Burns named majority chair of Professional Licensure Committee
Will use leadership position to encourage economic development, consumer protection
Rep. Frank Burns March 7, 2023 | 4:40 PM
HARRISBURG, March 7 – As a proven bipartisan leader in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, state Rep. Frank Burns today was named the majority chair of the House Professional Licensure Committee, an important leadership position within the Capitol.
The Professional Licensure Committee reviews bills related to the state’s 29 professional and occupational licensing boards, located administratively under the Department of State, and encompassing 120 different licensed jobs. The committee’s scope includes overseeing businesses as diverse as funeral homes, hair salons and vehicle dealerships to professionals ranging from doctors and nurses to crane operators, accountants, pharmacists and barbers.
“As the majority chairman I will be a leading voice on licensure policy in our commonwealth, a position that impacts real people in every community across Pennsylvania,” said Burns, D-Cambria. “I look forward to working with Representative Carl Walker Metzgar, the committee’s minority chair, and my colleagues in both parties to ensure our licensing laws make common sense.”
As chairman, Burns will determine which bills come before the committee. Those bills can then be advanced to the full House to be potentially voted into law. The committee’s work is typically bipartisan, a good fit for Burns, who has built a reputation of crossing the aisle to support proposals by both parties. Licensing issues require balancing economic development with consumer and patient protection.
“I’ve always said that it doesn’t matter where an idea comes from; if it’s a good one, then we need to work together to get it across the goal line,” Burns said.