Board pauses online fictitious-name permit application after high denial rates; licensing reports steady processing times

Executive staff told the board on Feb. 13 that the board temporarily deactivated the online Fictitious Name Permit (FNP) application after implementation problems created unusually high denial rates and extra staff workload.

Administrative services manager Terry Thorfinson said the Breeze online template repeatedly presented applicants with a long list of entity types, only three of which are relevant for the board, and inconsistent responses across screens produced applications that could not be cured. With many deficient online submissions arriving with credit-card payments, staff faced an increased volume of incomplete applications that required denial rather than quick correction. Thorfinson said staff reverted to accepting paper applications (check or money order) while DCA and board staff rework instructions and consider training, an interactive guide or better template logic in Breeze.

Licensing staff services analyst Mia Quinn reviewed licensing statistics and said licensing is stabilizing after conversion to the Breeze online system: the board reported its licensing population and application status and staff noted that, when a complete application is submitted, the internal processing time averages about 37 days (the board's milestone target is 60 days). Quinn said outstanding delays are most often caused by missing applicant-supplied documents (for example, an attestation form referred to as OMB‑26) and external verifications; staff are working to add the attestation language into the online application to reduce delays.

Executive director Bridal Calderon said the agency will not abandon an online option but that improvements and applicant guidance will be necessary before reactivating the FNP online application.