SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6465

As of January 27, 2020

Title: An act relating to occupational licensing.

Brief Description: Concerning occupational licensing.

Sponsors: Senators Wilson, L., Brown, Becker, Rivers, Takko and Hunt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Labor & Commerce: 1/27/20.

Staff: Jarrett Sacks (786-7448)

Background: The Department of Licensing (DOL) regulates a number of businesses and professions. For regulated professions, DOL issues licenses and ensures compliance with professional standards and laws. The Board of Accountancy and the Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors are separate agencies that regulate their respective professions.

Many professions have provisions for reciprocity or consideration of experience from other states. The requirements vary depending on the profession. In addition to being licensed in another state, some professions may require:

• qualifications and experience equivalent to those in this state;

• completion of a national, state, or professional examination;

• a certain amount of experience;

• a certain level of education or coursework completed; or

• the satisfaction of character and fitness requirements.

Summary of Bill: Provisions relating to issuing licenses to out-of-state applicants are added or modified for the following professions:

• accountants;

• architects;

• cosmetologists, hair designers, manicurists, and estheticians;

• funeral directors and embalmers;

• engineers and land surveyors;

• real estate brokers;

• landscape architects;

• real estate appraisers;

• court reporters;

• barbers;

• on-site wastewater treatment designers;

• geologists; and

• home inspectors.

An applicant from another jurisdiction is granted an equivalent professional license in this state if the applicant:

• is currently licensed in good standing in at least one other jurisdiction;

• has been licensed in the other jurisdiction for at least one year;

• was subject to minimum education and work experience requirements when they received their license and the other jurisdiction verifies the applicant met those requirements;

• previously passed an examination required for licensure in the other jurisdiction, if applicable;

• has not had a professional license revoked by any other regulating entity and has not voluntarily surrendered a professional license while under investigation for unprofessional conduct;

• has not had discipline imposed by another jurisdiction for unprofessional conduct;

• does not have a pending complaint in another jurisdiction related to unprofessional conduct; and

• pays all applicable fees.

For architects, real estate brokers, engineers and land surveyors, and home inspectors, the licensing entity may require the applicant to pass an examination on Washington laws. The Board for Architects may require completion of a seismic examination.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The bill is based on an Arizona law that was for universal occupational licenses. Occupational licensing has expanded greatly in recent years and we need to look at ways to qualify people quicker. Applicants do not forget everything they learned in the other state when they move here. Some occupations have a higher public safety needs than others. The experience requirement is an additional requirement to the requirements for accountancy reciprocity. All states have the CPA exam, so the language in the bill may cause confusion.

OTHER: The section regarding architects should be removed because there is a higher risk to the public with architecture licensing. The bill impinges the board's ability to issue licenses and architecture is getting lumped in with dissimilar professions. Other jurisdictions may not have as stringent standards as Washington. There are technical changes the bill needs.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Lynda Wilson, Prime Sponsor; Charles Satterlund, Washington State Board of Accountancy. OTHER: Kirsten Smith, American Institute of Architects; Glen Smith, Washington State Ground Water Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.