Bill Description: House Bill 74 would create a pathway to occupational licensure in Idaho for individuals with work experience in a state that does not require licensure. 

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NOTE: The Senate amendment to House Bill 74 does not change the rating or substantively change the analysis of the bill.

Does it increase barriers to entry into the market? Examples include occupational licensure, the minimum wage, and restrictions on home businesses. Conversely, does it remove barriers to entry into the market?

House Bill 74 would create Section 67-9414, Idaho Code, which will be a new section titled "Universal Work Recognition." It would require licensing authorities to establish procedures for issuing a license to an applicant who has at least 4 years of experience "in a profession or occupation in another state, district, or territory of the United States, or in the military, where a license to practice such profession or occupation was not required." The procedures would benefit any such person who "is required to obtain a license in Idaho to be able to practice the same profession or occupation with a similar scope of practice."

The bill also says the licensing authority shall apply the same examination standards, background checks, and licensing fees to such applicants as they do for "applicants under the standard licensing process."

It's good that this bill would establish a pathway for recognizing practical experience. But  it's unfortunate that Idaho continues to create barriers to work in the form of occupational licensure. It's particularly troubling that Idaho would require licensure for professions or occupations for which other states do not require licensure. Idaho likes to brag about being the least regulated state, but if that were true, this statute would not be necessary.

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