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Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Streamline Veterans' Licensing and Certification
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  this Resolve establishes the Commission To Streamline Veterans' Licensing and Certification to identify ways to streamline licensing and certification requirements for veterans; and
Whereas,  the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative session; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it
Sec. 1 Commission To Streamline Veterans' Licensing and Certification. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the Commission To Streamline Veterans' Licensing and Certification, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further
Sec. 2 Commission membership. Resolved: That the commission consists of 13 members appointed as follows:
1. Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate who are veterans of military service or who are members of either the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development or the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs;
2. Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives who are veterans of military service or who are members of either the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development or the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs;
3. The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management or the commissioner's designee;
4. The Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation or the commissioner's designee;
5. The Commissioner of Labor or the commissioner's designee;
6. Three members appointed by the President of the Senate with experience in:
A. Membership on a licensing or certification board;
B. Work at an educational institution with programming that results in licensing or certification;
C. Work in the field of human resources; or
D. Prior or current service in the military; and
7. Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives with experience in:
A. Membership on a licensing or certification board;
B. Work at an educational institution with programming that results in licensing or certification;
C. Work in the field of human resources; or
D. Prior or current service in the military; and be it further
Sec. 3 Chairs. Resolved: That the first appointed Senate member is the Senate chair and the first appointed House of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; and be it further
Sec. 4 Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the commission to meet and conduct its business; and be it further
Sec. 5 Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall:
1. Identify workforce needs in the State that could be met by the recruitment of veterans and service members who are transitioning out of the military;
2. Identify similarities and differences between military occupational specialty training and state licensing and certification requirements for those fields of work identified by the commission;
3. Address barriers commonly encountered by transitioning service members and veterans by:
A. Assisting civilian licensing boards in recognizing the military documentation of veterans' training and experience;
B. Developing strategies to prevent duplicative training requirements for attaining relevant licensure or certification; and
C. Streamlining the administrative rules and processes within civilian licensing and certification systems that create barriers for veterans to obtain licensure or certification; and
4. Develop strategies to accelerate veterans' licensure and certification by:
A. Assessing the equivalency of military training courses and using official documentation to permit veterans with fully or partially equivalent training and experience either to sit for civilian licensure examinations or to be licensed by endorsement;
B. Addressing training gaps by working with educational institutions to set up accelerated programs for veterans that bridge training gaps, provide veterans advanced standing in existing programs or offer bridge courses that prepare veterans to enter existing programs;
C. Addressing administrative or process challenges by assessing any non-skill-related licensing or certification requirements that might place veterans at a disadvantage, such as fees or length of experience; and
D. Taking steps to make civilian employment pathways friendlier to veterans through concerted outreach to both veterans and prospective employers; and be it further
Sec. 6 Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further
Sec. 7 Report. Resolved: That, no later than January 15, 2018, the commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to both the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development and the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. The Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development and the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs may report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature based upon the report.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This resolve creates the Commission To Streamline Veterans' Licensing and Certification to study and address military service members' and veterans' transition from military service to the civilian workforce. The commission is also charged with making recommendations to streamline licensing and certification processes for service members and veterans.