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HD 6115

A communication from the Division of Occupational Licensure (see Section 1 of Chapter 147 of the General Laws) submitting its annual report for fiscal year 2024

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

The bill provides the FY2024 DOL annual report detailing building code updates, modernization efforts (eLIPSE), enforcement outcomes, licensing activity, and public safety goals.

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Bill Summary · HD 6115

Summary of Bill HD 6115 (Session 194th) – Massachusetts Division of Occupational Licensure Annual Report FY2024

Purpose and intent

  • The bill transmits and publishes the Division of Occupational Licensure’s (DOL) annual report for fiscal year 2024 (FY2024), covering operations from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
  • The report demonstrates DOL’s activities, accomplishments, and ongoing initiatives in public safety, consumer protection, and economic development related to professional licensing and regulation.

Key provisions and substantive content

  • Overview of DOL’s structure and mission:
    • DOL administers licensing and regulation for more than 100 trades/professions through 26 boards and related programs, impacting over 500,000 licensees and registrants.
    • It comprises two core units: Boards of Registration and Office of Public Safety and Inspections (OPSI), plus supporting offices (Investigations, Prosecutions, Legal Counsel, Accounting, and Technology/Digital Transformation).
  • FY2024 highlights and initiatives:
    • Building Code updates: Progress on promulgating the 10th Edition State Building Code (780 CMR), including three public hearings in February 2024 and a final draft approval vote on May 14, 2024.
    • Technology modernization: Initiation of the agency-wide modernization effort (eLIPSE) with Accenture to integrate three licensing systems, Access databases, and related resources into a single platform to streamline processes for licensees, consumers, and staff.
    • Leadership and staffing: Appointment of senior management and expansion of public safety staff across Elevator and Building/Engineering inspections units, Office of Investigations, and licensing oversight boards.
  • Public safety and enforcement:
    • Office of Investigations (OI) processed approximately 959 new complaints across boards and the Office of Private Occupational School Education; top complaint volumes were in Real Estate Brokers/Salespersons, Cosmetology and Barbering, Electricians, Plumbers and Gas Fitters, and Embalming and Funeral Directing.
    • OI helped resolve over 972 complaints; top boards for resolved complaints included Real Estate Brokers/Salespersons, Cosmetology and Barbering, Electricians, Plumbers and Gas Fitters, and Veterinary Medicine.
    • Office of Prosecutions (OP) issued disciplinary actions totaling 607 across boards; notable actions included 381 fines and 82 license revocations. Top boards with disciplinary actions: Real Estate Brokers/Salespersons, Plumbers and Gas Fitters, Electricians, Massage Therapy, and Embalming and Funeral Directing.
  • Administrative and service metrics:
    • Welcome Center: 11,024 walk-in visitors for license renewals, verifications, name/address changes, etc.
    • Licensing platform unification: FY2022–FY2024 efforts to map and redesign business processes in preparation for the new integrated licensing platform (eLIPSE); readiness assessments and process mapping conducted to guide platform configuration.
  • Data and performance tables (FY2024):
    • Licenses and new licenses issued by Board/Division (select examples include: Cosmetology and Barbering, Electricians, Real Estate Brokers/Salespersons, Massage Therapy, Plumbers and Gas Fitters, Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, etc.).
    • Complaints opened/received and closed by board/division, including ongoing/open cases and closed outcomes.
    • Disciplinary actions issued by board/division, including counts of fines, revocations, suspensions, probations, and other disciplinary measures.
  • Accountability and governance:
    • The report confirms DOL’s role in protecting public health, safety, and welfare, ensuring fair enforcement, and fostering a robust, competitive marketplace.
    • Data tables note that figures are snapshot-only and subject to change, reflecting dynamic licensing and enforcement activities.

Who is affected

  • Licensees and registrants across more than 100 trades/professions (e.g., architects, cosmetologists, electricians, plumbers, real estate professionals, engineers, veterinarians, massage therapists, etc.).
  • Private occupational schools operating in Massachusetts.
  • Consumers who rely on licensed professionals and the public safety framework administered by DOL and OPSI.
  • Businesses and institutions interacting with DOL for licensing, renewals, inspections, and disciplinary actions.

Procedural/timeline aspects

  • FY2024 report covers period July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024.
  • Notable near-term actions referenced:
    • Final approval of the 10th Edition State Building Code (May 14, 2024) following public hearings.
    • Technology modernization project (eLIPSE) with anticipated multi-year implementation across agencies.
  • The document is a formal annual report to the Governor and General Court, included as a communication from the Division of Occupational Licensure.

Bottom line

  • This bill serves to present the FY2024 annual report of the Division of Occupational Licensure, detailing progress on building code adoption, major modernization efforts, leadership changes, enforcement outcomes, and licensing activity. It underscores DOL’s continuing public-safety, consumer-protection, and economic-development mission, and provides stakeholders with concrete data on licensing, complaints, and disciplinary actions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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