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Common Sense Initiative proposes processing timelines, cites regulatory streamlining work
Summary
Joseph Baker of the Ohio Common Sense Initiative told the House General Government Committee the office has reviewed hundreds of regulatory provisions, quantified estimated savings, and proposed that CSI set processing timelines for occupational licensing to reduce barriers to work.
Joseph Baker, director of the Ohio Common Sense Initiative (CSI), briefed the House General Government Committee on CSI's review of state licensing rules and urged changes to reduce barriers to work and speed application processing.
"We believe this structure would help to incentivize and motivate even better customer service across state licensing entities," Baker said, describing a proposal that would allow the CSI office to set an efficient processing timeline for applications at each occupational licensing agency or board. Under Baker's outline, if an agency exceeded the agreed timeline, the applicant would be eligible for a refund of any fees paid while the board or agency would still be required to process the application.
Baker summarized CSI's recent work to modernize regulations, saying the office identified savings of approximately $44,000,000 over the next decade, updated more than 100 statutory instances and 400 regulatory provisions, and eliminated roughly 930 duplicative regulations. He said CSI is using public comment and stakeholder engagement as part of its review process and that his written testimony, filed under Ohio Revised Code 101.64, lists rule packages and stakeholder comments for the committee's review.
A committee member asked for clarification about CSI's role; Baker said CSI hosts a public comment period, meets with agencies and stakeholders, and aims to resolve issues during rule development so legislators do not need to intervene. The committee chair asked members to submit report suggestions for the occupational licensure review by 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10.
