John Looks Forward to Upcoming Licensure Review Hearings

COLUMBUS – The Ohio General Assembly will soon begin its mandatory occupational licensure review, announced Chairwoman of the House State and Local Government Committee, State Rep. Marilyn John (R-Richland County).

Under Ohio law, the General Assembly is required to review one-third of all licensing boards and commissions every two years. The House State and Local Government Committee will spearhead the review process, which will begin with a series of committee meetings on September 19th, 20th, 26th, and 27th.

Following the process outlined in R.C. Section 101.63, each licensing board must prepare and submit to the committee a report outlining its operations and demonstrating how it satisfies a public need. These reports must present information on the board’s primary purpose, goals, governing structure, and funding sources. Each board will be invited to summarize its report and testify before the committee at the hearings in late September.

The review process aims to achieve the following:

• Ensure each board is fulfilling its statutory purpose;
• Remove unnecessary barriers to entry in our workforce;
• Promote professional development and job creation; and
• Align Ohio’s occupational license standards with those in other states.

“I was heavily involved in this review last General Assembly, and the ensuing bill received strong, bipartisan support,” said John. “It is an honor and a privilege for our committee to be entrusted with this important task, and I look forward to working with you to deliver for our fellow Ohioans.”

Members of the public and interested parties will have an opportunity to provide testimony before the committee in October.

Boards and agencies that are up for review are as follows:

• Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission;
• State Cosmetology and Barber Board;
• Accountancy Board;
• Department of Agriculture;
• Architects Board and Ohio Landscape Architects Board;
• Ohio Casino Control Commission;
• Department of Commerce – Division of Financial Institutions;
• Department of Commerce – Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing;
• Department of Commerce – Superintendent of Industrial Compliance;
• Motor Vehicle Repair Board;
• Department of Public Safety – Bureau of Motor Vehicles;
• Department of Public Safety;
• State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors;
• Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services;
• State Racing Commission; and
• Secretary of State