OKLAHOMA CITY (March 10, 2010) — Legislation encouraging the streamlining of several state-issued licenses and permits was approved by the House today.

House Bill 2310, by Rep. Jason Murphey, establishes a pilot program to integrate several licenses and permits with a one-stop Web site administered by the Department of Commerce. The bill would encourage a real-time environment where business owners can receive instant license and permit approval.

"Often, Oklahomans who need a series of permits or licenses must encounter a long line of bureaucracy, including multiple trips to several locations," said Murphey, R-Guthrie and chairman of the House Government Modernization Committee. "Advances in technology have made it easier than ever before to obtain licenses and permits without forcing business owners to process mounds of paperwork and the unnecessary use of staff resources. Creating an easy-to-use license and permit one-stop-shop will help make Oklahoma a more business-friendly state, which will encourage entrepreneurship and encourage job development."

The business one-stop site was established by legislation initially approved in 2007. The goal of the 2007 initiative was to provide potential business owners a single location they could visit in order to help them start a business.

The legislation builds on this concept and starts the process of integrating licenses and permits to provide potential business owners the ability to achieve approval for multiple applications in one simple visit.

"In this economic environment, state government must modernize," said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. "There is no reason for state agencies to be performing duplicative services that could be streamlined to provide more efficient services and a savings to the taxpayers at the same time."

The bill passed the House with a vote of 66-33 today and will now proceed to the Senate for consideration.

NOTE: For accompanying video, go to http://www.okhouse.tv/ViewVideo.aspx?VideoID=255