SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1418

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection, March 22, 2011

Title: An act relating to evaluating military training and experience toward meeting licensing requirements.

Brief Description: Concerning evaluating military training and experience toward meeting certain professional licensing requirements.

Sponsors: Representatives Rolfes, McCune, Appleton, Kirby, Kelley, Zeiger, Seaquist, Finn, Haigh, Dammeier, Angel, Jinkins, Stanford and Smith.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/07/11, 92-0.

Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection: 3/21/11, 3/22/11 [DPA].

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.

Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Conway, Vice Chair; Holmquist Newbry, Ranking Minority Member; King, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hewitt, Keiser and Kline.

Staff: Ingrid Mungia (786-7423)

Background: The Department of Licensing (Department) regulates certain businesses and professions. Each regulated business and profession has a separate set of laws. Some businesses and professions, such as cosmetologists and security guards, are under the authority of the Director of the Department (Director) and others, such as architects and engineers, are under a board or commission charged with regulating the particular business or profession.

Cosmetology, Barbering, Manicuring, and Esthetics. The Department regulates cosmetology, barbering, manicuring, and esthetics. A person must be licensed to practice these professions. In order to be licensed, an applicant must complete the required education and successfully pass an examination. Applicants may complete the education requirements either by graduating from a school licensed by the Department or by completing a state-approved apprenticeship program.

Minimum training hours at a school consist of:

• cosmetologist, 1600 hours;

• barber, 1000 hours;

• manicurist, 600 hours;

• esthetician, 600 hours; and

• instructor-trainee, 500 hours.

Minimum training hours in an apprenticeship program consist of:

• cosmetologist, 2000 hours;

• barber, 1200 hours;

• manicurist, 800 hours; and

• esthetician, 800 hours.

Engineers and Land Surveyors. Engineers and land surveyors must be registered by the Board of Registration for Engineers and Land Surveyors (Board) in order to practice engineering or land surveying in Washington. Candidates for registration as an engineer or land surveyor must have eight years of appropriate work experience and must have successfully passed the required examinations. Applicants may substitute undergraduate study in an approved engineering or land surveying school or college for up to four years of the work experience requirements. The Board may also approve up to one year of appropriate postgraduate study.

Security Guards. Security guards are licensed by the Department and must satisfy training requirements established by the Director in order to be licensed.

Summary of Bill: The bill as referred to committee not considered.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Amendments): People with military training and experience may count that training and experience towards professional licensing requirements unless that profession’s regulatory body determines that the training and experience is not substantially equivalent to the standards of this state. This applies to the following professional licenses: notaries public, on-site wastewater designers, private investigators, professional athletes, real estate brokers, salespersons and land development representatives, real estate appraisers, security guards, tattooing and body piercing licensees, timeshare salespersons, architects, auctioneers, bail bond agents and recovery agents, camping resort salespersons, cosmetologists, court reporters, driver training instructors, engineers, funeral directors and embalmers, geologists, home inspectors and landscape architects.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill is trying to expand the opportunities for retired military personnel and returning veterans, whether they are national guard or armed services, giving our communities the opportunity to incorporate native talent and helping returning military professionals get better started with their own business or better qualified to be employable in the civilian sector. We like the new version of the bill, it toughens it up and increases the number of professions. There are already bills like this in the construction industry and this is a major benefit for veterans as they transition out of the military. This would be very helpful to their transition to civilian employment. We urge your support of this bill. I would have been effected by this 44 years ago when I came out of Vietnam. I support this concept.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Rolfes, prime sponsor; Mark San Souci, Department of Defense, State Liaison Office; Todd Mitchell, Helmets to Hard Hats; Robert Rudolph, Veterans Legislative Coalition; Steve Salins, citizen.