The Occupational Regulation Blueprint (“Blueprint”) – in conjunction with informational meetings between the Commission and licensing entities, industry participants, and the public – forms the basis for the Commission to analyze licensing requirements and make recommendations to the Oklahoma Legislature.
The Blueprint creates an objective, practical tool to determine whether an occupational license is needed or whether a lower form of regulation would be equally effective. It contains questions to determine whether there is a government interest in regulating an occupation (such as public safety, public health, a fiduciary duty, or preservation of a fundamental right). It also questions whether a lesser form of regulation such as insurance, bonding, or registration may be more appropriate. It also considers the composition of Oklahoma licensing boards.
The Commission will utilize the Blueprint to conduct an analysis of all the occupational licenses in Oklahoma. Newly created licenses will be reviewed by the Commission within ninety (90) days of enactment. Licenses are to be reviewed every four (4) years. In year one, (i.e., 2019 Report and Recommendations), the Commission examined some of Oklahoma's critical occupations with high economic potential indicators and licenses that appeared to be outliers. In the second year, the 2020 Report and recommendations will focused on many of Oklahoma's remaining critical occupation licenses (as identified by Oklahoma Works), and the Occupational Licensing Policy Learning Consortium's targeted occupations list. The following years will examine the balance of Oklahoma's occupational licenses. Commission members can add licenses to the proposed schedule at any time with a majority vote.