Bill Text: VA HB930 | 2020 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Military service members and veterans; expediting the issuance of credentials to spouses.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 5-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-21 - Incorporated by General Laws [HB930 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HB930-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §54.1-119 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§54.1-119. Expediting the issuance of licenses, etc., to spouses of military service members; issuance of temporary licenses, etc.
A. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary and unless an
applicant is found by the board to have engaged in any act that would
constitute grounds for disciplinary action or
criminal conviction, a regulatory board within the
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or the Department of
Health Professions or any other board named in this title shall expedite the
issuance of a license, permit, certificate, or other document, however styled
or denominated, required for the practice of any business, profession, or
occupation in the Commonwealth to an applicant whose application has been
deemed complete by the board and (i) who holds the same or similar license,
permit, certificate, or other document required for the practice of any business,
profession, or occupation issued by another jurisdiction and
who has held such license, permit, certificate, or
other required document for more than one year; (ii) whose
spouse is the subject of a military
transfer to the Commonwealth (a) on federal
active duty orders pursuant to Title 10 of the United States Code or
(b) a veteran, as that term is defined in §2.2-2000.1;
and (iii) who accompanies the applicant's spouse to Virginia the Commonwealth or an adjoining state or the
District of Columbia, if, in the opinion of the board, the
requirements for the issuance of the license, permit, certificate, or other
document in such other jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to those
required in the Commonwealth. A board may
waive any requirement relating to experience if the board
determines that the documentation provided by the
applicant supports such a waiver.
B. If a board is unable to (i) complete the review of the documentation provided by the applicant or (ii) make a final determination regarding substantial equivalency within 20 days of the receipt of a completed application, the board shall issue a temporary license, permit, or certificate, provided the applicant otherwise meets the qualifications set out in subsection A. Any temporary license, permit, or certification issued pursuant to this subsection shall be limited for a period not to exceed 12 months and shall authorize the applicant to engage in the profession or occupation while the board completes its review of the documentation provided by the applicant or the applicant completes any specific requirements that may be required in Virginia that were not required in the jurisdiction in which the applicant holds the license, permit, or certificate.
C. The provisions of this section shall apply regardless of whether a regulatory board has entered into a reciprocal agreement with the other jurisdiction pursuant to subsection B of §54.1-103.
D. Any regulatory board may require the applicant to provide documentation it deems necessary to make a determination of substantial equivalency.
