Governor Fallin wants to review the state’s occupational licensing to see if it is causing barriers for people to get to work. She has formed the Oklahoma Occupational Licensing Task Force with the year-long mission to examine key agencies and methods.
“Occupational licensing often can be overly burdensome, which can hinder a person from earning a living and providing for their family,” said Fallin. “These unnecessary or outdated barriers make it harder for many Oklahomans, particularly those who may not have completed a formal education as well as some minorities. This can help them to obtain jobs and build new businesses that create jobs.”
Fallin has tasked the Department of Labor to help the Task Force and placed Labor Commissioner Melissa McLawhorn Houston to lead the effort.
“I look forward to continuing my efforts to evaluate long-standing bureaucratic policies and procedures to determine common-sense practices,” Houston said. “It is important that the state licensing framework allow the free market to thrive without burdensome regulations, while not placing barriers on those working to escape poverty. This will be accomplished while keeping the safety and health of the public a priority.”
The areas of interest for the Task Force are as follows:
Identify all of the licenses required in Oklahoma.
Identify all state agencies, boards, and commissions involved with the administration of licenses.
Determine how each license is administered, including a review of information technology platforms that are or could be utilized and the fee structure for obtaining licenses.
Review the necessity and appropriateness of training levels and other requirements required to obtain licenses.
Evaluate whether the public health and safety goals and concerns addressed by license requirements outweigh the barriers to entry they place on Oklahoma workers.
Houston will appoint members to the Task Force. The membership will consist of two state Senators, two House members, Attorney General Scott Pruitt, State Chamber President and CEO Fred Morgan, a member of the Oklahoma Justice Reform Task Force, two members for workforce and economic development organizations, and a member for a poverty reduction organization. Pruitt and Morgan can appoint representatives in their places.
The Task Force must complete its work by December 31, 2017.
The fewer licenses, the better. That includes certification for teachers.