The spouses of active duty military personnel lose jobs when they transfer to a new base. And when they have a career that requires a license, finding employment in a new state is delayed by the licensing process.
On Monday the House State Affairs committee unanimously passed a bill to streamline professional licensing for military spouses.
Lieutenant Governor Matt Michels testified for Senate Bill 117. He says 35 percent of military spouses who work are in a profession that needs some kind of license.
“This bill will streamline that process so that a military spouse with a license or certificate in another state can easily transfer into South Dakota,” Michels says. “You’ll see that many of the professions covered are in Title 36, which include healthcare providers, plumbers, social work, electrician, CPAs, other technical trades, as well as educators.”
Michels says Chief Justice David Gilbertson is bringing a similar rule change to expedite licensing for spouses who are attorneys.
The streamlined process applies only to professionals who left a job to come to South Dakota.
The bill has cleared the Senate and now goes to the House floor for debate.