Senate Bill 1142 Summary

• Amends sunset review process for state agencies by requiring committees of reference to consider occupational regulation criteria when reviewing agencies that administer occupational licenses, registrations, or certifications.

• Transfers occupational regulation statutes from Title 32, Chapter 44 to Title 41, Chapter 33, and adds comprehensive definitions for occupational regulation, government certification, government registration, occupational licenses, and less restrictive regulation.

• Establishes criteria for regulating nonhealth professions and occupations, requiring that regulation only occur if credible evidence shows unregulated practice threatens public health/safety/welfare, public benefits exceed costs, and less restrictive alternatives are insufficient.

• Requires applicant groups seeking to regulate a profession for the first time to submit a written report to legislative leadership explaining regulatory justification, with assignment to a committee of reference for study and recommendations by January 20th.

• Specifies that occupational regulation must be imposed in the least restrictive manner and exclusively to protect the public interest, not to shield professions from economic competition.