Occupational Licensure Boards Consolidation Study Committee; create.

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To: Government Structure
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) McCaughn

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 2673

AN ACT TO CREATE THE "OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE BOARDS 1
CONSOLIDATION STUDY COMMITTEE" CREATED TO EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITY 2
AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSOLIDATING STATE LICENSURE BOARDS INTO THE 3
DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE; TO REQUIRE THE STUDY 4
COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE REGARDING 5
THE BENEFITS OF CONSOLIDATING, WHICH, IF ANY, BOARDS COULD 6
FEASIBLY CONSOLIDATE WITHIN A SHARED DEPARTMENT, A TIMELINE WITH 7
STEPS NEEDED FOR A SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFUL CONSOLIDATION, LOCATION 8
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEW DEPARTMENT AND ANYTHING ELSE THE 9
COMMITTEE DEEMS NECESSARY AND RELEVANT TO CREATE THE DEPARTMENT OF 10
OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE; TO SET THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE STUDY 11
COMMITTEE; TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED THERETO, 12
INCLUDING PER DIEM AND VOTING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 13
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 14
SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby established the 15
"Occupational Licensure Boards Consolidation Study Committee" 16
created to examine the possibility and effectiveness of 17
consolidating state licensure boards into the Department of 18
Occupational Licensure. The study committee shall develop 19
recommendations to the Legislature on changes to policy and laws 20
in Mississippi with a goal of increasing efficiency by 21
consolidating and streamlining the occupational licensing boards 22
and processes associated with said boards. 23
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(2) The members of the study committee shall be as follows: 24
(a) The Chairman of the Government Structures Committee 25
of the Senate and the Chairman of the State Affairs Committee of 26
the House of Representatives, or their designees; 27
(b) The Chairmen of the Accountability, Efficiency and 28
Transparency committees of the Senate and House of 29
Representatives, or their designees; 30
(c) Five (5) members currently serving on different 31
occupational licensure boards in the state, appointed by the 32
Governor; 33
(d) Two (2) senators appointed by the Lieutenant 34
Governor; and 35
(e) Two (2) representatives appointed by the Speaker of 36
the House of Representatives. 37
(3) The study committee shall meet within forty-five (45) 38
days of the effective date of this act and shall evaluate the 39
current data, resources, laws and policies that concern and impact 40
occupational licensure boards in the State of Mississippi. 41
Specifically, the study committee shall make recommendations 42
concerning: 43
(a) The benefits of consolidating states occupational 44
licensure boards; 45
(b) Which, if any, boards could feasibly be consolidate 46
within a shared department; 47
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(c) A timeline, which includes any and all steps 48
necessary for a smooth and successful consolidation of suggested 49
licensure boards; 50
(d) Location recommendations for the new department; 51
and 52
(e) Any information deemed necessary and relevant to 53
accomplish the tasks assigned in paragraphs (a) through (d) of 54
this subsection. 55
(4) To effectuate the purposes of this act, any occupational 56
licensure board, department, division, board, bureau, committee, 57
institution or agency of the state, or any political subdivision 58
thereof, shall, at the request of the study committee, provide the 59
facilities, assistance, information and data needed to enable the 60
study committee to carry out its duties. 61
(5) The Chairman of the Senate Government Structures 62
Committee shall call the first meeting. The members of the study 63
committee shall elect a chairman, vice chairman and any other 64
officers determined to be necessary, from among the members at its 65
first meeting. The study committee shall develop and report its 66
findings and recommendations to the Mississippi Legislature on or 67
before December 1, 2026. A majority of the membership shall be 68
required to approve any final report and recommendation. 69
(6) Meetings of the study committee shall be held at the 70
State Capitol; however, if it is not feasible for the study 71
committee to hold an in-person meeting, the study committee may 72
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ST: Occupational Licensure Boards Consolidation
Study Committee; create.
convene utilizing an online meeting platform that is accessible 73
for viewing by the public. All members shall be notified in 74
writing of all meetings, such notice shall be mailed at least five 75
(5) days before the date on which a meeting is to be held. 76
(7) Members of the study committee that serve in the 77
Legislature shall be reimbursed in the same manner as attending 78
out of session committee meetings. 79
(8) The Joint Legislative Committee on Performance 80
Evaluation and Expenditure Review shall provide necessary clerical 81
support for the meetings of the study committee and the 82
preparation of the report. 83
(9) Upon the presentation of its report to the Legislature, 84
the study committee shall be dissolved. 85
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 86
and after its passage. 87