September 2008 > Oregon
Taking License | by Kraig Bohot
Many thanks to all of you who took the time and effort to comment on recently proposed fee changes.
I concur with Bert Krages, the independent hearings officer who conducted the public rulemaking hearing on July 23. Krages stated that the Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) received “uniformly excellent” comments regarding proposed fees.
I’d particularly like to commend the cosmetology career college students who attended the rules hearing to provide comment. Bravo! You get an A+ for taking the initiative to participate in the regulatory process.
Comments, as you might imagine, weren’t all supportive of the proposed fees. Some were decidedly critical. But the level of public discourse on the matter was civil and for the most part, constructive.
Krages summarized public comment and made recommendations to OHLA in a report that can be accessed on OHLA’s Web site at www.oregon.gov/OHLA. If you can’t access the Web I can send you a copy.
There are two different effective dates for fee changes depending on what type of license you hold:
Why implement two different effective dates? Because OHLA and the Board of Cosmetology listened to stakeholder feedback and responded by postponing fee increases for individual practitioners and new applicants to July 1, 2009.
Why postpone fee increases for individual practitioners and new applicants? Because we heard from and responded to cosmetology career colleges, who were concerned about the effect of new fees on soon-to-be-graduating students.
Delaying fee increases for practitioner examinations and application processing to next July allows colleges and students to more effectively plan and budget for the new fees.
Individual practitioners may already obtain two-year certification. Starting October 1, facility owners, independent contractors and certificate of identification (CID) holders will follow suit.
OHLA is establishing two-year licensing periods for all OHLA-regulated professions, streamlining the process for licensees. If you’re like me, you appreciate any opportunity to reduce paperwork, even if the “paperwork” is as speedy, secure and stamp-saving as renewing your license online.
Speaking of online renewals, OHLA’s Web site at www.oregon.gov/OHLA features just one of five ways to renew your license.
We’re promoting the multiple ways to renew your license to encourage licensees to avoid practicing in expired status, a violation carrying a $200 fine for the first offense.
Most licensees aren’t paying those fines, or are paying reduced fines, because OHLA is offering training in lieu of fines or “immediate amnesty” if you renew within 24-48 hours after being cited.
However, licensees in expired status must still pay late fees. Starting October 1, facilities, independent contractors and CID holders will be subject to a $25 late fee for the first month in expired status and $10 per month after that until they renew.
Individual practitioners will be subject to the new monthly “rolling” late fee on July 1, 2009.
One cosmetology student commented at the July public rules hearing that the originally proposed late fee of $25 per month in expired status was “dramatic.”
In proposing the $25-per-month late fee, OHLA wasn’t trying to create drama. We are attempting to reduce the number of late renewals, which number in the thousands annually.
The extra time we spend processing late renewals could be better spent assisting the majority of licensees who renew on time with more important matters, such as answering your questions about health, safety and infection control requirements or confirming that your affidavit of licensure arrived from your former state.
What if life circumstances take you away from the profession for a year or two? Should you be penalized with mounting late fees that continue to accrue monthly?
OHLA is looking to establish a “dormant” license category for license holders who may not be able to practice due to personal circumstances.
We will be reviewing what type of circumstances would warrant issuing dormant status licenses. The concept must be approved legislatively in 2009 before the details can be finalized in administrative rulemaking. Stay tuned for details.
Kraig Bohot is Communications Coordinator at the Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA), a state consumer protection agency providing centralized regulatory oversight of multiple health and related professions. He can be reached at (503) 373-1939 or at kraig.bohot@state.or.us.
The Board of Cosmetology next meets on Monday, November 3, 9 am in the Rhoades Conference Room at OHLA in Salem. Board meetings are open to the public and offer an opportunity to comment on board business and other related matters.
For a meeting agenda, visit the OHLA Web site at www.oregon.gov/OHLA/COS, call OHLA at 503.378.8667 or visit the OHLA office. Meeting agendas are usually finalized and posted to the Web site within two weeks of the meeting.
Board of Cosmetology license holders have two different effective dates for new fees resulting from recent administrative rulemaking.
October 1, 2008: Facility Owners / Independent Contractors / CID, Permit Holders
September 1, 2008, was previously the effective date for fee changes for facility owners, independent contractors, and certificate of identification (CID) and permit holders. Database modification and updating required moving the effective date to October 1, 2008.
A key point: fees for facility licenses, independent contractor registrations and certificates of identification are now for a two-year authorization period.
OHLA is also adjusting the late fee for authorizations to practice in expired status to $25 for the initial month in expired status and $10 per month thereafter, effective October 1, 2008 for facilities and independent contractors.
OHLA is postponing fee changes for practitioner applications, examinations, original and renewal certification, and late renewals to July 1, 2009. The current late renewal fee for practitioners of $25 per year in expired status will change to $25 for the first month and $10 per month thereafter in expired status on July 1, 2009.
To assist license holders in renewing on time, OHLA offers five ways to renew: Online at www.oregon.gov/OHLA, Postal mail, Fax (503) 370-9004, Phone (503) 378-8667 or in person.
OHLA reminds license holders that practicing in expired status is a violation of state regulations. OHLA may cite practitioners for this violation in addition to charging a late fee. However, we would rather reduce the number of licensees in expired status through education, outreach and regulatory streamlining efforts.
If you have questions or concerns regarding fee changes or any other issue, please contact OHLA’s Customer Service Hotline at 503-373-2292 or e-mail ohla.info@state.or.us.
A humanitarian organization with Oregon roots offers the opportunity to visit Jamaica and help children through literacy empowerment, dental health services and other activities.
Georgene Crowe, an Ashland hair designer, and Gretchen Lee, an esthetician and instructor at the Oregon Institute of Aesthetics in Talent, are founding board members of Great Shape! Inc.
Great Shape! needs volunteers to teach and lead in Jamaica for one or two weeks for the new SuperKids literacy program in Negril October 31 to November 15 and for the dental program, 1000 Smiles, in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril September 26 to November 24.
Volunteers pay their own airfare and a $600 project fee. Sandals Resorts International provides accommodations and meals. For more information, visit www.gsjamaica.org.
Oregon Health Licensing Agency
700 Summer Street NE, Suite 320 • Salem, OR 97301-1287
Licensing Office (503) 378-8667 • Enforcement Unit (503) 378-4294
www.oregon.gov/OHLA
OHLA Agency Staff:
Susan K. Wilson, Director
Tricia Allbritton, Administrative Rules/Legislation
Richard McNew, Business Administration
Tim Molloy, Regulator Operations
Board of Cosmetology:
Michael D. Snook, Salem — Chair
Deely Klarr, Salem — Vice Chair
Linda Bergmann, Florence
Patricia A. Hall, Pendleton
Debora Masten, Salem
Judith N. Petersen, Albany
George Robb - Public Member
