On June 15, Governor Hochul of New York announced the “Express NY” reform plan, involving 22 state-level agencies and a total of 50 measures aimed at streamlining or abolishing complex regulations and administrative procedures. The state government estimates that these reforms could save New Yorkers tens of millions of dollars in regulatory fees and compliance costs annually, and also save over one million hours of processing time.
Among the numerous measures, one that is most closely related to the general public is the simplification of occupational license renewals and applications. According to state data, there are currently over 800,000 people registered with occupational licenses at the State Department, covering various professions such as barbers, beauticians, real estate brokers, notaries, security guards, and more. This reform will streamline the renewal process for these license holders, reducing the burden of filling out repetitive paperwork, and it is expected that many practitioners in the Chinese community will benefit from these new measures.
Adjustments have also been made in the healthcare and elderly care sectors. The state government now allows adult care facilities to use telemedicine for consultations after the initial in-person assessment, eliminating the need for elderly individuals to travel for routine follow-up visits. Additionally, the Department of Health has relaxed the training hour requirements for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), making it easier for those interested in the field to complete their training and help alleviate the shortage of nursing personnel.
It is worth mentioning that this batch of reforms also includes the repeal of a regulation from the 1950s. This regulation required restaurants to obtain special permission to employ women to work after midnight. The state government is clearing out such outdated and potentially confusing regulations, including outdated information system guidelines related to the “Y2K” computer bug issue.
Governor Hochul stated in a declaration that the government’s responsibility should be to serve the people rather than impose unnecessary restrictions; bureaucratic obstacles only waste people’s time and money. She mentioned that after listening directly to public opinion, the state government began to “cut through the red tape,” making it easier for housing and infrastructure construction, as well as accessing medical services, and reducing cumbersome fees and paperwork.
According to the state government, these reforms stemmed from suggestions collected from state-level agencies last fall, and public opinions gathered through the “Express NY” online platform earlier this year. The state received nearly 4,000 proposals from all 62 counties, and officials are currently reviewing these suggestions one by one as a basis for further reforms to be implemented later this year.