A bill for an act relating to occupational regulations; establishing the state policy for the regulations of occupations, creating a process to review criminal history to reduce offenders’ disqualifications from state recognition; and proposing coding for new law as ____________, chapter ____.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN:
100.01 Policy. Where the State Legislature finds it is necessary to displace competition, the State will use the least restrictive regulation to protect consumers from present, significant and substantiated harms that threaten public health and safety.
100.02 Definitions.
Subdivision 1. Scope. For the purposes of this chapter, the words defined in this section have the meaning given.
Subd. 2. Certification. “Certification” is a voluntary program in which (a) a private organization or (b) the state government grants nontransferable recognition to an individual who meets personal qualifications established by (a) the private organization or (b) the legislature. Upon approval, the individual may use “certified” as a designated title. A non-certified individual may also perform the lawful occupation for compensation but may not use the title “certified.”
Subd. 3. Lawful occupation. “Lawful occupation” means a course of conduct, pursuit or profession that includes the sale of goods or services that are not themselves illegal to sell irrespective of whether the individual selling them is subject to an occupational regulation.
Subd. 4. Least restrictive regulation. “Least restrictive regulation” means, from least to most restrictive,
Subd. 5. Occupational license. “Occupational license” is a nontransferable authorization in law for an individual to perform exclusively a lawful occupation for compensation based on meeting personal qualifications established by the legislature. In an occupation for which a license is required, it is illegal for an individual who does not possess a valid occupational license to perform the occupation for compensation.
Subd. 6. Occupational regulation. “Occupational regulation” means a statute, rule, practice, policy or other state law that allows an individual to use an occupational title or work in a lawful occupation. It includes registration, certification and occupational license. It excludes a business license, facility license, building permit, or zoning and land use regulation except to the extent those state laws regulate an individual’s personal qualifications to perform a lawful occupation.
Subd. 7. Personal qualifications. “Personal qualifications” are criteria related to an individual’s personal background and characteristics including completion of an approved educational program, satisfactory performance on an examination, work experience, other evidence of attainment of requisite skills or knowledge, moral standing, criminal history and completion of continuing education.
Subd. 8. Registration. “Registration” means a requirement to give notice to the government that may include the individual's name and address, the individual's agent for service of process, the location of the activity to be performed, and a description of the service the individual provides. “Registration” does not include personal qualifications but may require a bond or insurance. Upon the government’s receipt of notice, the individual may use “registered” as a designated title. A non-registered individual may not perform the occupation for compensation or use “registered” as a designated title. “Registration” is not transferable.
Subd. 9. Specialty occupational license for medical reimbursement. “Specialty occupational license for medical reimbursement” means a non-transferable authorization in law for an individual to qualify for payment or reimbursement from a government agency for the non-exclusive provision of medical services based on meeting personal qualifications established by the legislature. A private company may recognize this credential. Notwithstanding this specialty license, it is legal for a person regulated under another occupational regulation to provide similar services as defined in that statute for compensation and reimbursement. It is also legal for an individual who does not possess this specialty license to provide the identified medical services for compensation but the non-licensed individual shall not qualify for payment or reimbursement from a government agency.
100.03 Statutory interpretation. For the purposes of this chapter, the following statutory interpretations apply.
Subdivision 1. The terms “certification” and “registration” are not synonymous with an “occupational license” in this chapter.
Subd. 2. The use of the words “certification” and “certified” in other statutes to mean requiring an individual to meet certain personal qualifications to work legally (e.g., a certified public accountant must become certified before working legally) shall be interpreted for the purposes of this chapter as requiring an individual to meet the requirements of an “occupational license.”
Subd. 3. The use of the words “registration” and “registered” in other statutes to mean requiring an individual to meet certain personal qualifications to work legally (e.g., a registered nurse must become registered before working legally) shall be interpreted for the purposes of this chapter as requiring an individual to meet the requirements of an “occupational license.”
100.04 Petition for Review of Criminal History
Subdivision 1. The fundamental right of an individual to pursue an occupation includes the right of an individual with a criminal history to obtain an occupational license, specialty occupational license for medical reimbursement, government certification or any state recognition of the individual’s personal qualifications (hereafter “state recognition” in this section).
Subd. 2. An individual with a criminal history may petition the responsible licensing board agency or department (hereafter “board” in this section), at any time, including before obtaining any required education or paying any fee, for a determination of whether the individual’s criminal history will disqualify the individual from obtaining state recognition.
Subd. 3. Notwithstanding any other statute or rule, the board is authorized to determine whether the individual’s criminal history disqualifies the individual from obtaining state recognition.
Subd. 4. The board may find the individual's criminal history disqualifies the individual from obtaining state recognition only if:
a. the individual has a felony conviction;
b. the type of felony for which the individual was convicted is expressly codified as a disqualifying offense in the relevant occupational license’s statute; and
c. the board concludes the state has an important interest in protecting public safety that is superior to the individual’s right. The board may make this conclusion only if it determines, by a clear and convincing evidence at the time of the petition, that (1) the specific offense for which the individual was convicted is substantially related to the state’s interest, (2) the individual, based on the nature of the specific offense for which the individual was convicted and the individual’s current circumstances, is more likely to reoffend by virtue of having the license than if the individual did not have the license, and (3) that a re-offense will cause greater harm than it would if the individual did not have the license.
Subd. 5. The board shall issue its determination within 90 days after the board receives the petition. The determination shall be in writing and include a finding of facts and a conclusion of law.
Subd. 6. If the board determines the state’s interest is superior to the individual’s right, the board may advise the individual of actions the individual may take to remedy the disqualification.
Subd. 7. The individual may appeal the board's determination as provided for in the state's administrative procedure act.
Subd. 8. The individual may submit a new petition to the same responsible licensing board at any time two years after final judgement in the initial petition. If the new petition is submitted on the ground that the individual has undertaken the actions the board has advised him will remedy the disqualification, then the individual may submit a new petition at any time six months after final judgment in the initial petition.
Subd. 9. The Board may rescind its determination at any time in the future if the individual is convicted of an additional offense that the Board determines meets the elements in subdivision 4.
Subd. 10. The board may charge the individual a fee to recoup its costs not to exceed $100 for each petition.
100.05 The Legislature’s Analysis of Occupational Regulations
Subdivision 1. Legislature’s analysis of occupational regulations. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Majority Leader will establish a position in the Legislative Service Bureau to analyze occupational regulations.
Subd. 2. Sunrise reviews. (a) The position is responsible for reviewing legislation to enact or modify an occupational regulation to ensure compliance with the policy in section 100.01.
(b) The position may require the legislation’s proponents to submit evidence of present, significant and substantiated harms to consumers in the state. The position also may require information from others knowledgeable of the occupation, labor economics or other factors.
(c) The position will determine if legislation meets the state policy of using the least restrictive regulation necessary to protect consumers from present, significant and substantiated harms.
(d) The position will evaluate the effects of legislation on opportunities for workers, consumer choices and costs, general unemployment, market competition, governmental costs, and other effects.
(e) The position will compare the legislation to whether and how other states regulate the occupation.
(f) The position will issue a report to relevant committees about legislation on a timely basis.
Subd. 3. Sunset reviews. Starting on January 1, 20_ _, the position will review annually approximately 20 percent of the state’s occupational regulations to improve consistency with section 100.01. The position will review all occupational regulations over a period of five years. The position may require information be submitted by a board, its members, and others.
Subd. 4. Sunset reports. Starting on January 1, 20_ _, the position will report annually the findings of its reviews to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate and the Attorney General. In its report, the position will recommend the legislature enact new legislation that (a) repeals the occupational regulations, (b) converts the occupational regulations to less restrictive regulations as defined in section 100.2 subd. 4, (c) instructs the relevant licensing board or agency to promulgate revised occupational regulations or (d) reflects other recommendations to the legislature. The position also may recommend that no new legislation be enacted.
Subd. 5. Cost Allocation. The office may assess its costs for the sunset reviews and reports on each board. Each board may recoup the assessment by increasing the fees paid by license holders.
100.07 Effective date. This chapter is effective on _____________.
[*]Deceptive trade practices acts are an effective means to protect consumers from fraud.
[†]Periodic inspections protect consumers from unsanitary facilities.
[‡]Requiring insurance protects third parties from externalities.
[§]Registering with the secretary of state or other agency protects against fly-by-night providers.
[**]Certification is a voluntary signal that addresses the concern of asymmetrical information.
[††]Specialty licenses allows for medical reimbursement without disputes over scope of practice.