Appropriations committee backs amendment to HB 472 that removes early-childhood licensure provisions

The House Appropriations Committee on May 28 conducted a straw poll to favorably support an amendment to House Bill 472, a measure involving regulation of professions and occupations that the committee has been calling the "OPR bill." The amendment converts a proposed executive officer for regulation of mental health professions from an exempt to a classified position and removes the bill's sections establishing licensure and related funding for early‑childhood educators.

Legislative Council attorney Tim Depp told the committee the amendment before members was draft 1.2 dated May 28 and came from members of the House Government Operations Committee. "This would actually change that to 1 new permanent full time and classified position," Depp said, describing the change to the executive officer position in section 12 of the bill. He also said, "The second instance of amendment removes the latter half of the bill having to do with early childhood educators."

The c…