2017 -- S 0353

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LC001532

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

     

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

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-17.1 of the General Laws entitled "Department of

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Environmental Management" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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     42-17.1-2.6. Department of environmental management service member licensure.

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     (a) The director of the department of environmental management and each of their

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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 of the department of environmental management

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and each of their examining and licensing boards shall promulgate rules to implement this

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section.

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     (b) The director of the department of environmental management, and each of their

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examining and licensing boards shall establish a procedure to expedite the issuance of a license,

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

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

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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 director or

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

 

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substantially equivalent to that 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 director and their board members in this state by issuing the person a temporary

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

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

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the state in which the person was licensed or certified.

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     42-17.1-2.7. Department of environmental management military spouse licensure.

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     (a) The department of environmental management shall establish a procedure to expedite

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

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their department 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 director or

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

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substantially equivalent to that 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 department in this state by issuing the person a temporary permit for a limited

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period 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. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

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     This act would facilitate for military service members and their spouses to obtain

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certifications and licenses issued by the department of environmental management.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001532

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