FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2017                                                              

CONTACT: Lorenz Isidro, LIsidro@afphq.org or (703) 887-7724

AFP-NJ Applauds Senate Committee for Advancing Occupational Licensing Reform Bill

TRENTON, NJ – Americans for Prosperity-New Jersey (AFP-NJ) today applauded the state Senate Commerce Committee for passing Senate Bill 1599, which would help bring transparency to the exclusionary nature of certain occupational licensing boards by requiring them to report licensure exam passage rates. Occupational licenses mandate that workers receive the government’s permission to work in a certain profession, making it more difficult for them to support themselves or their families. A final vote by the full Senate is expected as early as next week.

“New Jersey residents shouldn’t need a government permission slip to work and support their families. Instead of erecting artificially high barriers that keep people from working, lawmakers should undo these regulations and make it easier for Garden State workers to succeed,” said AFP-NJ Grassroots Director Tony Howley, who testified at today’s hearing. “While a small step in the right direction, the exam data this bill will enable us to collect will get us closer to advancing much needed and more substantive reforms. We applaud Senator Jeff Van Drew for introducing this bill and urge his colleagues to support it.”

Background:

AFP-NJ State Director Erica Jedynak’s letter urging the Senate Commerce Committee to pass Senate Bill 1599 can be viewed here.

The Institute for Justice study examined both the breadth and burdens of 102 different lower-income occupational licenses. The study can be viewed here.

New Jersey ranks as one of the country’s worst states for occupational licenses. Of 54 occupations that require government permission slips, the average worker pays $224 in fees and loses 422 days to education and experience requirements.

Americans for Prosperity-New Jersey is rallying the grassroots and empowering NJ citizens burdened by unfair red tape. Watch highlights from our rally in Trenton. We have long advocated for eliminating burdensome occupational licensing requirements. In June, AFP-NJ hosted a rally with the Institute for Justice in Trenton to call on legislators to eliminate mandates that it illegal to braid hair for profit. To get licensed, aspiring hair braiders have to spend 1,200 hours at an expensive cosmetology school that doesn’t even teach natural braiding techniques.

Generation Opportunity is a partner in the fight to slash burdensome occupations licensing laws. Learn about more ways to fix these burdensome requirements by reviewing Generation Opportunity’s agenda for occupational licensing reform in New Jersey. To read the report, click here.

For further information or an interview, reach Lorenz Isidro at LIsidro@afphq.org or (703) 887-7724. 

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) exists to recruit, educate, and mobilize citizens in support of the policies and goals of a free society at the local, state, and federal level, helping every American live their dream – especially the least fortunate. AFP has more than 3.2 million activists across the nation, a local infrastructure that includes 36 state chapters, and has received financial support from more than 100,000 Americans in all 50 states. For more information, visit www.AmericansForProsperity.org

###