Jennifer Clawson

The Department of Licensing's strategic plan aims to help every Washington resident live, work, drive, and thrive. It focuses on four key goals: fostering engaged and prepared employees, ensuring equity and inclusion in services, creating safe and supported communities through efficient service and highway safety, and maintaining safe and secure data.

This Strategic Action Plan outlines the Washington State Board of Accountancy's commitment to embedding equity and community impact, in line with Executive Order 22-04, to create a 'Washington for All'. Its core purpose is to protect the public through licensing and monitoring qualified professionals, while actively promoting equity and inclusivity. The plan focuses on three strategic priorities: Engagement and Community Partnership, Public Communications and Education, and Workforce Equity, aiming to foster equitable policies, build diverse workplaces, and enhance communication for fair and just outcomes.

The meeting included discussions on board orientation, revisions to the board's charter, and analysis of crash fatality data for 2023. The board discussed the possibility of adding non-voting at-large members and the implications for travel reimbursement. There was also a presentation on the Washington State's process and challenges related to endorsement testing, as well as a presentation of crash data analysis, and statistics on motorcycle ownership and ridership.

This strategic plan for the Washington State Department of Licensing, covering 2023-2026, is designed to guide the agency's operations and service delivery. It is structured around four core priorities: fostering engaged and prepared employees through development and a modern work environment; advancing equity and inclusion by ensuring equitable access and removing service barriers; building safe and supported communities through efficient service and consistent rule application; and maintaining safe and secure data with high standards of privacy and protection. The overarching goal is to enable Washington residents to live, work, drive, and thrive by providing critical services effectively and securely.

The meeting focused on a rule change necessitated by House Bill 1552, which increased the fee assessed on real estate broker and managing broker licenses to fund the Washington Center for Real Estate Research. The commission reviewed and approved the proposed language for WAC 308-124A-775 to reflect these changes, moving the fee from $10 to $20 for both new licenses and renewals. A brief period was allocated for public comment, but no comments were received.