On Monday, July 6, I was thrilled to hear the governor decided to sign House Bill 2046 into law. This bill was comprised of several provisions related to professional registration and licensing, including my Senate Bill 877, the Expanded Workforce Access Act of 2020. Senate Bill 877 was one of my priorities during the legislative session, and I am thankful the governor signed this important piece of legislation into law.
Under SB 877, individuals who completed the eighth grade would be eligible to receive a license if they had completed an apprenticeship approved by the Missouri Division of Professional Registration or the U.S. Department of Labor and had passed an examination, if one is required by the specific licensing authority.
This bill seeks to grow Missouri’s workforce by allowing for workers to complete competency-based, private-sector apprenticeships instead of requiring individuals to meet costly occupational licensing requirements. From my perspective, these government licensing requirements often get in the way of business growth which, in turn, gets in the way of economic growth. I believe the Expanded Workforce Access Act of 2020 will have a positive effect on Missouri’s job market.
Especially now, with the virus interrupting our state’s economy and causing numerous Missourians to lose their jobs, we need to find ways to help Missourians get back to work. This is an uncertain time for everyone, but I believe by providing more opportunities for employment and supporting our local businesses, we can get through this difficult time and become even stronger as a community.
Please visit Sen. Burlison’s official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/burlison for more legislative and constituent resources.