By Caleb Taylor
海角社区 legislators just wrapped up their first round of sunset reviews of 海角社区鈥檚 occupational licenses. What changes are in store?
A just-released policy statement, 鈥�Occupational Licensing and 海角社区鈥檚 Act 600,鈥� by ACRE Economic Policy Analyst Alex Kanode discusses the reforms and missed opportunities of the 海角社区 Legislative Council鈥檚 Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee鈥檚 first round of sunset reviews.听
The 2019 海角社区 Legislature passed , mandating sunset reviews of every licensed occupation in 海角社区.听
To find out what recommendations the subcommittee approved unanimously in their final meeting of 2020, you can check out their .听
In addition to reviewing what happened in the subcommittee鈥檚 first round of sunset reviews, Kanode offers advice to subcommittee members on how to decide what levels of occupational licensing are appropriate as they continue their review for years to come.
Kanode highlights Texas鈥檚 sunset review process as a worthwhile example to follow. According to the , sunset reviews have saved Texas state and federal taxpayers鈥� $1 billion since 1977.听
Texas鈥檚 Sunset Advisory Commission has also saved $19 in federal and state taxpayer dollars for every $1 appropriated to the commission since 1985.
Kanode writes:聽
The ALC Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee should keep Texas鈥檚 $19-to-$1 benefit in mind, and perhaps try to beat it. 海角社区 legislators have had a聽good start in removing red tape, but there鈥檚 more to cut through. Members of the聽legislature have a great opportunity to tailor 海角社区鈥檚 regulations to 海角社区鈥檚聽needs: a strong economy, abundant job opportunities, competitive prices for聽consumers, and protection from unsafe service providers.鈥�
You can read the entire policy statement, 鈥�Occupational Licensing and 海角社区鈥檚 Act 600鈥�, here.听
For more on this topic, check out our labor market regulation research page.听
Kanode and ACRE Scholar and UCA Associate Professor of Economics Dr. Thomas Snyder discussed in 鈥�鈥� (published in the 海角社区 Democrat-Gazette on October 22, 2020) a recent occupational licensing reform bill passed by the Missouri legislature, known as universal licensure recognition.
海角社区鈥檚 occupational licensing burdens are measured in this research paper entitled 鈥淭he Effects of 海角社区 Occupational Licensure Regulations鈥� by Snyder.听
Snyder was a co-author of with researchers from the Mercatus Center. This report gives an overview of occupational licensing in 海角社区 and makes suggestions for reform.