The Division of Registration is an umbrella agency encompassing 32 boards of registration that license more than 500,000 professionals and tradespeople. Its mission is to protect the health and safety of the residents of the Commonwealth. It accomplishes its mission through the licensure of qualified professionals and tradespeople; the enforcement of the rules and regulations of the boards of registration; and the provision of services to licensees, consumers, board members, and policy makers.

Objectives

In Fiscal Year 1999, the Division will undertake an initiative to improve public access to licensee information and eliminate complaint backlog problems by expediting enforcement efforts. During Fiscal Year 1999, the Division will:

• reduce average investigation time from 12 months to 10 months;
• reduce the time to adjudicate hearings from 6 months to 2 months; and
• reduce the hearing backlogs from 2.2 years to 1.5 years.

Budget Recommendations

The Fiscal Year 1999 Budget recommendation for the Division of Registration includes a $750,000 increase. This will allow the Division to continue to expedite enforcement efforts, eliminate hearing backlogs, and improve public access to license information.

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

DIVISION OF REGISTRATION
7006-0040	For the operation of the division of registration; provided, that the position of investigator of radio-television technicians shall not be subject to chapter 31 of the General Laws	6,054,196

BOARD OF REGISTRATION IN NURSING
7006-0050	For the operation of the board of registration in nursing	449,266