On January 7, 2021, one of newly elected Gov. Spencer Cox’s first actions was to issue an order requiring state agencies to “review all occupational licenses to ensure they are truly necessary and are not outdated or incomplete.” Gov. Cox stated,
Government regulation is often necessary to protect people, but sometimes requirements end up hurting people who are trying to enter an industry or profession. We now have an opportunity to take a fresh look at our licensing requirements to make sure that we don’t have more rules than are necessary and that the rules we have continue to make sense.
On June 16, 2021, the Business and Labor Interim Committee of the Legislature discussed the Governor’s directive and actions it might take to support it. At Transcend Together, we support Gov. Cox’s initiative. Rosemary Gutierrez provided the following statement in support of the initiative at the Committee meeting on Wednesday:
Thank you Chair and committee members. I’m Rosemary Gutierrez, and I represent Transcend Together, conservative advocates for those who are poor and disadvantaged. We appreciate the attention being given to this topic and support an effort to review all occupational licenses.
Most occupational licenses require the applicant to pay various fees, pay tuition for courses, and comply with many other regulations. These requirements can be a costly obstacle to overcome for people who are poor and disadvantaged, and they may have to remain unemployed or work in lower-paying jobs.
Every Utahn should have equal opportunity to earn a living without having to overcome obstacles or jump through hoops that are unnecessary. Also, restricting entry into these professions leads to fewer options for consumers and higher prices for services, which also harms those who are poor.
We encourage you to do a comprehensive review of the occupational licensure process to ensure that all Utahns have every opportunity to become self-reliant, move upward, and earn their success.
