The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and other members of the Professional Certification Coalition (PCC) recently had a productive discussion with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which has pushed for occupational licensing reform legislation in the states.
Bills introduced this year in Ohio, Louisiana, Missouri and Michigan have all used ALEC model legislative language. The meeting between PCC members and ALEC was highly useful in clarifying distinctions between private voluntary certification programs operated by many associations and occupational licensing.
The PCC, working with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, has prepared proposed amendments to the ALEC model bill language and is hopeful that ALEC will endorse those changes and that state legislators seeking to introduce occupational licensing reform legislation will start with legislative language that is acceptable to the private certification community.
PCC Steering Committee members also met recently with representatives from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) who are providing technical assistance to states considering changes to their occupational licensing laws. PCC members and Pillsbury also continue to meet with potential coalition members. As of this week, the PCC has 100 member organizations committed to protecting private voluntary certification. For more information, visit the PCC website.
This article was provided to OSAE by the Power of A and ASAE's Inroads.