Last week, Sen. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), introduced Senate Bill 366 and Rep. Sarah LaTourette introduced House Bill 617 that call for a massive overhaul of professional licensing in Ohio that would abolish 11 licensing boards and consolidate them under three new boards and two existing ones.
The proposed changes aim to streamline Ohio's professional licensing boards and address concerns that some licensing boards are vulnerable to costly legal challenges as a result of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year. Because most Ohio licensing boards are dominated by members of the industries they regulate, they are vulnerable to challenges under state and federal antitrust laws because of perceptions they serve to limit competition instead of protecting the public.
Of particular interest to OPPA members, the bills would:
The bills would also require the Ohio Department of Administrative Services to review agency actions to make sure they are in line with antitrust laws.
