SB550: Bill Text

LRB-4229/1

MPG:kjf:ph

2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE

2011 Senate BILL 550

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 An Act to repeal 321.60 (3) (c); to amend 321.60 (1) (c), 321.60 (2), 321.60 (3) (intro.), 321.60 (3) (a), 321.60 (3) (b), 321.60 (4) and 321.60 (5); and to create 321.60 (2m) and 440.09 of the statutes; relating to: professional or occupational licensure renewal requirements for active duty service members and their spouses and requirements concerning licensure in this state of spouses 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 Section 1. 321.60 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB550,3,4 321.60 (1) (c) "Service member" means a member of the U.S. armed forces, 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 Wisconsin.

SB550, s. 2 Section 2. 321.60 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB550,3,13 321.60 (2) Any license that a service member holds, the expiration date of which is after September 11, 2001, except a license to practice law, does not expire on the expiration date of the license if, on the expiration date, the service member is on active duty. If the supreme court agrees, a license to practice law that a service member holds, the expiration date of which is after September 11, 2001, does not expire on the expiration date of the license if, on the expiration date, the service member is on active duty. A license extended under this subsection expires 90 180 days after the service member is discharged from active duty.

SB550, s. 3 Section 3. 321.60 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB550,4,2 321.60 (2m) Any license that the spouse of a service member holds, the expiration date of which is after September 11, 2001, except a license to practice law, does not expire on the expiration date of the license if the service member is on active duty on the expiration date of the spouse's license and the spouse does not practice under the license while the service member is on active duty because the service member is on active duty. If the supreme court agrees, a license to practice law that the spouse of a service member holds, the expiration date of which is after September 11, 2001, does not expire on the expiration date of the license if the service member is on active duty on the expiration date of the spouse's license and the spouse does not practice under the license while the service member is on active duty because the service member is on active duty. A license extended under this subsection expires 180 days after the service member is discharged from active duty.

SB550, s. 4 Section 4. 321.60 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB550,4,7 321.60 (3) (intro.) The licensing agency or the supreme court shall extend or renew a license extended under sub. (2) or (2m) until the next date that the license expires or for the period that such license is normally issued, at no cost to the service member or the spouse under sub. (2m), if all of the following conditions are met:

SB550, s. 5 Section 5. 321.60 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB550,4,11 321.60 (3) (a) The service member or spouse, as appropriate, requests an extension or renewal of the license within 90 180 days after the service member is discharged from active duty.

SB550, s. 6 Section 6. 321.60 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB550,4,16 321.60 (3) (b) The service member or spouse, as appropriate, provides the licensing agency or supreme court with a copy of a federal or state document that specifies when the service member was called into active duty and when the service member was discharged from active duty.

SB550, s. 7 Section 7. 321.60 (3) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

SB550, s. 8 Section 8. 321.60 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB550,5,5 321.60 (4) If a service member's license or the license of a service member's spouse is renewed or extended under sub. (3) no more than 180 days before the next date that the license would normally expire, the licensing agency, or supreme court if it agrees, shall allow the service member or spouse, as appropriate, to renew or extend the license without complying with any continuing education or training requirements if complying with such requirement in the period before the license expires would cause the service member or spouse, as appropriate, undue hardship. If a service member's license or the license of a service member's spouse is renewed or extended under this subsection, the licensing agency or supreme court may require the service member or spouse, as appropriate, to comply with any continuing education or training requirements within a reasonable time after receipt of the license.

SB550, s. 9 Section 9. 321.60 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB550,5,8 321.60 (5) The department shall assist any service member or spouse of a service member who needs assistance to renew or extend a license under this section.

SB550, s. 10 Section 10. 440.09 of the statutes is created to read:

SB550,5,12 440.09 Reciprocal credentials for the spouses of service members. (1) In this section, "service member" means a member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces, or the national guard of any state.

SB550,5,15 (2) The department and each credentialing board shall grant a reciprocal credential to an individual who the department or credentialing board determines meets all of the following requirements:

SB550,5,17 (a) The individual applies for a reciprocal credential under this section on a form prescribed by the department or credentialing board.

SB550,5,21 (b) The individual is the spouse of a service member, and the spouse and service member temporarily reside in this state as a result of the service member's service in the U.S. armed forces, a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces, or the national guard of any state.

SB550,5,25 (c) The individual holds a license, certification, registration, or permit that was granted by a governmental authority in a jurisdiction outside this state that qualifies the individual to perform the acts authorized under the appropriate credential granted by the department or credentialing board.

SB550,6,1 (d) The individual pays the fee specified under s. 440.05 (2).

SB550,6,3 (e) The individual meets any other requirements established by the department or credentialing board by rule.

SB550,6,7 (3) A reciprocal credential granted under this section expires 180 days after the date the department or credentialing board issues the reciprocal credential unless, upon application by the holder of the reciprocal credential, the department or credentialing board extends the reciprocal credential.