FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: January 18th, 2022

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Amanda Kieffer, Communications Director at Cardinal Institute for WV Policy

PHONE: (304)-541-9551  EMAIL: [email protected]

New Research Explores Options for Licensing Board Oversight

Charleston, W. Va.—The Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy released a new paper exploring occupational licensing board oversight in West Virginia. Nearly 22% of workers in West Virginia are licensed, making it the eighth most licensed state in the nation. Due to this, licensing is an important aspect of the economic health of the Mountain State.

In partnership with the Knee Center for the Study of Occupational Regulation at West Virginia University, the Cardinal Institute has detailed possible solutions to licensing board oversight that could bring West Virginia into compliance with North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners v. Federal Trade Commission, which held that occupational licensing boards must have state oversight.

Some options explored in the paper:

• Creation of an ombudsman who would be empowered to review the structure and all actions taken by licensing boards. This role would be given the explicit goal of promoting competition.
• Additional public members added to boards, similar to reforms in Arizona.
• Sunrise & Sunset provisions that would require regular review of licensing laws and regulations by the legislature.

“Our previous analysis highlighted how occupational licensing is oftentimes more burdensome here in West Virginia than neighboring states. A key contributing factor to this problem is the lack of oversight of licensing boards,” said Dr. Ed Timmons. “We recommend and rank several solutions to provide more oversight and help bring the state into compliance with North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners v. FTC.”

About the Cardinal Institute

The Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in September 2014 dedicated to research, develop, and communicate effective free market economic public policies for West Virginia.

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