Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Consumer Protection & Business Committee

SB 5125

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Eliminates requirements that applicants for certain professional licenses provide specific documents to the Department of Licensing (DOL).
Modifies the requirements for providing personal references on applications for engineering and land surveying licenses.
Eliminates the provision allowing an applicant for an embalmer or funeral director's license to retake the exam with no additional fee.

Removes the requirement that the DOL mail notice of statutory and regulatory changes to cosmetology, hair designer, barber, manicurist, and esthetician licensees.

Background:

The Department of Licensing (DOL) regulates a number of professional and business industries. The DOL issues licenses and ensures compliance with professional standards and laws. Some of the professions regulated by the DOL include auctioneers and auction companies, engineers and land surveyors, real estate brokers, funeral directors, cosmetologists, hair designers, barbers, manicurists, estheticians, and funeral directors.

Some professional licensing laws require that applicants provide certain documentation of corporate, business, and tax registration, and that the DOL maintain the documentation. The following are a few examples:

An applicant for an auctioneer or auction company license must show the proper tax registration certificate from the Department of Revenue (DOR).
A corporation or limited liability company applying to obtain a certificate of authorization to practice engineering or land surveying must provide a Washington state business license and a certificate of incorporation or certificate of authorization as filed with the Secretary of State (SOS).
An applicant for a license as a real estate firm or real estate or managing broker must provide certain certified copies and evidence of business filings.
An applicant for registration with the state Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors must provide at least five references, three of which must be from engineers with personal knowledge of the applicant's engineering experience.

An applicant for an embalmer or funeral director's license who fails the license exam is allowed to retake the exam with no additional fee. A third-party vendor is used to conduct the exams. The DOL covers the cost for the retaken exam.

The DOL is required to mail notice of statutory and regulatory changes to cosmetology, hair designer, barber, manicurist, and esthetician licensees.

Summary of Bill:

Auctioneer or Auction Company.

In addition to other requirements, an applicant for an auctioneer or auction company license must continue to be registered with the DOR. No documentation of the registration needs to be provided to the DOL. An auction company must also be registered with the SOS if it is not a sole proprietor or general partnership.

Engineers and Land Surveyors.

To obtain a certificate of authorization to practice engineering or land surveying, a corporation or limited liability company must continue to be registered with the DOR. No documentation of the registration needs to be provided to the DOL. An applicant for registration with the state Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors must provide verification of technical work from professional engineers that supervised the applicant's technical work and have personal knowledge of the applicant's engineering experience.

Real Estate Firms and Brokers.

If the applicant is a legally recognized business entity, except a general partnership, it must be registered with the SOS. No documentation of the registration needs to be provided to the DOL. If the applicant is a general partnership, it must provide a copy of the signed partnership agreement. All entities must provide certain information about their owners and governing officers.

Embalmers and Funeral Directors.

Applicants for an embalmers or funeral director's license are no longer entitled to retake the exam with no additional fee.

Cosmetologists.

The DOL is no longer required to mail notice of statutory and regulatory changes to cosmetology, hair designer, barber, manicurist, and esthetician licensees.