Title: An act relating to the uniform regulation of business and professions.

Brief Description: Modifying provisions concerning the uniform regulation of business and professions.

Sponsors: Senators Kohl-Welles and Keiser; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 2/1/05, 2/7/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Ranking Minority Member; Brown, Honeyford, Keiser and Prentice.

Staff: Alison Mendiola (786-7483)

Background: In 2002, the Uniform Regulation of Business and Professions Act (URBP) was adopted. Under the URBP, disciplinary procedures are consolidated for the licensed businesses and professions regulated by the Department of Licensing (DOL). The authority of the board, commission or department director, grounds for discipline, and sanctions are defined.

Summary of Bill: Technical changes are made to the URBP to resolve statutory conflicts.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: Technical changes are made to the URBP. For example, the changes extend authority over unlicensed practices (such as those who hold themselves out as licensed but in fact are not), and allows acts prior to the enactment of the URBP to be used as reasons to disqualify someone from a profession under the URBP. DOL needs to have these tools in order to properly monitor professions that fall under the URBP's jurisdiction.

Concerns: Changes need to be made to address appraisers.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: John Swannack, Department of Licensing. PRO with CONCERNS: Jim Irish, Appraisers Coalition of Washington.