May 2, 2022
Last month Governor Spencer Cox ceremonially signed SB 16 – which creates the new Office of Professional Licensure Review, housed under the Department of Commerce. The bill passed during the February legislative session and offers a solution to the growing labor shortages throughout the state. Present at the bill signing were Executive Director Margaret Busse, Deputy Director Jacob Hart, Assistant Deputy Director Carolyn Dennis, DOPL Division Director Mark Steinagel, and Communication Director Zach Whitney.
The goal of SB 16 is to help ease some of the barriers Utahns encounter in professional licensing by revising outdated or excessively restrictive requirements allowing professionals more flexibility without compromising public safety. Director and analyst recruitment are currently underway, and the office’s review work will begin later this year. Here is the link to the bill that created the office if you would like to learn more about it.