LRB-4229/1
MPG:kjf:ph
2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE
March 6, 2012 - Introduced by Senator Wanggaard, cosponsored by Representative
Spanbauer. Referred to Committee on Economic Development and Veterans
and Military Affairs.
SB550,1,6 1An Act to repeal 321.60 (3) (c); to amend 321.60 (1) (c), 321.60 (2), 321.60 (3)
2(intro.), 321.60 (3) (a), 321.60 (3) (b), 321.60 (4) and 321.60 (5); and to create
3321.60 (2m) and 440.09 of the statutes; relating to: professional or
4occupational licensure renewal requirements for active duty service members
5and their spouses and requirements concerning licensure in this state of
6spouses of service members temporarily stationed in this state.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, in many cases, if a member of a reserve unit of the U.S.
armed forces, a member of the state defense force, or a member of a national guard
unit of any state who is a resident of this state is on active duty when a professional
or occupational license the service member holds otherwise expires, the expiration
date for that license is extended until 90 days after the service member is discharged
from active duty. Moreover, the licensing agency or board, or, for a law license, the
supreme court if the supreme court agrees, is required to renew the service member's
license upon that expiration date until the next date that the license would normally
expire at no cost to the service member if all of the following conditions are met:
1. The service member requests renewal of the license within 90 days after the
service member is discharged from active duty.
2. The service member provides the licensing agency or supreme court with
documentation that verifies when the service member was called to active duty and
when the service member was discharged from active duty.

3. The service member meets all of the requirements necessary for the
extension or renewal of the license except continuing education requirements under
certain circumstances.
4. In the case of a license to practice law, the supreme court agrees to granting
the extension or renewal.
Under the bill, the expiration date for a service member's professional or
occupational license that would have otherwise expired while the service member
was on active duty is extended from 90 days to 180 days after the service member's
discharge from active duty. The bill also eliminates the requirement that the service
member meet all of the requirements necessary for the extension or renewal of the
service member's license.
Additionally, under the bill, all of the requirements regarding an extended
expiration date and renewal of a service member's license at no cost to the service
member apply to the spouse of a service member if the spouse does not practice under
his or her license while the service member is on active duty. The bill also extends
those requirements to a service member who is a member of the U.S. armed forces
whether or not that service member is in a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces.
Finally, under current law, the Department of Safety and Professional Services
(DSPS) and most of the licensing boards under DSPS may grant a reciprocal license
to an individual if certain requirements are met. A reciprocal license is a license
granted to an individual who holds a license issued by a governmental authority in
a jurisdiction outside Wisconsin under which the license holder may perform acts
that are substantially the same as those acts authorized under a license issued by
DSPS or a licensing board under DSPS.
Under the bill, DSPS or a licensing board is required to grant a reciprocal
license to the spouse of a member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve unit of the U.S.
armed forces, or the national guard of any state if the service member and the service
member's spouse temporarily reside in Wisconsin as a result of that service and the
spouse does all of the following:
1. Applies for a reciprocal license.
2. Holds a license that was granted by the licensing authority of a governmental
authority in a jurisdiction outside Wisconsin that qualifies the individual to practice
under the license granted by DSPS or the licensing board.
3. Pays the required fee.
4. Meets any other requirements established by rule by DSPS or a licensing
board.
Such a reciprocal license expires 180 days after the date it was issued unless,
upon application by the holder of the reciprocal license, DSPS or the licensing board
extends the reciprocal license.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB550, s. 1
1Section 1. 321.60 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB550,3,42 321.60 (1) (c) "Service member" means a member of the U.S. armed forces, a
3member of a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces, a member of the state defense
4force, or a member of a national guard unit of any state who is a resident of Wisconsin.
SB550, s. 2 5Section 2. 321.60 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB550,3,136 321.60 (2) Any license that a service member holds, the expiration date of
7which is after September 11, 2001, except a license to practice law, does not expire
8on the expiration date of the license if, on the expiration date, the service member
9is on active duty. If the supreme court agrees, a license to practice law that a service
10member holds, the expiration date of which is after September 11, 2001, does not
11expire on the expiration date of the license if, on the expiration date, the service
12member is on active duty. A license extended under this subsection expires 90 180
13days after the service member is discharged from active duty.
SB550, s. 3 14Section 3. 321.60 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB550,4,215 321.60 (2m) Any license that the spouse of a service member holds, the
16expiration date of which is after September 11, 2001, except a license to practice law,
17does not expire on the expiration date of the license if the service member is on active
18duty on the expiration date of the spouse's license and the spouse does not practice
19under the license while the service member is on active duty because the service
20member is on active duty. If the supreme court agrees, a license to practice law that
21the spouse of a service member holds, the expiration date of which is after September
2211, 2001, does not expire on the expiration date of the license if the service member
23is on active duty on the expiration date of the spouse's license and the spouse does
24not practice under the license while the service member is on active duty because the

1service member is on active duty. A license extended under this subsection expires
2180 days after the service member is discharged from active duty.
SB550, s. 4 3Section 4. 321.60 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB550,4,74 321.60 (3) (intro.) The licensing agency or the supreme court shall extend or
5renew a license extended under sub. (2) or (2m) until the next date that the license
6expires or for the period that such license is normally issued, at no cost to the service
7member or the spouse under sub. (2m), if all of the following conditions are met:
SB550, s. 5 8Section 5. 321.60 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB550,4,119 321.60 (3) (a) The service member or spouse, as appropriate, requests an
10extension or renewal of the license within 90 180 days after the service member is
11discharged from active duty.
SB550, s. 6 12Section 6. 321.60 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB550,4,1613 321.60 (3) (b) The service member or spouse, as appropriate, provides the
14licensing agency or supreme court with a copy of a federal or state document that
15specifies when the service member was called into active duty and when the service
16member was discharged from active duty.
SB550, s. 7 17Section 7. 321.60 (3) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
SB550, s. 8 18Section 8. 321.60 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB550,5,519 321.60 (4) If a service member's license or the license of a service member's
20spouse
is renewed or extended under sub. (3) no more than 180 days before the next
21date that the license would normally expire, the licensing agency, or supreme court
22if it agrees, shall allow the service member or spouse, as appropriate, to renew or
23extend the license without complying with any continuing education or training
24requirements if complying with such requirement in the period before the license
25expires would cause the service member or spouse, as appropriate, undue hardship.

1If a service member's license or the license of a service member's spouse is renewed
2or extended under this subsection, the licensing agency or supreme court may
3require the service member or spouse, as appropriate, to comply with any continuing
4education or training requirements within a reasonable time after receipt of the
5license.
SB550, s. 9 6Section 9. 321.60 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB550,5,87 321.60 (5) The department shall assist any service member or spouse of a
8service member
who needs assistance to renew or extend a license under this section.
SB550, s. 10 9Section 10. 440.09 of the statutes is created to read:
SB550,5,12 10440.09 Reciprocal credentials for the spouses of service members. (1)
11In this section, "service member" means a member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve
12unit of the U.S. armed forces, or the national guard of any state.
SB550,5,15 13(2) The department and each credentialing board shall grant a reciprocal
14credential to an individual who the department or credentialing board determines
15meets all of the following requirements:
SB550,5,1716 (a) The individual applies for a reciprocal credential under this section on a
17form prescribed by the department or credentialing board.
SB550,5,2118 (b) The individual is the spouse of a service member, and the spouse and service
19member temporarily reside in this state as a result of the service member's service
20in the U.S. armed forces, a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces, or the national guard
21of any state.
SB550,5,2522 (c) The individual holds a license, certification, registration, or permit that was
23granted by a governmental authority in a jurisdiction outside this state that qualifies
24the individual to perform the acts authorized under the appropriate credential
25granted by the department or credentialing board.
SB550,6,1
1(d) The individual pays the fee specified under s. 440.05 (2).
SB550,6,32 (e) The individual meets any other requirements established by the
3department or credentialing board by rule.
SB550,6,7 4(3) A reciprocal credential granted under this section expires 180 days after the
5date the department or credentialing board issues the reciprocal credential unless,
6upon application by the holder of the reciprocal credential, the department or
7credentialing board extends the reciprocal credential.
Loading...
Loading...