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WINSLOW — Arizona Governor, Doug Ducey signed House Bill 2569 recently, making Arizona the first state in the country to recognize out of state occupational licenses for new residents.
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Historically, those holding such licenses that relocated to Arizona faced bureaucracy in being re-permitted according to Arizona standards before beginning work. According to the Office of the Governor, “As new residents move here, they often face daunting and unnecessary hurdles imposed by state government to start a job, even though they were licensed, trained and qualified for the same job in another state.”
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Professions that require these licenses span between nurses and pharmacists, to contractors and beauticians.
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This bill will eliminate the need for redundant licensing and allow professionals to begin work immediately. License holders will be required to prove their license is in good standing from their previous state of residence. It also makes clear that the professional in question must have maintained their license for at least one year.
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Winslow Mayor Tom McCauley sees the bill as a step forward in growing the economy of Arizona, but he is not without reservation.
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“I hope the state did its due diligence before they passed the reciprocal licensing bill. Because I want to make sure the licenses that are coming to Winslow are sufficient. In other words, that they pass the same rigor that we demand of our own people. Now, not meaning they have to go back to school, but they should have to pass some kind of a proficiency exam or be able to prove their training.”
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Ducey stated on his website, “The bill we signed protects public health and safety while eliminating unnecessary and costly red tape. It’s an Arizona original and should be a model for other states for how to work together and do the things that matter.”
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The bill clarifies, “The agreement may not allow out-of-state licensees or certificate holders to obtain a license or certificate by reciprocity in this state if the applicant has not met standards that are substantially equivalent to or greater than the standards required in this state as determined by the regulating entity on a case-by-case basis.” It continues to explain that a regulating entity that administers examinations, such as the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology may require an applicant to take and pass an examination of Arizona laws and practices.
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McCauley continued, “If you are coming from Nebraska, for example, those standards are different. We need to make sure they are meeting our standards because our first priority must be to protect our citizens.”
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He does see the economic benefits this bill may help to develop. “This can create new jobs and new businesses,” he said, “not only in the big cities, but in our rural areas. All through Navajo County, we have great towns that would welcome these professionals with open arms, knowing that they meet industry standards for Arizona.”
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Arizona is the fourth fastest growing state according to the Census Bureau study released last year. The state falls behind only California, Texas, and Florida who are currently exploring similar legislation. Ducey said, “With this bill, Arizona’s sending a clear message to people across the country: if you’re moving to Arizona, there’s opportunity waiting for you here.”
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McCauley added, “I still have a lot of questions. But I do understand where they are going with this, to be able to bring in new people and open new businesses right away and streamline the process. Its wonderful to think that the government is actually getting out of our way. At the same time, we have to make sure that all the checks and balances are in place. We also need to remember that competition is a good thing in business. So, offering opportunities here to grow our job market and add to our tax base is positive.”
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The full text of House Bill 2579 is available at www.azleg.gov.
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