Governor Andrew Cuomo today signed
legislation to expedite the professional licensure process for spouses
of active duty military personnel transferred to New York who are
licensed to practice in another state.
“This common sense legislation breaks down
artificial barriers that caused undue burdens on military families and
opens the door for more career opportunities for military spouses in New
York," Governor Cuomo said. "I'm proud to sign this measure into law and cut this unneeded red tape once and for all."
The bill (A.4394-A/S.2947-A) will require
expedited licensing and allow military spouses to obtain temporary
licenses while their application is pending.
The legislation requires the State Education
Department to expedite the licensure process for professions overseen
by SED for spouses of active duty members of the United States armed
forces, National Guard, or reserves who are transferred to New York and
who hold a license with substantially similar requirements from another
state. It also authorizes SED to provide a temporary license to these
military spouses so they can practice their profession immediately while
their full licensure application is pending.
This new licensing process will apply to all
SED licensed professions, including physicians, nurses, physical
therapists, engineers, and mental health practitioners, among others.
Senator Patty Ritchie said, “Military families move 10 times more often than others—often crossing state lines that have different rules and protocols for professional licenses—and this makes it more difficult for military spouses to find work to help support their families. In recent years, top leaders at Fort Drum and Defense Department officials shared with me the importance of getting this measure passed, which they view as a key tool to encourage trained and experienced military service members to reenlist. Members of our military and their families sacrifice so much, and this is truly a way to make things easier for them by creating more—and better—opportunities so they succeed in the new communities where they are assigned, and I would like to thank the Governor for recognizing the importance of this measure.”
Senator Patty Ritchie said, “Military families move 10 times more often than others—often crossing state lines that have different rules and protocols for professional licenses—and this makes it more difficult for military spouses to find work to help support their families. In recent years, top leaders at Fort Drum and Defense Department officials shared with me the importance of getting this measure passed, which they view as a key tool to encourage trained and experienced military service members to reenlist. Members of our military and their families sacrifice so much, and this is truly a way to make things easier for them by creating more—and better—opportunities so they succeed in the new communities where they are assigned, and I would like to thank the Governor for recognizing the importance of this measure.”
Assistant Assembly Speaker Felix W. Ortiz said, "As
a veteran and a fighter for veteran’s causes, I am pleased that the
Governor signed my legislation into law today. This law allows military
spouses to pursue professional job opportunities that were closed to
them before. We are now on par with the majority of states that
recognize the importance of military families. We should always be able
to support our armed forces in ways like this."
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
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