Bill to merge three small licensing boards into single Allied Health Professionals board advances

Rep. Greg Oblander (House District 38) presented House Bill 502 to combine three existing licensing boards into a single Board of Allied Health Professionals with seven members (two clinical laboratory scientists, two radiologic technologists, two respiratory therapists and one public member). Oblander said the consolidation would save administrative costs and speed Department of Labor and Industry processing.

Sarah Swanson, commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry, said the department spent roughly 18 months working with stakeholders and that the consolidation mirrors an earlier, successful licensing consolidation this session. Swanson provided counts for the affected professions in Montana — "1,091 clinical lab scientists, 1,008 respiratory care providers, and 2,157 radiologic technicians" — and said the move will maintain existing qualification and license standards while making rulemaking more efficient. Kevin Bragg, bureau chief for professional licensing, described the change as part of a broader effort to reduce redundant boards (bringing 29 boards down to 24 if two consolidations pass) and to shift licensing from reactive toward proactive processing.

Supporters said this is a low-volume, low-complaint licensing area that would benefit from joint rulemaking and administrative savings. No opponents or informational witnesses appeared against the measure, and the committee voted to pass HB 502 out of committee; sponsors said the bill does not take effect until January 1 to allow current boards time to complete pending work and rulemaking.

HB 502 will go to the Senate floor with a committee do-pass recommendation; the sponsor was asked to provide a carrier for the floor.