HB 967

            
2020 SESSION


20105996D

HOUSE BILL NO. 967

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on General Laws

on January 21, 2020)

(Patrons Prior to Substitute--Delegates Willett and Coyner [HB
930])

A BILL to amend and reenact � 54.1-119 of the Code of
Virginia, relating to professions and occupations; expediting the issuance of
credentials to spouses of military service members.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That � 54.1-119 of the Code of Virginia is amended and
reenacted as follows:

� 54.1-119. Expediting the issuance of licenses, etc., to
spouses of military service members; issuance of temporary licenses, etc.

A. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary and unless an
applicant is found by the board to have engaged in any act that would
constitute grounds for disciplinary action, a regulatory board within the
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or the Department of
Health Professions or any other board named in this title shall expedite the
issuance of a license, permit, certificate, or other document, however styled
or denominated, required for the practice of any business, profession, or
occupation in the Commonwealth to an applicant whose application has been
deemed complete by the board and (i) who holds the same or similar license,
permit, certificate, or other document required for the practice of any
business, profession, or occupation issued by another jurisdiction; (ii) whose
spouse is the subject of a military transfer to the Commonwealth (a)
on federal active duty orders pursuant to Title 10 of the United States Code or
(b) a veteran, as that term is defined in � 2.2-2000.1, who has left
active-duty service within one year of the submission of an application to a
board; and (iii) who accompanies the applicants spouse to Virginia
the Commonwealth or an adjoining state or the District of Columbia, if, in
the opinion of the board, the requirements for the issuance of the license,
permit, certificate, or other document in such other jurisdiction are substantially
equivalent to those required in the Commonwealth. A board may waive any
requirement relating to experience if the board determines that the
documentation provided by the applicant supports such a waiver.

B. If a board is unable to (i) complete the review of the
documentation provided by the applicant or (ii) make a final determination
regarding substantial equivalency within 20 days of the receipt of a completed
application, the board shall issue a temporary license, permit, or certificate,
provided the applicant otherwise meets the qualifications set out in subsection
A. Any temporary license, permit, or certification issued pursuant to this
subsection shall be limited for a period not to exceed 12 months and shall
authorize the applicant to engage in the profession or occupation while the
board completes its review of the documentation provided by the applicant or
the applicant completes any specific requirements that may be required in
Virginia that were not required in the jurisdiction in which the applicant
holds the license, permit, or certificate.

C. The provisions of this section shall apply regardless of
whether a regulatory board has entered into a reciprocal agreement with the
other jurisdiction pursuant to subsection B of � 54.1-103.

D. Any regulatory board may require the applicant to provide
documentation it deems necessary to make a determination of substantial
equivalency.