Saint Francis University’s Knee Center for the Study of Occupational Regulation (CSOR) is pleased to announce that Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has officially proposed reforms of several state job licensing boards.

“We must cut the red tape, reduce the bureaucracy and ensure overly burdensome rules and fees do not block hardworking people – especially our military spouses – from getting a good job, supporting their families and growing our economy,” Governor Wolf said Thursday. “Pennsylvania must be a place where people can put their skills, experience and education to work. Requiring a government license to work in certain jobs helps to keep all of us safe, but those requirements should be fair.”

The announcement was made after months of licensing research was conducted by CSOR and the Department of State’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs to compare Pennsylvania’s licensure regulations with those of other regional states’. The results were published in a final report, which Governor Wolf cites as a key factor in his decision to fight for reforms.

The report acknowledges the “invaluable assistance of Saint Francis University’s Knee Center for the Study of Occupational Regulation,” and goes on to credit the Knee Center’s team with “working diligently to collected and analyze data that goes toward developing a national database of occupational regulations.”

CSOR’s appointment to Governor Wolf’s regulatory Commission was not unfounded. An academic research center affiliated with the Saint Francis University Shields School of Business, the Center’s extensive studies have led to the launch of a non-partisan national occupational regulation database, the first of its kind that is freely available to the public.

“We were thrilled to hear that Governor Wolf was one of the first Governors to promote a review of the state licensing boards and act on it,” said Alanna Wilson, Director of Public Relations at CSOR. “Our center covers all 50 states and the District of Columbia; however, Pennsylvania is a passion area for the Center as we are all Pennsylvania natives. The results of the report and recommendations made by the Governor make us very hopeful for the economy of the Commonwealth, and we look forward to continuing to assist PA and other interested states who want to review occupational licensing requirements.”

The Center’s efforts to inform citizens, policy makers, and academics on the scope and effects of occupational regulation have been globally well-received. Director Dr. Edward Timmons and the CSOR team have published numerous articles in publications such as the Harvard Business Review, and have organized panels at international research conferences.

Dr. Edward Timmons, Director of CSOR,  reaffirmed the Center’s commitment to educate lawmakers and the public with its research findings. “Individuals are affected by occupational licensing requirements in nearly every profession, in every state,” he said. With CSOR’s national database and educational outreach, we hope to encourage an informed approach to licensing that results in regulations that better serve the public interest. We are happy that Governor Wolf has acknowledged this in his executive order, report, and recommendations.”