The bill, HB 82, proposes significant amendments to the licensing statutes and the regulatory framework governing various professions, including mental health practitioners, school psychologists, and medical imaging professionals. A key change is the replacement of the term "board" with "office" of professional licensure and certification throughout the legislation, which centralizes authority and streamlines the licensing process. The bill also repeals several existing provisions related to rulemaking, disciplinary actions, and advisory committees, thereby simplifying the regulatory landscape. Notably, it allows the office to issue licenses based solely on applicants meeting all requirements, eliminating the need for board opinions, and introduces new requirements for criminal history checks, including the submission of fingerprints.

Additionally, the bill modifies the qualifications for licensure in specific fields, such as cardiac electrophysiology and computed tomography, by removing age and high school diploma requirements, instead emphasizing current certification from recognized organizations. It also includes provisions for existing certified school psychologists to be automatically licensed under new titles without initial fees for a specified period. The effective date for certain sections of the act is set for July 1, 2026, while the remainder will take effect 60 days after passage. Overall, HB 82 aims to modernize and enhance the efficiency of the licensing process across multiple professions while ensuring that standards for professional competency are maintained.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 310-A:67, 330-C:9, 330-A:6, 330-A:15-a, 420-J:8-c, 310-A:16, 310-A:18, 310-A:20, 329-B:6, 329-B:14-a, 329-B:15, 329-B:15-a, 329-B:17, 329-B:30, 315:6, 315:8, 285:10, 285:11, 285:13, 285:14, 311-B:5, 319-C:8, 310:2, 310:8
As Amended by the House: 310-A:67, 330-C:9, 330-A:6, 330-A:15-a, 420-J:8-c, 310-A:16, 310-A:18, 310-A:20, 329-B:6, 329-B:14-a, 329-B:15, 329-B:15-a, 329-B:17, 329-B:30, 315:6, 315:8, 285:10, 285:11, 285:13, 285:14, 311-B:5, 319-C:8, 310:2, 310:8, 205-D:12, 328-J:11, 310-A:208