Arkansas and Alabama Make Much Needed Progress on Occupational Licensing Reform

Marc JoffePreviously, I reported on an Archbridge Institute analysis that ranked Arkansas first in the nation for imposing occupational licensing burdens. “The Natural State” has erected licensing barriers to more professions than any other. After Texas, the study placed Alabama at number three. Although Texas does not appear to be doing anything about its licensing barriers, Arkansas and Alabama are making some progress.This week, Arkansas became the 21st state to adopt universal licensing recognition when Governor Sarah Huckabee SanderssignedSB 90 into law. The act requires Arkansas agencies to automatically grant occupational licenses to applicants that hold comparable licenses in another state, have been in the licensed profession for at least three years, and meet other requirements.In Alabama, State Senator Chris ElliottintroducedSB 156, which, if enacted, would centralize all state licensing operations under the Secretary of State. The bill does not include a universal licensing recognition provision, nor does it immediately change any of Alabama ’s extensive licensing requirements.However, consolidating licensing activities —a steprecently taken in Iowa—may make life easier for applicants who might otherwise be confused about where to turn in the state bureaucracy. The bill also states: “the total amount of fees charged by the board shall approximate the total of the direct and indirect costs to the state of the operations of the board.” Thi s ...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs