It could be welcome news for all the ocularists, auctioneers, and acupuncturists out there.
The Michigan's Office of Regulatory Reinvention (yes, the agency was created by Gov. Snyder) has issued a report proposing the state should drop oversight of 18 occupations, and get rid of nine "occupational boards," while increasing inspection fees for ski resorts and carnivals.
More from the ORR's press release:
"According to a 2007 study, Michigan is the sixth most heavily-regulated state with respect to occupational licensing. This study found that for each occupation that a state regulated, that occupation would experience a decrease in the rate of job growth by 20 percent on average," said Steven H. Hilfinger, Chief Regulatory Officer and LARA Director. "Occupational regulations, while in many cases necessary to protect consumers and public health, operate as a barrier to entry into a given profession. This inhibits entrepreneurship and restricts competition, leading to increased costs and decreased levels of service for consumers."
Even though two of the boards they suggest cutting are the Carnival Amusement Safety Board and the Ski Area Safety Board, state officials say inspections for these operations should continue:
While the ORR recommends abolishing the Carnival Amusement Safety Board, the ORR recommends the licensing and inspections should continue and fees should be increased to be sufficient to cover administrative costs of regulation. Similarly, the ORR recommends that Ski Area Safety licensing and inspections should continue and fees should be increased to be sufficient to cover administrative costs.
Here's a list of the occupations officials recommended deregulating and the boards they recommend be cut:
The 18 occupations recommended for deregulation are:
- Acupuncturist
- Auctioneers
- Community Planner
- Consumer Finance Services
- Dieticians & Nutritionists
- Forensic Polygraph Examiner
- Forester
- Immigration Clerical Assistant
- Insurance Solicitor
- Interior Designer
- Landscape Architect
- Ocularist
- Professional Employer Organizations
- Proprietary School Solicitors
- Respiratory Care
- Security Alarm Contractors
- Speech Pathologist
- Vehicle Protection Product Warrantor
The 9 occupational boards recommended for elimination are:
- Board of Acupuncture
- Board of Auctioneers
- Board of Carnivals & Amusement Rides
- Board of Dietetics & Nutrition
- Board of Occupational Therapy
- Board of Respiratory Care
- Board of Speech Language Pathology
- Osteopathic Medicine Advisory Board
- Ski Area Safety Board
The Office of Regulatory Reinvention was created in February 2011 within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
It's charged with overseeing current and proposed rules and regulations in the state and with "creating a regulatory environment and regulatory processes that are fair, efficient, and conducive to business growth and job creation."
On its website, the ORR boasts a "net reduction" of 363 rules in the state since April 23, 2011.
