PROPOSALS THAT WOULD CARRY OUT A VOTER-APPROVED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD REVAMP QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE ON THE PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION ... BUT THE HOUSE AND SENATE VERSIONS OF THE LEGISLATION ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT. THE SENATE ON THURSDAY APPROVED A MEASURE THAT REQUIRES CANDIDATES TO HAVE EITHER 3-TO-5 YEARS OF GOVERNMENT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCE, AN ENGINEERING LICENSE, OR BE A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT OR ATTORNEY.
THE HOUSE BILL WOULD REQUIRE CANDIDATES TO HAVE A COMBINED 12 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE OR HIGHER EDUCATION IN A FIELD RELATED TO THE AGENCY. FIELDS COULD INCLUDE LAW, GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION, ACCOUNTING, ENGINEERING, OR ECONOMICS.
LAWMAKERS HAVE ROUGHLY THREE WEEKS TO RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES.