State Legislatures Embrace Licensing Reform
Whether they're looking for a fresh start after a run-in with the law, trying to relocate across state lines, or merely hoping to operate a hairdryer without first getting the government's permission, the first half of 2019 brought good news for workers. Licensing reforms have been on the march in state capitols across the country, as lawmakers from both major parties embrace an issue that libertarians have been talking about for years.
"Heavily Democratic states are passing similar legislation to what's being passed in Republican-controlled states," says Zach Herman, a research analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
That bipartisan spirit was on full display in Oklahoma City in April, when a significant licensing reform sailed through the state legislature with only two "nay" votes. The new law eliminates so-called "good character" provisions—which effectively rule out any applicant with a criminal history—from all the state's occupational licensing laws. Now, each licensing board will have to publish a list of specific disqualifying offenses.
Letting Oklahomans with criminal records work in licensed professions "will help them find jobs and contribute to society, which will increase employment opportunities and public safety while decreasing recidivism," says Jenna Moll, deputy director for the Justice Action Network, which pushed for the bill's passage.
Meanwhile in Arizona, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey oversaw the bipartisan passage of a first-in-the-nation bill to require Arizona licensing boards to accept out-of-state licenses. He also signed a repeal of a ludicrous requirement that hair stylists at "dry bars"—that is, people who use blow-dryers and curling irons but do not cut, color, or perm hair—receive 1,000 hours of training before being able to get a job.
In all, more than 1,000 occupational licensing bills have been introduced across the U.S. this year, according to NCSL's database, up from about 750 last year. That doesn't include everything; the organization only tracks proposals that affect professions licensed in at least 30 states, and more bills may yet be proposed in 2019.
Not every legislative effort has been pointed in the right direction. New Jersey lawmakers are trying to license pet groomers, and Massachusetts lawmakers have proposed licensing interior designers. But the tide appears to be turning. While organizations like the Institute for Justice have been winning lawsuits against bad licensing laws for years, legislators are finally doing what the courts shouldn't have to: letting America work.
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Yeah, I’m not sure they’re “embracing” licensing reform as much as they’re realizing that licensing requirements disproportionately impact the poor and the poor are disproportionately POC and therefore licensing requirements are raaaaacist. They don’t actually give a shit about poor people trying to better themselves, they’re not concerned with helping them or at the least not putting obstacles in their way, they’re only concerned about being called racist.
You don’t fix the abuse caused by licensing laws by passing more laws.
You fix it be repealing licensing laws.
Don’t know if you’re trolling or just ignorant, but the general licensing boards don’t handle licensing for doctors and lawyers and some of the other professions where licensing actually serves a legitimate purpose (at least theoretically it mandates some minimum proficiency) in areas where public safety is a real concern. You don’t want a jackleg electrician burning your house down or a self-taught civil engineer designing freeway overpasses, unlicensed florists or landscapers are no threat to the republic.
and they don’t really like unlicensed contractors ruining their homes.
So rather than letting them choose an unlicensed contractor to ruin their homes, they can be forced to pick a licensed contractor who may or may not be qualified to do the exact same thing.
The woman who cuts my hair need a license from the state to do her job. The guy who fixes my brakes doesn’t. Why? Is cutting my hair more dangerous to me than having my brakes fail?
Yeah you can walk into a clerks office in MD. All you have to do is give them 15 dollars.
The point is that when you do away with licensing requirements, and in particular when you have national reciprocity so that licensed professionals in one state can easily escape responsibility for bad actions
And yet despite the lack of licensing of auto mechanics, my brakes still work when I press the big pedal on the left.
No, it just means they have to specify being “drunk and disorderly” as a disqualifying act, rather than using vague “good character” requirements
and they have some legal recourse if things go wrong.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA
I have seen many a ruined home due to faulty work by licensed contractors. A magic piece of paper doesn’t stop that. I am sorry but you are completely wrong. Scam artist contractors are still out there and some have licenses. I know businesses that will up sell you on a new piece of equipment when a $10 part and $90 labor fee would solve the problem and they are licensed. I know licensed contractors that have failed 4-5 times, leaving vendors, GC’s and homeowners in the lurch because they didn’t pay bills, took the money and ran and then start a new company a few years later and just to do it all over again. But keep dreaming that government got this right and a piece of paper stops bad actors in a sector.
You have to have a valid license to get it reciprocated in Arizona. So no if a doctor lost their license in one state then tried to move to Arizona then they wouldn’t have their license reinstated. That isn’t how reciprocity works. And please tell me how a plumber or the whole host of other trades really need to be licensed to begin with?
How about this –
1. It’s my house
2. It’s my money
How about I make the choice as to who works on it? From anybody I like, and not just those who’ve been anointed by the state.
And don’t waste my time bitching about resale. If someone buys my home, nobody’s preventing them from getting and inspection. They can even use a licensed inspector if they like.
And don’t waste my time bitching about home insurance. If an insurance company wants to require licensed contractors on a home they insure, that’s a private matter between them and me.
But these poor, foolish people not capable of watching out for themselves become wise sages in the voting booth, right?
Fuck, you’re stupid.
The point is that when you do away with licensing requirements, and in particular when you have national reciprocity so that licensed professionals in one state can easily escape responsibility for bad actions by fleeing to another and never even having to update their credential, you’re going to get negative consequences.
I don’t see any mention of doctors or lawyers in that statement. Get off of your knees and run your life, instead of demanding that the state run mine.
That’s why they’re so unbelievably fucking stupid and doomed to failure. We tried a century or so of allowing con men, criminals and swindlers to practice trades before we decided that maybe that wasn’t such a good idea anymore.
Yet the brakes on my car were maintained by a non-state licensed mechanic and still work fine.
Apprentice Plumber/Gas Fitter
Person must be at least 16 years of age.
So yeah walk into a an office pay $15.00 and be sixteen (sorry should have included that tough requirement) and you get a license.
I also know guys who are completely worthless that I wouldn’t have install a fucking toilet in my house who are Masters, while there are apprentices who are geniuses in the trade that just didn’t want to take a test. Sorry but get into the trade before you start running your fucking dumbass mouth. I have worked in the trade for 30 years, you don’t know dick.
Now do teachers.
you can’t still go hire your illiterate Mexican pool boy’s cousin
How about a formerly licensed contractor who was convicted of a crime somewhere along the way, and can’t be licensed now? Has he lost any of his skills? Was the knowledge extracted from his brain upon conviction? Or do you believe that someone who makes a mistake should be condemned to menial labor for the rest of his life? No need to answer that question – you’ve made that one clear.
I’ll add on to this – I’m a licensed (gasp!) engineer with nearly 30 years of experience. I know other licensed (gasp!) engineers who can’t change a light bulb. Passing a test isn’t the only thing that matters. I work with plenty of technicians and tradesmen who don’t have a license, and they do just fine.