Grants at work.

• Position: SUPPORT - Brief article

More than one-fifth of American workers require a government license to do their jobs. Assessing state laws and regulations related to workforce licensing is the goal of a major new NCSL project, thanks to a $7.5 million grant--the largest in NCSL's history--from the U.S. Department of Labor. NCSL will form a partnership with the National Governors Association, the Council of State Governments and 10 states (to be determined in September) to evaluate licensing requirements and assess barriers to employment while preserving the public's safety. Occupational licensing has emerged as a hot topic because inefficient licensing restricts workers' access to jobs across state borders, increases...