor asked for funding for the department to hire nearly 80 new full-time employees, the budget approved by lawmakers only includes enough for 18 positions. Moreover, most of these approved positions are temporary and would only last between two and four years, according to Rep. Tim McGuire. The budget includes, in total, $145 million for the department over the next two years.
Critics of the budget believe lawmakers have not given the DSPS the support and authority needed to meet the increased demand placed on the agency. According to DSPS Secretary-Designee Dan Hareth, license processing times are currently at an average of 38 days, which represents a small improvement from an average of 45 days in 2022 but a larger improvement from the 80-day average recorded years ago. The new budget takes effect retroactively starting from the beginning of the fiscal year July 1. Read more at WPR.
Washington adopts NLC, enforces hospital reporting requirements
Nurse employers in the state of Washington may now begin hiring nurses with multistate licenses (MSLs) – so long as they report these hirings within 30 days – thanks to the state’s recent adoption of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The Washington State Board of Nursing (WSBON) will receive these reports, in which employers must attest to certain facts, including that new hires have completed suicide prevention training.
The reports, which will be submitted via an online form, must also include attestation that nurses have submitted up-to-date demographic information via the Nursys e-Notify system. According to the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA), stakeholders had pushed for the state to enter the compact for years, and one of the reasons model legislation finally passed was because of the inclusion of reporting requirements.
The first and current phase of implementation allows employers to hire nurses with MSLs. For now, nurses who want to make Washington their primary residence must still apply for “single state” licenses. During the second phase of implementation, the WSBON will be able to issue MSLs to active Washington state nurses, allowing them to practice in any of the compact’s 38 participating states. Read more at WSHA.org.
North Carolina streamlines teacher licensure for military personnel
Stakeholders in the North Carolina education system are hoping a provision in a new federal statute will help to address the state’s ongoing teacher shortage, which has only become more severe over the past two years. The provision, adopted this month by the State Board of Education (SBE), would allow military members and their spouses to obtain temporary professional licensure when moving to the state.
The Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022, which also affects other professions, including nurses, cosmetologists, and realtors, was approved by federal lawmakers in January. Proponents believe it could have a substantial impact on the NC education system, as the state is currently home to nearly 95,000 active-duty military personnel and nearly 40,000 active-duty spouses.
Critics, however, believe that while the provision could provide relief to military personnel, it does not address the core issues contributing to the state’s teacher shortage – issues like low pay, uncompetitive benefits, and inadequate working conditions. Still, state education officials have expressed hope that the streamlined licensing process will be well received. Read more at NC Newsline.
Economic development coalition creates license reciprocity guide for Florida’s Space Coast
The Economic Development Commission (EDC) of Florida’s Space Coast has announced the launch of its “Licensure Reciprocity Roadmap,” which intends to ease the licensing process for military spouses in the region and provide education on military family license reciprocity for employers. Permanent change of station (PCS) moves often create issues for military spouses who aren’t offered the guidance to easily obtain licensure in their new state of residence, according to a recent report from CBS.
The roadmap provides an online guide which organizes resources on license reciprocity by license type, providing information about licensure at the national and state levels as well as branch-specific resources. It seeks to help employers as well by increasing the pool of “highly skilled and motivated” professionals in the labor market as a result of streamlining the licensing process.
The EDC, a private coalition which exists to attract new business, expand existing industries, and support the development of military installations throughout the Space Coast region, has expressed that it will continue collaborating with schools, military organizations, and employers to support employment opportunities for military spouses and veterans alike. Read more about the roadmap at Space Coast Daily.
Ohio establishes licensing regime for substance abuse treatment centers
A new law signed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has created a statewide licensing regime for drug and alcohol treatment facilities, blocking unlicensed facilities from receiving Medicaid funding or tax dollars.
According to Rep. Justin Pizzulli, who introduced the bill, the new rules are intended to crack down on treatment centers allegedly taking advantage of their clients. Pizzulli said though he was originally contacted by commissioners in Scioto County to address the issue of unregulated treatment centers, other local officials soon approached him with the same concerns.
The new law gives regulatory power over recovery housing facilities to the state’s local Alcohol & Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMH) boards. It also gives state-level power to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to maintain a registry tracking licenses for drug and alcohol abuse treatment facilities. Read more at the Portsmouth Daily Times.
Irish public shows slight increase of trust in banks
A recent report from the Irish Banking Culture Board (IBCB) has found that though public trust in banks has improved slightly over the past three years, attitudes toward the country’s financial sector have remained negative overall. The report also found that Irish consumers trust local bank branches more than they do the organizations at large, which may pose a challenge as banks continue shifting toward digital transactions.
The IBCB, created in 2019 in the wake of Ireland’s tracker mortgage scandal, has conducted annual reports since its formation as part of a larger effort to affect cultural change in the financial sector. The reported improvement of public opinion on banks this year may have been influenced by the withdrawal of KBC Bank Ireland and Ulster Bank Ireland – two banks with particularly low trust levels – from the market.
According to Marion Kelly, CEO of the IBCB, repairing the public’s trust in the financial sector will require both time and consistent action on the part of the nation’s banks. Consumers and staff alike, Kelly said, expect banks to work (to some extent) toward the benefit of society, particularly in providing education regarding financial literacy and supporting the country’s most vulnerable customers. Read more about the report at RTE.
Indiana launches initiative to grow STEM teacher workforce
A new partnership program between the Indiana Department of Education and Education Service Centers of Indiana (ESCI) seeks to bolster the state’s supply of STEM teachers by funding education for those seeking teacher licensure. The Indiana STEM (I-STEM) Educator Expansion Initiative will cover tuition and other school-related costs for prospective STEM teachers, whether they are currently licensed and teaching other subjects or unlicensed with bachelor’s degrees.
Additional stipends are available for both types of enrollees. Prospective educators who only hold bachelor’s degrees may receive three different $1,000 stipends – one upon enrollment to support child care costs, licensure fees, and other similar expenses, another upon being hired in Indiana in a STEM-related position, and another if they are hired in a rural district. Already licensed educators looking to work in STEM are eligible for a $1,000 stipend upon adding a STEM endorsement to their license and being hired in a STEM-related position.
The I-STEM initiative will be funded in part through the state’s federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER). The program is administered by ESCI in partnership with iteach Indiana, an online platform designed to provide the flexibility for prospective teachers to complete their education for licensure on their own time. Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner says the program will help ensure the state has the “very best and brightest educators in the classroom.” Read more at the Indiana Economic Digest.
More news:
- In a move intended to expand employment opportunities throughout the state, Wisconsin’s Department of Safety and Professional Services is now administering all trades licensure exams in both English and Spanish. The 40 exams affected by the change include those for electrician, contractor, and inspector positions. Applicants can request to take their exams in Spanish by checking a box on their application form.
- Canada’s federal cannabis regulator will soon begin testing legal cannabis products against illegal marijuana samples for “comparative analysis.” Health Canada will be conducting this analysis amid a growing concern over THC inflation in the cannabis industry, with some stakeholders alleging that cannabis retailers are selling products with THC values below the labeled amounts. The program also intends to ensure these products meet regulatory requirements set out in the Cannabis Act.
- New Brunswick’s languages commissioner has been given judicial clearance to investigate complaints against the Nurses Association of New Brunswick over nurse licensure exams. The complaints allege that poor translation and limited availability of French-language study materials for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) have contributed to a high failure rate among francophone nurses.
- A new poll commissioned by the Justice Action Network shows most Oklahomans report feeling as safe as they did five years ago at the onset of a sharp reduction in Oklahoma’s prison population. This reduction resulted from a set of statewide public safety reforms and led to the closure of three prison facilities. According to the poll, voters have also responded favorably to the state’s move to stop regulatory boards from denying licenses over past nonviolent convictions.
Also noteworthy:
Interesting opinion, commentary, and analysis from the web:
- Could midwives help fill Ohio’s maternity care gaps? Some rural practitioners think so (Statehouse News Bureau)
- Retaining older physicians is a short-term solution to GP crisis (Toronto Star)
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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