Illinois: report from task force on minimizing barriers
Illinois's Comprehensive Licensing Information to Minimize Barriers (CLIMB) Task Force has released a report of recommendations. From the executive summary:
"The General Assembly commissioned this Task Force to investigate how occupational licensing of low-to-moderate-income occupations relates to economic inequities in Illinois and to recommend reforms. Our comprehensive review of available data confirms that the current licensing requirements, ostensibly designed to protect public health and safety, instead can unintentionally impose unnecessary and onerous barriers to entry into the workforce, disproportionately affecting poor and disadvantaged communities."
The report presents recommendations for licensing reforms such as a 12-month moratorium on the creation of any new occupational licenses, paid training and high school apprenticeship programs, consideration of reduced training and education requirements, better collection of data on license denials, implementation of sunrise and sunset reviews with 24 months of data, transition to online application platforms and digital credentialing systems, reforms and assistance for justice-involved applicants, alternate pathways and reciprocity agreements, and consideration of less restrictive alternatives to licensing.