Department of Commerce
Commission Leadership:
Francine A. Giani, Executive Director
Mission Statement:
The Utah Department of Commerce's mission is to protect the public interest by ensuring fair commercial and professional practices.
Overview
The Department of Commerce is the licensing and registration agency for
Each Division and organization within the Department has a unique mission that contributes to the interests of
Licensing
Data Source: Department of Commerce
Why this is important:
Timeliness is a benchmark goal of all licensing within the Department of Commerce. These three metrics track key licensing issues: the monthly percentage of DOPL licenses renewed online, the quarterly percentage of Securities Division license applications that are approved or denied within 3 days of their receipt, and the monthly average number of days to process license applications and renewals within the Division of Real Estate. These three Divisions issued over 200,000 licenses in FY 2006. Efficient processing of licenses helps both individual licensees and the market as a whole.
What we're doing about it:
These three Divisions regularly implement procedures to improve licensing efficiency. Improved online renewal procedures have made these processes easier for thousands of licensees. Streamlining renewal applications, adopting national uniform applications, using new technologies for faster fingerprint checks, utilizing postcard renewal notices, and workforce realignments all have led to improvements in this area.
Business Registration
Data Source: Department of Commerce
Why this is important:
Accuracy is a crucial aspect of business registration because it ensures registrants will receive the proper legal protections connected to the registrations. This metric tracks the percentage of filings with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code that are rejected or returned to the filer. This helps the Division track how complicated its processes are and how well the Division gets the necessary information to the public.
What we're doing about it:
The Division has charged its employees to look at filings more thoroughly to determine what can be done to correct a filing rather than simply issuing a rejection. The Division also receives regular public feedback on how to simplify its processes. While some submissions must be rejected because of a filer's failure to provide the required information, the Division actively strives to reduce the rejections caused by simple misunderstandings. Increased online registrations, improved online systems, and postcard renewal notices all eliminate potential areas for employee errors.
Enforcement
Data Source: Department of Commerce
Why this is important:
Enforcement is the mechanism through which the Department protects the public and the integrity of the business and professional communities. These metrics track key enforcement issues: the percentage of cases closed each month by Division of Consumer Protection investigators, the monthly percentage of customer complaints processed on-time by Division of Public Utilities employees, and the total investigative case closures within the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing that required formal action. The public is the ultimate constituency for all aspects of government. A prompt response to a complaint is beneficial to those who file complaints as well as the business against which the complaints are filed. These metrics track employees' responsiveness to the public and their ability to manage their workload and make progress.
What we're doing about it:
All of the Divisions within the Department have streamlined the complaint process. Additional staff training and improved processes for referring telephone inquiries have enabled the Divisions to handle more issues through initial contacts and help the public provide adequate information with complaints to assist a prompt investigation. Deficiencies are addressed through staff training, communication, and reassignments. All Divisions utilize increased and improved online services to make it easier for the public to file complaints and provide feedback.