SECOND REGULAR SESSION
96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES DAVIS (Sponsor), DAY, WHITE, BROWN (116), FISHER, LANT, McCAHERTY, ROWLAND, REIBOLDT, LICHTENEGGER, RICHARDSON, ATKINS, BRATTIN, WRIGHT, NANCE, WELLS, ELMER AND BROWN (85) (Co-sponsors).
5071L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapters 173, 192, and 324, RSMo, by adding thereto three new sections relating to professional licensure of current and former military personnel.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapters 173, 192, and 324, RSMo, are amended by adding thereto three new sections, to be known as sections 173.1158, 192.360, and 324.007, to read as follows:
173.1158. 1. By no later than January 1, 2013, the department of higher education and the coordinating board for higher education shall adopt a policy requiring every institution of postsecondary education, including but not limited to every university, college, vocational and technical school, in this state to award educational credits to a student enrolled in a postsecondary education institution, who is also a veteran, for courses that are part of the student's military training or service and that meet the standards of the American Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic credit if the award of educational credit is based upon the institution's admission standards and its role, scope, and mission.
2. Beginning for the 2013-2014 academic year and for every academic year thereafter, the department of higher education and every governing body of an institution of postsecondary education in this state shall adopt necessary rules and procedures to implement the provisions of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2012, shall be invalid and void.
192.360. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the department of health and senior services shall require every health-related professional licensing board to establish a procedure to ensure any member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty who, at the time of activation, was a member in good standing with any professional licensing body in this state and was licensed or certified to engage in his or her profession or vocation in this state shall be kept in good standing by the professional licensing body with which he or she is licensed or certified.
2. While a licensee or certificate holder is an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the license or certificate referenced in subsection 1 of this section shall be renewed without:
(1) The payment of dues or fees;
(2) Obtaining continuing education credits when:
(a) Circumstances associated with military duty prevent obtaining such training and a waiver request has been submitted to the appropriate licensing body; or
(b) The active duty military member performs the licensed or certified occupation as part of his or her military duties as annotated in Defense Department form 214 (DD 214); or
(c) Performing any other act typically required for the renewal of the license or certificate.
3. The license or certificate issued under this section shall be continued as long as the licensee or certificate holder is a member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty and for a period of at least six months after discharge from active duty.
324.007. 1. By no later than January 1, 2013, every examination and professional licensing board in this state shall, upon presentation of satisfactory evidence by an applicant for certification or licensure, accept education, training, or service completed by an individual who is a member of the United States Armed Forces or Reserves, the national guard of any state, the military reserves of any state, or the naval militia of any state toward the qualifications to receive the license or certification.
2. Every examination and professional licensing board in this state shall adopt necessary procedures to implement the provisions of this section.
3. The division of professional registration within the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall promulgate rules to implement this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2012, shall be invalid and void.
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