2013 -- S 0629

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LC01702

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, Pichardo, Walaska, Ottiano, and Bates

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 5 of the General Laws entitled "BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS"

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is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 87

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     SERVICE MEMBER LICENSURE

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     5-87-1. Service member licensure. -- (a) The director and each member of the

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examining and licensing boards shall, upon presentation of satisfactory evidence by an applicant

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for certification or licensure, accept education, training, or service completed by an individual as

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a member of the Armed Forces or Reserves of the United States, the National Guard of any state,

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the Military Reserves of any state, or the Naval Militia of any state toward the qualifications to

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receive the license or certification. The director and each appropriate examining and licensing

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board shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

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     (b) Each business/profession related board shall establish a procedure to expedite the

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issuance of a license, certification or permit to perform professional services regulated by each

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such board to a person who is certified or licensed in another state to perform professional

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services in a state other than Rhode Island. The procedure shall include:

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     (1) Issuing the person a license, certificate or permit, if, in the opinion of the board, the

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requirements for certification or licensure of such other state are substantially equivalent to that

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required in this state; or

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     (2) Developing a method to authorize the person to perform professional services

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regulated by the board in this state by issuing the person a temporary permit for a limited period

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of time to allow the person to perform professional services while completing any specific

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requirements that may be required in this state that were not required in the state in which the

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person was licensed or certified.

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     SECTION 2. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 91

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SERVICE MEMBER LICENSURE

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     23-91-1. Service member licensure. -- (a) The director and each member of the

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examining and licensing boards shall, upon presentation of satisfactory evidence by an applicant

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for certification or licensure, accept education, training, or service completed by an individual as

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a member of the Armed Forces or Reserves of the United States, the National Guard of any state,

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the Military Reserves of any state, or the Naval Militia of any state toward the qualifications to

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receive the license or certification. The director and each appropriate examining and licensing

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board shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

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     (b) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, each health related board shall

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establish a procedure to expedite the issuance of a license, certification or permit to perform

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professional services regulated by each such board to a person who is certified or licensed in

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another state to perform professional services in a state other than Rhode Island. The procedure

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shall include:

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     (1) Issuing the person a license, certificate or permit, if, in the opinion of the board, the

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requirements for certification or licensure of such other state are substantially equivalent to that

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required in this state; or

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     (2) Developing a method to authorize the person to perform professional services

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regulated by the board in this state by issuing the person a temporary permit for a limited period

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of time to allow the person to perform professional services while completing any specific

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requirements that may be required in this state that were not required in the state in which the

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person was licensed or certified.

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     SECTION 3. Title 5 of the General Laws entitled "BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS"

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is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 88

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MILITARY SPOUSE LICENSURE

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     5-88-1. Military spouse licensure. -- (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary,

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each business/profession related board shall establish a procedure to expedite the issuance of a

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license, certification or permit to perform professional services regulated by each such board to a

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person:

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     (1) Who is certified or licensed in another state to perform professional services in a state

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other than Rhode Island;

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     (2) Whose spouse is a member of the armed forces of the United States;

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     (3) Whose spouse is the subject of a military transfer to Rhode Island; and

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     (4) Who left employment to accompany the person’s spouse to Rhode Island.

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     (b) The procedure shall include:

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     (1) Issuing the person a license, certificate or permit, if, in the opinion of the board, the

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requirements for certification or licensure of such other state are substantially equivalent to that

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required in this state; or

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     (2) Developing a method to authorize the person to perform professional services

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regulated by the board in this state by issuing the person a temporary permit for a limited period

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of time to allow the person to perform professional services while completing any specific

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requirements that may be required in this state that were not required in the state in which the

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person was licensed or certified.

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     SECTION 4. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 92

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MILITARY SPOUSE LICENSURE

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     23-92-1. Military spouse licensure. -- (a) Each health related board shall establish a

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procedure to expedite the issuance of a license, certification or permit to perform professional

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services regulated by each such board to a person:

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     (1) Who is certified or licensed in another state to perform professional services in a state

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other than Rhode Island;

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     (2) Whose spouse is a member of the armed forces of the United States;

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     (3) Whose spouse is the subject of a military transfer to Rhode Island; and

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     (4) Who left employment to accompany the person’s spouse to Rhode Island.

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     (b) The procedure shall include:

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     (1) Issuing the person a license, certificate or permit, if, in the opinion of the board, the

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requirements for certification or licensure of such other state are substantially equivalent to that

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required in this state; or

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     (2) Developing a method to authorize the person to perform professional services

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regulated by the board in this state by issuing the person a temporary permit for a limited period

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of time to allow the person to perform professional services while completing any specific

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requirements that may be required in this state that were not required in the state in which the

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person was licensed or certified.

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     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01702

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS

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     This act would make it easier for military service members and their spouses to obtain

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certifications and licenses to perform regulated professional services.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01702

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