Downey Calls for Occupational Licensing Relief

State Rep. Keith Downey (R-Edina) has been working for more than a year—alongside State Sen. Chris Gerlach (R-Apple Valley)—to remove what he calls "over-regulation of occupation" in Minnesota.

The Edina legislator this week co-authored the Licensing Relief Act, which would not allow the state to regulate occupations, unless licensing presents a compelling interest in the health or safety of citizens. Downey said its unnecessary for the state to regulate everything from the number of taxi drivers to licensing people who clean horse teeth or groom dogs.

"The argument for licensure is the protection of citizens," Downey said. "But it has a much higher cost associated with it than people realize."

Downey and Gerlach consulted with Morris Kleiner, a professor of labor policy at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, who estimates over-regulation by the state creates a 0.5-percent increase in unemployment. The Licensing Relief Act could create as many as 15,000 jobs, according to Kleiner.

"We are probably on the high end of licensure restrictions compared to other states," Downey said. "It's a real burden to people who are trying to open up a shop."

The bill does not seek to repeal any licensing regulations already on the books, but Downey said it would place the burden of proving a compelling interest in public health and safety in enforcing any cease and desist orders against people who engage in an occupation without a license.

Here’s a rundown of other bills authored or co-authored by your legislators this past week:

Sen. Geoff Michel (R-Edina): 

• Co-authored a bill extending tax increment financing (TIF) district duration time limits for the city of Bloomington. SF1646, introduced Feb. 2.

• Co-authored a bill requiring the Legislature to authorize any cyclical revisions of academic standards and high school graduation requirements. SF1656, introduced Feb. 2.

• Co-authored the Restaurant Recovery and Jobs Creation Act of 2011, which lowers licensing fees, exempts temporary food stands from licensing requirements, exempts tips from taxable wages and requires large employes to pay tipped employees a certain amount in order to calculate the minimum wage. SF1701, introduced Feb. 2.

• Authored a bill providing a credit for investment in start-up and emerging Minnesota businesses and modifying certain provisions of the small business investment credit. SF1774, introduced Feb. 9.

• Co-authored a bill requiring school districts to provide onetime cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator instruction in the grades 7 to 12 curriculum beginning in the 2014 school year and allowing community member use to provide instruction. SF1908, introduced Feb. 16.

• Authored the Small Business Regulatory Relief Act, which reduces business property taxes for commercial industrial property and seasonal recreation property and creates a small business regulatory relief board. SF1927, introduced Feb. 16.

Rep. Keith Downey (R-Edina):

• Authored a bill modifying statutes governing group residential housing. HF2061, introduced Feb. 1.

• Co-authored a bill requiring certain state employee contributions for health insurance premiums during the biennium ending June 30, 2013. HF2069, introduced Feb. 1.

• Co-authored a bill putting a constitutional amendment to guarantee citizens the choice of whether or not to join a labor union before voters during the 2012 general election. HF2140, introduced Feb. 8.

• Co-authored a bill providing for expedited exchange, condemnation and private sale of certain state land in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. HF2207, introduced Feb. 13.

• Co-authored a bill authorizing certain taxpayers to file and pay use tax with the income tax return. HF2224, introduced Feb. 13.

• Co-authored a bill changing the Permanent School Fund Advisory Committee into a legislative commission and granting the commission authority to employ a director to oversee, manage and administer school trust lands. HF2244, introduced Feb. 13.

• Authored a bill allowing a capital equipment exemption at the time of purchase. HF2255, introduced Feb. 15.

• Authored a bill reducing business property taxes. HF2318, introduced Feb. 15.

• Authored a bill creating a small business regulatory review board and providing legislative appointments. HF2319, introduced Feb. 15.

• Co-authored a bill prohibiting school districts from holding school on the Thursday and Friday before Labor Day. HF2325, introduced Feb. 16.

• Authored a bill providing for a longer public notice period in a zoning ordinance or amendment for large projects. HF2326, introduced Feb. 16.

• Authored a bill reducing business property taxes, creating a small business regulatory review board and imposing a moratorium on rulemaking by state agencies, except in certain specified instances. HF2336, introduced Feb. 16.

• Co-authored a bill creating a health care compact. HF2339, introduced Feb. 16.

Rep. Pat Mazorol (R-Bloomington):

• Co-authored a bill requiring government entities to share personnel data in certain circumstances. HF2120, introduced Feb. 8.

• Co-authored a bill modifying provisions relating to foreclosure consultants. HF2308, introduced Feb. 15.