Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Professional Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate approves third reading for licensure-review panel bill after fiscal questions
Summary
Senate Bill 71 would create a 13-member Occupational and Professional Licensure Review Committee to screen licensure petitions, collect application fees, and perform sunset reviews; floor supporters emphasized efficiency and reduced adversarial licensing fights, while fiscal notes and amended funding requests were discussed.
Senate Bill 71, sponsored by Senator Mansell, would establish a 13-member committee to review requests for occupational licensure, charge fees to petitioners, and assist the legislature with sunset reviews of existing licensed occupations.
Mansell said the committee is intended to provide more time and expertise to evaluate whether groups seeking licensure should be authorized, or whether alternate approaches (associations or other regulatory frameworks) would suffice. The bill would charge an application fee and authorize a committee fee (floor discussion referenced $500 for committee application and an amended committee staffing request). Committee supporters from the health sector and the Department of Commerce spoke in favor, arguing it could prevent unnecessary licensing and reduce protectionism between professions.
Fiscal aspects drew floor attention: an initial fiscal note estimated under $10,000 to staff the committee; a nursing-research amendment raised costs to about $19,000 in committee, and senators discussed the staffing and ongoing costs of administering the panel. The sponsor said the committee would be used at the legislature’s discretion and groups may still bypass the committee and go directly to the Legislature if they prefer.
The Senate called the question; SB 71 was read for the third time and placed on the chamber calendar for further action.
