2016 -- S 2479

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LC003841

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, DiPalma, Walaska, McCaffrey, and Lynch Prata

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-16.1 of the General Laws entitled "Department of Labor and

Training" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

     42-16.1-3.1. Department of labor and training service member licensure. -- (a) The

director of the department of labor and training and each of their examining and licensing boards

shall, upon presentation of satisfactory evidence by an applicant for certification or licensure,

accept education, training, or service completed by an individual as a member of the Armed

Forces or Reserves of the United States, the National Guard of any state, the Military Reserves of

any state, or the Naval Militia of any state toward the qualifications to receive the license or

certification. The director of the department of labor and training and each of their examining and

licensing boards shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

     (b) The director and each of their examining and licensing boards shall establish a

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

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

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

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

their board members, the requirements for certification or licensure of such other state are

substantially equivalent to that required in this state; or

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

regulated by the director and their board members in this state by issuing the person a temporary

permit for a limited period of time to allow the person to perform professional services while

completing any specific requirements that may be required in this state that were not required in

the state in which the person was licensed or certified.

     42-16.1-3.2. Department of labor and training military spouse licensure. -- (a) The

department of labor and training shall establish a procedure to expedite the issuance of a license,

certification or permit to perform professional services regulated by their department to a person:

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

other than Rhode Island;

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

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

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

     (b) The procedure shall include:

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

their board members, the requirements for certification or licensure of such other state are

substantially equivalent to that required in this state; or

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

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

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

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

person was licensed or certified.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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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

certifications and licenses issued by the department of labor and training.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC003841

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