HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2524

As Passed House:

February 9, 2012

Title: An act relating to military spouses or registered domestic partners occupational licensing status during deployment or placement outside Washington state.

Brief Description: Concerning military spouses or registered domestic partners occupational licensing status during deployment or placement outside Washington state.

Sponsors: Representatives Orwall, Bailey, Hudgins, Hurst, Kenney and Kelley; by request of Department of Veterans Affairs.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Business & Financial Services: 1/24/12 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/9/12, 97-0.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Kirby, Chair; Kelley, Vice Chair; Bailey, Ranking Minority Member; Buys, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Condotta, Hudgins, Hurst, Parker, Pedersen, Rivers, Ryu and Stanford.

Staff: Jon Hedegard (786-7127).

Background:

The Department of Health (DOH) and various boards and commissions regulate a variety of health professions. Each profession is subject to its own unique credentialing standards including requirements regarding education, examinations, and clinical training. The DOH licensees include:

• denturists;

• dispensing opticians;

• ocularists;

• pharmacy assistants;

• physician assistants;

• osteopathic physician assistants;

• emergency medical technicians;

• radiologic technologists;

• nursing assistants;

• respiratory care practitioners;

• health care assistants;

• surgical technologists;

• dental assistants;

• expanded function dental auxiliaries;

• physical therapists; and

• physical therapy assistants.

The Department of Licensing (DOL) regulates a broad array of businesses and professions. A business or profession may be regulated directly by the DOL or under a board or commission or other authority that may have sole or shared jurisdiction with the DOL. Each regulated business and profession has a separate set of laws. Licensees of the DOL include:

• architects;

• auctioneers;

• bail bond agents;

• camping resort salespersons;

• cosmetologists, barbers, manicurists, estheticians, instructor/operators;

• court reporters;

• driver training instructors;

• engineers;

• land surveyors;

• embalmers and funeral directors;

• geologists;

• home inspectors;

• landscape architects;

• notary publics;

• on-site wastewater treatment system designers and inspectors;

• profession athletic announcers, chiropractors, inspector, judges, managers, matchmakers, participants, physicians, promoters, referees, seconds, timekeepers;

• real estate brokers, salespersons, and land development representatives;

• real estate appraisers;

• security guards;

• body art, body piercing, or tattoo practitioners; and

• timeshare salespeople.

Both the DOL and the DOH have provisions in law that put a moratorium on the expiration of a valid license beginning at the time the licensee entered service in the armed forces or the merchant marine of the United States and continues until the service is ended. The DOL and the DOH must renew the license of every such person who applies for renewal of a license within six months after being honorably discharged from service upon payment of the current renewal fee.

Summary of Bill:

Service in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is added to the service that qualifies for a moratorium on the expiration of a license for DOH and DOL licensees.

License moratoriums parallel to the moratoriums for service members are created for the spouse or registered domestic partner of a service member while the service member is deployed or stationed outside of the state. The licensed spouse or registered domestic partner status may have their license placed on inactive status until the service is ended.

The DOH must return the license of the spouse or registered domestic partner of a service member to active status if the spouse or registered domestic partner:

• applies to activate a license within six months after the service member is honorably discharged from service; and

• pays the current renewal fee.

The Secretary of the DOH may adopt rules to implement this act for DOH licensees.

The DOL must return the license of the spouse or registered domestic partner of a service member to active status if the spouse or registered domestic partner:

• applies to activate a license within six months after returning to the state; and

• pays the current renewal fee.

The Director of the DOL and the various boards and commissions may adopt rules to implement this act for DOL licensees.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This is requested by the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA). The DVA should be thanked for their leadership on this issue. The DVA, military members, veterans, and their families should be thanked for their service to the state. The state allows service members to go to an inactive status for their licenses. This bill extends that to the spouse or domestic partner of a service member. It is a straightforward bill that helps military families. The veterans' coalition supports the bill and respectfully asks members to support it also. The subject came up in discussions regarding service members' issues. The DOL does this now for some licensees. It seemed beneficial to do it for all DOL and DOH licensees. There are many service members based in the state who are deployed abroad. They may have a spouse or a domestic partner who is a licensee who moves with them. This can help those members, their spouses, and domestic partners.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Orwall, prime sponsor; Heidi Audette, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs; and Ted Wicarek, Veterans Legislative Coalition.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.