§ 31-1-6 — Professional Licenses and Certificates for Spouses of Active Duty Military Personnel

(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Military Family Jobs Opportunity Act.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (h), and notwithstanding other provisions of law, this section shall apply to any board, agency, commission, or other entity providing professional licenses or certificates, or both, for the purpose of employment in the State of Alabama. On or before January 1, 2023, each board, agency, or commission providing professional licenses or certificates, or both, shall adopt rules in conformity with this section for the purpose of implementing its requirements. The rules shall provide a method of accomplishing both of the following:
(1) The issuance of a license or certificate to an eligible individual, within 30 days of application, if the certification or license of the original issuing state or governing body is similar to that requested from this state, as provided in subsection (d).
(2) A procedure for authorizing an eligible individual to perform professional services regulated by the board, agency, or commission in this state pursuant to a temporary permit, effective for at least 360 days, while the board, agency, or commission deliberates the application to obtain a license or certificate in this state, as provided in subsection (d).
(c) For the purposes of this section, an “eligible individual” is any individual who satisfies all of the following:
(1) Is the spouse of any of the following:
a. An active duty, reserve, or transitioning member of the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard, or a surviving spouse of a service member who, at the time of his or her death, was serving on active duty, who is relocated to and stationed in the State of Alabama under official military orders. For the purposes of this paragraph, a “transitioning member” is on active duty status or on separation leave who is within 24 months of retirement.
b. An individual currently employed by the United States Department of Justice or any of its encompassed offices, agencies, institutes, and bureaus, including, but not limited to, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the United States Marshal Service (USMS), who is relocated to Alabama by order of his or her employer.
c. An individual currently employed at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration who is relocated to Alabama by order of his or her employer.
d. An individual currently employed in Alabama as a civil servant for the United States Department of Defense.
(2) Has not committed or participated in an act that would constitute grounds for refusal, suspension, or revocation of a professional license or certificate.
(3) Has not been disciplined by an authorized entity or under investigation, in any jurisdiction, in relation to a professional license or certificate.
(d) Any eligible individual under subsection (c) who possesses a valid license or certificate, in good standing, in another state, district, or territory of the United States, or in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard, which is substantially similar to the license issued by the appropriate board, agency, or commission in the State of Alabama shall be approved to continue work in his or her profession upon relocation to the State of Alabama for such time as normally allotted with receipt of a license or certificate from the appropriate board, agency, or commission. Upon completion of an application, an authorized board, agency, or commission shall expedite the application according to statute, adopted rules, or if applicable, at the next scheduled licensure proceeding for an eligible individual under subsection (c).
(e) Any board, agency, or commission in the State of Alabama may establish reciprocity with other states for military spouse professional licensing and certification.
(f) Any board, agency, commission, or other entity providing professional licenses or certificates, or both, for the purpose of employment in this state, which is created after April 6, 2018, shall adopt the rules required by this section within one year after the date of its initial organizational meeting.
(g) Any board, agency, commission, or other entity providing professional licenses or certificates, or both, for the purpose of employment in the state, shall waive the initial licensing fee for the eligible individual upon application by the eligible individual in a manner prescribed by the board, agency, commission, or other entity. The board, agency, commission, or other entity shall process an application for a fee waiver within 30 days after receiving the application.
(h) This section does not apply to the practice of law or the regulation of attorneys, any license or registration issued by the Securities Commission under the Alabama Securities Act, any certification issued by the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission, or the practice of any profession regulated by the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy, Board of Optometry, Board of Dental Examiners, State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Alabama Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board, or State Board of Medical Examiners.

Legislative History

(Act 2012-533, p. 1580, §§1-5; Act 2018-540, §1; Act 2022-92, §1; Act 2023-200, §1.)