Missouri state senators soon could be asked to slow down the rate of growth in the number of licensed professions in the state.
The House just last week, on a 117-37 vote, passed Rep. Eric Burlison's proposal to require that groups provide more justification for their licensing proposals before the Legislature creates new licenses.
The state already requires licenses for people to work in more than 50 professions, including certified public accountants, real estate agents, architects, barbers and cosmetologists, interior designers, physicians and surgeons, dentists, veterinarians, social workers and professional counselors, and professional boxers and wrestlers.
Many of those licenses became a mandate after members of those groups lobbied the state to set licensing and education requirements.
Burlison, R-Springfield, told the Senate's Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee Monday: "We've had a number of groups trying to create brand new, licensed professions and - by simply having this (proposed law) in place - it became clear to the committee that these organizations are not, quite, ready and don't really have a lot of these questions answered."
Burlison's bill would require that any regulations the state adopts must be related to the public interest, and that all bills introduced in the General Assembly proposing the first-time regulation of a profession or occupation must be reviewed according to the specified criteria.
Also, Burlison's proposed law would require all groups seeking a new professional license or regulation - after Jan. 1, 2016 - to submit a written report explaining why the license or regulation is needed.
"Basically, the information that you answer," Burlison explained, "is - How many people will this regulate?
"How many people will you be grandfathering in?
"What requirements on education will you require (and for how many years)?
"Will you require continuing medical education?
"What will the fees be required?"
No one testified against the proposal in Monday's Senate committee hearing.
Sam Licklider, a lobbyist for the Missouri Realtors Association, told the panel he supported the bill "substantially because" Burlison's measure is toned-down from last year's version.
The 2014 measure "affected everyone in the known world and had some language in there that, I suspect, would have kept several trial attorneys very, very busy for quite some time, litigating with the state," Licklider explained.
"He has made (the 2015 bill) apply only to new licensed occupations, and the offensive language was removed. I appreciate very much his willingness to listen."
Bruce Hillis of Mexico, Mo., told the committee he supported the bill as "an advocate for free markets, economic freedom and with my principal focus or advocacy directed toward reviewing or looking at ways to reduce - or, in the future, reduce - burdensome or restrictive occupational regulations."
Hillis said he's focused on "three principal points" that the bill also contains - "That everybody should have a natural right to pursue a lawful occupation.
"Two, if there are to be occupational regulations, there should be a compelling or important government interest at risk here.
"And three, that the approach taken to regulate this occupation should be the least-restrictive possible."
The committee may vote later this week to endorse Burlison's bill for full Senate debate.
Lawmakers have only until 6 p.m. on May 15 to pass bills in this year's General Assembly.