Utah has become a national leader on occupational licensing reform
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) In this Jan. 27 photo, the Utah Senate floor is viewed during the Utah legislative session in Salt Lake City.
The Utah Legislature just passed Senate Bill 23, which implements several significant reforms to current licensing laws.
Utah joins Arizona in taking the lead to make it easier to move into their state, and several other states have proposed similar laws. Arizona became the first state to accept out-of-state licenses last year, and it's already making an impact. In that first year, over 750 people have used the law to take their talents to Arizona. That’s 750 more professionals, plus their spouses and children, who were able to move for a better life for themselves and join communities and grow the local economy.
In addition to breaking down barriers for individuals looking to move to Utah, the legislation also makes important reforms for current residents who may have made a mistake in their past. Overly broad "good moral character" provisions from licensing requirements are removed for many professions.
Having good moral character is important, whether we’re talking about a friend or a professional service provider. However, in practice this provision is used to exclude qualified professionals for past mistakes that are unrelated to the service they provide. It hurts the formerly incarcerated trying to turn their lives around and increases recidivism, according to a policy report by the Center for the Study of Economic Liberty.
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