A bill that would centralize that management of Alabama’s state licensing boards was the subject of a public hearing in the Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee.
SB193, sponsored by State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine), seeks to streamline oversight and operations of multiple state boards by creating the Office of Occupational Licensing within the Alabama Department of Labor. It was given a favorable report in committee and now awaits consideration on the Senate floor.
“This moves these boards, the administrative functions of these boards, under the Department of Workforce. I’ve worked with the governor’s office on this piece of legislation. We have problems,” said Elliott.
He pointed to issues highlighted in past sunset committee reports, saying the current system has led to “embarrassing” problems for the state, licensees, and board members.
If passed, SB193 would consolidate administrative functions such as budgeting, personnel management, and record-keeping for various licensing boards to the newly established office, while allowing the boards to retain authority over industry-specific licensing standards and disciplinary actions.
Proponents argue this approach will increase efficiency, reduce costs, and provide greater accountability by standardizing operations across multiple boards.
“This handles the back office functions,” said Elliott. “It’s going to handle the processing of the license, the noticing of the meetings, the taking of complaints, and, in some instances, the investigation of those complaints.”
Elliott and other supporters have pointed to concerns over inconsistent financial management and governance across various boards as a reason for reform. Previous reporting has shown allegations of mismanagement, including those tied to the State Board of Electrical Contractors, the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners, and others.
Some lawmakers have pushed for greater oversight, citing issues with transparency and accountability in board operations.
“What we as a legislature have done is we have set up these boards, but provided them with no support,” Elliott said of the current occupational boards and licensing process. “We’ve provided them with no administrative support. We’ve said, ‘Congratulations, you’re a board. I sure hope you know something about state government.’”
Elliott hopes that SB193 will solve these issues by creating streamlined licensing processes and moving administrative functions to the Department of Workforce.
During Tuesday’s public hearing, lawmakers heard testimony from stakeholders both in favor and against the bill and asked questions about the implications of the bill.
State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) expressed concern about creating “another bureaucracy to watch over the bureaucracies,” though he acknowledged the need to “get control of things in some way.”
Speaking at the public hearing, a member of the Alabama Board of Private Investigators Jim Castille argued his board already operated efficiently and did not need the additional oversight proposed in the bill. He expressed concerns that the bill would take away the board’s authority to set its own fees and procedures.
Another proponent, Christy Williams, voiced support for the bill, citing her experiences with mismanagement and problems with licensing boards. She believes the legislation would provide a “breath of fresh air” to address issues like excessive fines and non-merit-based staffing, which she had encountered with boards.
Senators raised questions about the potential impact on smaller boards, the handling of lawsuits and fines and the need for industry expertise. Elliott assured members that the boards would maintain their rule-making authority and industry representation, while the new department would provide more efficient administrative support.
Tuesday is day nine of the 2025 state legislative session.
Grace Heim is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You can follow her on X @graceeheim or email her at [email protected].
