HSB 616 (LSB 6116YC (2) 85)

HOUSE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS BILL BY CHAIRPERSON ALONS)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to professional and occupational licensure of veterans and the spouses of veterans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 272C.4, Code 2014, is amended by adding the following new subsections:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  11.  Adopt rules by January 1, 2015, to provide credit towards qualifications for licensure to practice an occupation or profession in this state for education, training, and service obtained or completed by an individual while serving honorably on federal active duty, state active duty, or national guard duty, as defined in section 29A.1, to the extent consistent with the qualifications required by the appropriate licensing board. The rules shall also provide credit towards qualifications for initial licensure for education, training, or service obtained or completed by an individual while serving honorably in the military forces of another state or the organized reserves of the armed forces of the United States, to the extent consistent with the qualifications required by the appropriate licensing board.
   NEW SUBSECTION.  12.  a.  Establish procedures by January 1, 2015, to expedite the licensing of an individual who is licensed in a similar profession or occupation in another state and who is a veteran, as defined in section 35.1, or the spouse of a veteran.
   b.  If the board determines that the professional or occupational licensing requirements of the state where the veteran or veteran’s spouse is licensed are substantially equivalent to the licensing requirements of this state, the procedures shall require the licensing of the veteran or the veteran’s spouse in this state.
   c.  If the board determines that the professional or occupational licensing requirements of the state where the veteran or veteran’s spouse is licensed are not substantially equivalent to the professional or occupational licensing requirements of this state, the procedures shall allow the provisional licensing of the veteran or veteran’s spouse for a period of time deemed necessary by the board to obtain a substantial equivalent to the licensing requirements of this state. The board shall advise the veteran or the veteran’s spouse of required education or training necessary to obtain a substantial equivalent to the professional or occupational licensing requirements of this state, and the procedures shall provide for licensing of an individual who has, pursuant to this paragraph, obtained a substantial equivalent to the professional or occupational licensing requirements of this state.
   NEW SUBSECTION.  13.  Beginning December 15, 2016, annually file a report with the governor and the general assembly providing information and statistics on credit received by individuals for education, training, and service pursuant to subsection 11 and information and statistics on licenses and provisional licenses issued pursuant to subsection 12.
   NEW SUBSECTION.  14.  Notwithstanding the designation of the licensing boards in section 272C.1, the provisions of subsections 11 through 13 shall apply to all of the occupational and professional licensing boards of this state.
    Sec. 2.  REPORT.  Each occupational and professional licensing board of this state shall file a report with the governor and the general assembly by January 31, 2015, on the substance of rules and procedures adopted to implement the provisions of this division of this Act.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to professional and occupational licensure of veterans and the spouses of veterans.
   The bill amends Code section 272C.4 to require that all professional and occupational licensing boards adopt rules by January 1, 2015, to provide credit towards licensing for education, training, and service that is either obtained or completed by an individual while serving on federal active duty, state active duty, or national guard duty. The bill further requires that the rules provide such credit toward licensure for service in the military forces of other states or the organized reserves of the armed forces of the United States. Code section 272C.1 provides that the term “licensing” and its derivations include the terms “registration” and “certification” and their derivations.
   The bill also requires that licensing boards establish procedures to expedite the licensing in this state of certain individuals who are licensed to practice in a similar profession or occupation in another state if the individual is a veteran or the spouse of a veteran and if the board determines that the licensing requirements of the other state are substantially equivalent to the licensing requirements of this state. The bill also requires that if the board determines that another state’s licensing requirements are not substantially equivalent to the licensing requirements of this state, the board shall issue a provisional license to the qualifying veteran or the qualifying spouse of a veteran for a period of time deemed necessary to obtain a substantial equivalent to the licensing requirements of this state.
   The bill requires that occupational and professional licensing boards provide a report to the governor and to the general assembly by December 15, 2016, on the awarding of credits for qualifying education, training, and service and on licensing and provisional licensing awarded under the bill.
   The bill requires that each occupational and professional licensing board report to the governor and the general assembly by January 31, 2015, on the substance of the rules and procedures adopted to carry out the provisions of the bill.