LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Tuesday, Governor Whitmer and members of the Michigan Legislature announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation that supports military personnel, veterans, and their families by reducing barriers to professional licensure.
Rep. Andrea Schroeder (R-Independence Twp.), Rep. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), Sen. John Bizon (R-Battle Creek), and Sen. Adam Hollier (D-Detroit) are the primary sponsors of the legislation.
“Our dedicated military servicemembers put their lives on the line for our families, and we have a duty to ensure their support when they return home,” Governor Whitmer said. “That means making sure they have paths to good jobs so they can sustain their families. Today’s legislation will help us do just that. Clearing the path for our military servicemembers, veterans, and their dependents to enter a licensed profession will help us attract and retain talent in Michigan, and by making it easier for our military servicemembers to be licensed, we can make Michigan their home to live and work, permanently.”
The bipartisan legislation introduced today by members of the House and Senate will make current military personnel, veterans, and their dependents eligible for license reciprocity in Michigan.
LARA Director Orlene Hawks during a press conference on November 10, 2020. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer).
Servicemembers will be eligible if they hold a valid occupational license in another state, are in good standing with no pending disciplinary action, and demonstrate competency in their profession through education, training and/or work experience.
The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) will determine whether these criteria are satisfied.
“This is a meaningful step we can take to honor the many sacrifices of our military families,” LARA Director Orlene Hawks said. “To help attract these families to locate or stay in Michigan, LARA is committed to expediting licensure by processing completed applications within 48 hours.”
Currently, veterans are eligible for initial license, registration, or application fee waivers for professional occupations regulated under the Occupational Code and the Skilled Trades Regulation Act.
This legislation will expand present fee waivers under those Acts to include dependents of veterans and those on Active Duty. Fee waivers will also be extended to health professions licensed under the Public Health Code. A dependent is defined as a spouse or child under the age of 26.
Sen. John Bizon (R-Battle Creek) during a press conference on November 10, 2020. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer).
“With these bills, we are helping our veteran and military families by removing the government red tape preventing them from continuing their careers here in Michigan,” Senator John Bizon (R-Battle Creek) said. “Military spouses in professions that require licensure can be left jobless with a sudden move to a new state. These bills would help ease their transition and financial burdens by allowing military family members to pick up their careers in Michigan without unnecessary delay.”
Senator Adam Hollier (D-Detroit) also spoke on the subject during the announcement.
“I am in the Army Reserves. When I’m on duty, only I travel to serve. My family stays home when I’m in uniform. For my active duty counterparts, their entire family moves across the country, to allow our service members to do their job protecting us,” Hollier said. “My buddy, Captain Kukowski, and his wife have moved four times (WI-FL-GA-TX-NC). She’s had to pass four exams and paid for licenses in four states to do the same job as a pharmacist for the same company. On their last move she opted not to jump through all the hoops and focus solely and raising their child, which is a decision few men ever have to make. Passing these bills will show their family we value their service and sacrifice and finally stop punishing the families who already give us so much.”
Examples of licensing resources include:
- Utilizing military experience towards licensing
- Providing an exemption for renewal fees while on active duty
- Providing an exemption for continuing education requirements while on active duty
- Granting temporary licenses for active duty military personnel’s spouses
- Granting a waiver for the initial license or initial registration fee for veterans
- Granting a waiver for the initial application processing fee for veterans
- Providing a reimbursement from Federal Department of Veterans Affairs for required and paid for examination fees.
A video of the press conference announcement can be viewed online at this link.
