(The Center Square) – As part of an ongoing, six-year effort to limit professional licensing regulation in Ohio, a policy group is pushing to eliminate nearly 40 more.
Since 2019, The Buckeye Institute has led the push to either end or reduce requirements for nearly 100 different licenses.
With the House General Government Committee planning to take up a bill that would establish a standalone licensing process for pharmacy benefit managers, the Columbus-based policy group has found 39 other licenses that it believes should be eliminated.
“To assist lawmakers in their review of Ohio’s occupational licenses, The Buckeye Institute’s examination has identified 39 licenses that the state can eliminate or reform,” Greg R. Lawson, a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, said in a statement. “Doing so would make Ohio more economically competitive and end the ‘permission-slip’ policies that make it difficult for people to earn a living in the Buckeye State.”
Lawson reviewed the same licensing requirements the committee is analyzing and found 19 that he thinks should go. He also said another 20 requirements should be modified to line up more closely with Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Some of the licenses Lawson believes should be eliminated include the tough man license, refrigeration contractor, motor vehicle emission inspection professional, dietician, commercial nuisance wild animal control operator, fire boss, shot firer certification, art therapist and music therapist.
Lawson also proposes revisions to athlete agent, home inspector, lead inspector, radiation therapy, physicians assistant and fish wholesaler.
In 2019, The Buckeye Institute lobbied for the new law that came through Senate Bill 255 requiring Ohio lawmakers to review and renew occupational licenses at least once every six years. Those that do not automatically expire.
