Professional or occupational licensure renewal requirements for active duty service members and their spouses and requirements concerning licensure in this state of spouses of service members temporarily stationed in this state

1. The service member requests renewal of the license within 90 days after the service member is discharged from active duty.

2. The service member provides the licensing agency or supreme court with documentation that verifies when the service member was called to active duty and when the service member was discharged from active duty.

3. The service member meets all of the requirements necessary for the extension or renewal of the license except continuing education requirements under certain circumstances.

4. In the case of a license to practice law, the supreme court agrees to granting the extension or renewal.

Under the bill, the expiration date for a service member's professional or occupational license that would have otherwise expired while the service member was on active duty is extended from 90 days to 180 days after the service member's discharge from active duty. The bill also eliminates the requirement that the service member meet all of the requirements necessary for the extension or renewal of the service member's license.

Additionally, under the bill, all of the requirements regarding an extended expiration date and renewal of a service member's license at no cost to the service member apply to the spouse of a service member if the spouse does not practice under his or her license while the service member is on active duty. The bill also extends those requirements to a service member who is a member of the U.S. armed forces whether or not that service member is in a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces.

Finally, under current law, the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) and most of the licensing boards under DSPS may grant a reciprocal license to an individual if certain requirements are met. A reciprocal license is a license granted to an individual who holds a license issued by a governmental authority in a jurisdiction outside Wisconsin under which the license holder may perform acts that are substantially the same as those acts authorized under a license issued by DSPS or a licensing board under DSPS.

Under the bill, DSPS or a licensing board is required to grant a reciprocal license to the spouse of a member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve unit of the U.S.

armed forces, or the national guard of any state if the service member and the service member's spouse temporarily reside in Wisconsin as a result of that service and the spouse does all of the following:

1. Applies for a reciprocal license.

2. Holds a license that was granted by the licensing authority of a governmental authority in a jurisdiction outside Wisconsin that qualifies the individual to practice under the license granted by DSPS or the licensing board.

3. Pays the required fee.

4. Meets any other requirements established by rule by DSPS or a licensing board.

Such a reciprocal license expires 180 days after the date it was issued unless, upon application by the holder of the reciprocal license, DSPS or the licensing board extends the reciprocal license.