State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) filed legislation on Thursday to consolidate 19 occupational licensing boards into the Alabama Department of Workforce.
Senate Bill 193 would establish the Office of Occupational and Professional Licensing within the Alabama Department of Workforce to serve as a “centralized entity providing leadership, support, and oversight to certain professional or occupational licensing boards operating within the state.” The bill would provide for the appointment of an executive director, deputy directors, and other staff for the office, including investigators. It would provide uniformity for certain provisions relating to licensing, fees, funding, and expenses.
Commencing on October 1, 2026, the bill would transfer to the office the Board of Examiners of Assisted Living Administrators, Alabama Athletic Commission, Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers, State Board of Auctioneers, Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board, Board of Examiners in Counseling, Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors, Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure, State Board of Genetic Counseling, Board of Home Medical Equipment, Alabama Board for Registered Interior Designers, Alabama Licensure Board for Interpreters and Transliterators, Alabama Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects, Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy, Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board, State Board of Midwifery, Alabama Private Investigation Board, Alabama State Board of Prosthetists and Orthotists, and the Alabama Security Regulatory Board.
Many licensing boards that regulate various occupations in Alabama are managed by a hired employee or administrative services firm. Some legislators have been critical of the management of some licensing boards in recent years.
Elliott told 1819 News on Thursday the bill was a “good government efficiency bill” and compared it to the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts.
He said the bill is similar to licensing legislation he’s filed in past sessions.
“It is not the sexiest thing in the world, but it is absolutely something we need to focus on. It’s something I’ve been focused on before anyone was talking about DOGE, and now everybody is talking about DOGE,” Elliott said.
The bill would also transfer the Sickle Cell Oversight and Regulatory Commission to the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Alabama Drycleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund Advisory Board to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
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