Bill > SB227

This bill establishes the Office of Occupational and Professional Licensing within the Alabama Department of Workforce, which will oversee and administer various licensing and regulatory boards for professions and occupations. The bill defines key terms like "Board" (a licensing entity overseen by the new office), "Executive Director" (appointed by the Secretary of Workforce), "Fund" (the Occupational and Professional Licensing Fund), "License" (permission to practice a profession), and "Office" (the new licensing office). The Secretary of Workforce will appoint an Executive Director and deputy directors, who will manage the office's operations, including employing necessary personnel like administrative law judges and investigators. The office will collect all fees owed to the boards, deposit them into the Occupational and Professional Licensing Fund, and use these funds for the boards' operations, including maintaining existing programs like wellness and training initiatives, provided it doesn't significantly increase fees. The Executive Director will have broad powers to manage administrative aspects of licensing, such as processing applications, issuing licenses, setting administrative fees, conducting investigations, and enforcing board decisions, while boards retain the authority to set substantive examination standards. The bill also specifies that board members will receive per diem and travel reimbursement, subject to the Executive Director's approval, and that board meetings will generally be held in Montgomery. Importantly, the bill amends the Sunset Law, requiring the Sunset Committee to consider recommending the transfer of oversight and administration of agencies to the Office of Occupational and Professional Licensing as part of its review process, with specific notice and correction periods for agencies before such a recommendation is made. This act is set to become effective on October 1, 2026.