13-R212

2013 -- S 0628

Enacted 04/09/13

 

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING TO STUDY OFFERING EXPEDITED STATE CERTIFICATIONS OR PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENTS OF BUSINESS REGULATION AND HEALTH FOR RHODE ISLAND VETERANS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Cote, Bates, Pichardo, and Ottiano

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2013

 

     

     WHEREAS, Since 2001, over two million American military personnel have been

deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island, along with the rest of the country, is witnessing the return of

our mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, and sons and daughters from the field of battle; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island despite its small size, has borne a significant share of sacrifice

in these recent conflicts; and

     WHEREAS, The call back rate of the State’s own National Guard to active duty status is

the second highest in the entire United States, with over 10,000 unit deployments; and

     WHEREAS, The number of veterans living in Rhode Island who served in the Gulf Wars

is three times higher than the national per capita average, and is expected to grow as troops begin

to withdraw from Afghanistan; and

     WHEREAS, The fundamental freedoms enjoyed by all citizens of our State and the

United States are insured in no small part through the honorable service of our nations military

veterans; and

     WHEREAS, The people of the State have a deep debt of gratitude for the sacrifices made

by these men and women who as combat veterans placed their lives in harm’s way to protect and

defend our nation from all foreign enemies and terrorist threats; and

     WHEREAS, In order to ensure that these men and women upon returning to our State

may resume their educations, personal growth, and career development without delay to

ultimately obtain rewarding full-time civilian employment, Rhode Island’s Executive

Departments must deliver assistance and services in innovative ways that not only meet, but

exceed, the expectations of our veterans and their families: now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

respectfully requests that the Department of Labor and Training, as part of its ongoing veterans’

assistance, job training, and referral services, in conjunction with the Departments of Business

Regulation and Health study offering veterans expedited state certifications or professional

licensure which could be realized either through: the use of reciprocity with other states with

similar requirements; accepting relevant military training and experience for the purposes of

certification requirements; or via temporary licensure/certifications that would allow veterans to

work while completing outstanding state requirements for full licensure and or certification; and

be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Director of the Rhode Island Department of

Labor and Training.

     

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LC01881

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