Universal occupational licensure.

20LSO-0494
2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0494
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0128

Universal occupational licensure.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Laursen, Clem, Hallinan and Miller and Senator(s) Biteman, Bouchard and Case

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to professions and occupations; extending professional licensing options for military spouses to all persons; providing for the issuance of professional and occupational licenses to qualified applicants from other states; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 33
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1
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120 is created to read:

33
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1
‑
120.

Professional and occupational licensure for qualified individuals licensed in other jurisdictions.

(a)

As used in this section:

(i)

"Active" means a status of occupational or professional licensure which has not been suspended, revoked or terminated and which is not otherwise inactive;

(ii)

"Applicant" means a natural person seeking licensure from a professional or occupational licensing board of this state;

(iii)

"Good standing" means a status of occupational or professional licensure which is in compliance with all requirements imposed by the issuing licensing, certification or registration authority;

(iv)

"License" means any license, certificate or registration required to practice an occupation or profession.

(b)

A professional or occupational licensing board shall issue a license to an applicant to allow the
applicant to lawfully practice a profession or occupation requiring licensure in this state if the applicant:

(i)

Holds a relevant, active occupational or professional license in good standing from another state that mandates substantially equivalent or more stringent educational, training, examination and experience requirements for licensure. Substantial equivalency shall be determined pursuant to rules that shall be adopted by the licensing board from which the applicant seeks licensure;

(ii)

Demonstrates competency in the occupation or profession for which the applicant seeks licensure. Competency shall be determined pursuant to rules that shall be adopted for that purpose and may include consideration of continuing education credits, recent work experience, prior licensing examinations, disciplinary actions taken against the applicant in other states and other appropriate factors. Competency shall not be determined by assessment of the applicant's knowledge or skills through a new examination required by the board;

(iii)

Has not engaged in any act that would constitute grounds for refusal, suspension or revocation of the occupational or professional license sought in this state; and

(iv)

Completes all required application procedures and pays any required fee.

(c)

All relevant work experience of an applicant, including full
‑
time or part
‑
time experience, regardless of whether in a paid or volunteer capacity, may be credited in any work experience requirement adopted by an occupational or professional licensing board.

(d)

This section shall apply to all applications for licensure under W.S. 21
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2
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802 or under title 33 of the Wyoming statutes except for the following:

(i)

An application to be an attorney at law under chapter 5 of title 33;

(ii)

An application to any board which represents a profession with prescriptive drug authority.

(e)

Nothing in this section shall be held to limit the rights or privileges of a military service member under W.S. 33
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1
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116.

Section 2.

W.S. 33
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1
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117(e) is amended to read:

33
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1
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117.

Temporary permits for military spouses.

(e)

Pursuant to rules which may be adopted for this purpose, a professional or occupational licensing board may issue a temporary practice permit to a military spouse applicant who meets the requirements of
paragraph (b)(i) of this section
W.S. 33
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1
‑
120(b)(i)
and who has applied for a professional or occupational license under
this section
W.S. 33
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1
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120
. The military spouse applicant may practice under the temporary permit for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days or until the professional or occupational license for which they have applied has been either granted or denied, whichever first occurs.

Section 3
.

W.S. 33
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1
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117(a)(i), (iii) and (b) through (d) is repealed.

Section 4.

Professional and occupational licensing boards shall adopt rules necessary to implement this act.

Section 5.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, t
his act is effective July 1, 2020.

(b) Sections 4 and 5 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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HB0128