Title: An act relating to license renewals by members of the armed forces assigned, reassigned, or deployed out-of-state.

Brief Description: Waiving penalties for late renewal of licenses by members of the armed forces assigned or deployed out-of-state.

Sponsors: By Representatives Kessler, Skinner, Rockefeller, Hatfield, Mielke, Carrell, Alexander, Nixon, Lovick, Darneille, O'Brien, Ahern, Orcutt, Berkey, Eickmeyer, Conway, McMahan, Talcott, Santos, Hunt, Moeller and Ruderman.

Brief Summary of Bill

• Allows a member of the armed forces to renew any state-required license without incurring a late renewal fee if the he or she was unable to renew the license on time because of out-of-state military service.

The state requires licenses, permits, certifications and other forms of authorization for a wide variety of activities. The Department of Licensing, for instance, issues driver's licenses as well as licenses for many professions and occupations ranging from land surveying to cosmetology. The Department of Health licenses several different health care professions. Local government officials may also be responsible for administering state-required licensure. County sheriffs and city police chiefs, for example, are required to handle the issuance of state-required concealed pistol licenses.

Licenses are generally issued for a fixed period of time and are generally subject to periodic renewal requirements. When a person renews a license, he or she may be required to pay a renewal fee and to re-establish his or her eligibility for the license. For example, a person applying to the county sheriff for a renewal of a concealed pistol license must undergo a criminal and mental health background check and must pay a renewal fee of $32. If, however, the person applies for renewal more than 90 days after the expiration of the license, he or she must also pay an additional $10 late renewal fee. Similarly, renewal of a driver's license requires payment of a $25 fee, and may be subject to an additional $10 late penalty if renewal is sought more than 60 days after the expiration of the license. Many occupational licensing provisions also contain late renewal penalties.

Members of the armed forces who are unable to renew a state-required license because of an out-of-state deployment or assignment may have the license renewed without having to pay any penalty for late renewal. This exemption from a late renewal penalty applies if:

• the person presents the licensing agency with copies of relevant military orders regarding his or her assignment, deployment or discharge.

A license renewed under these provisions is retroactively effective back to the expiration date of the original license.

A license is defined to mean any franchise, permit, certification, approval, registration, charter or similar form of authorization that is required by state law.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.