Lift the Relocation Burden from Military Spouses Act

To amend title 37, United States Code, to authorize, in connection with the permanent change of station of a member of the Armed Forces requiring relocation to another State, the reimbursement of the member for qualified relicensing costs incurred by the spouse of the member to secure a license or certification required by the State to which the member and spouse relocate, to encourage States to expedite license portability for military spouses, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Lift the Relocation Burden from Military Spouses Act 2. Reimbursement for State licensure and certification costs of a spouse of the Armed Forces arising from a permanent change of station of the member to another State (a) Reimbursement authorized Section 476 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (p) (1) The Secretary concerned may reimburse a member of the armed forces who is reassigned for a permanent change of station or permanent change of assignment from a duty station in one State to a duty station in another State to which the movement of the member’s dependents is authorized at the expense of the United States under this section for qualified relicensing costs of the spouse of the member. (2) Reimbursement to a member under this subsection may not exceed $500 for each change of station or change of assignment. (3) In this subsection, the term qualified relicensing costs (A) are imposed by the State of the new duty station to secure a license or certification to engage in the same profession that the spouse engaged in while in the State of the original duty station; and (B) are paid or incurred by the member or spouse to secure the license or certification from the State of the new duty station after the date on which the orders directing the permanent change of station or permanent change of assignment are issued. . (b) Expedited license portability for military spouses The Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard, shall work with States to improve the portability between States of a license, certification, or other grant of permission held by the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces to engage in a particular activity in a State. The strategies to be recommended by the Secretaries to improve license portability for military spouses shall include the following: (1) Recognition by a State of a license issued by another State and in good standing in that State. (2) Issuance of a temporary license pending completion of State-specific requirements. (3) Provision of an expedited review process for military spouses. (c) Report on extent of unemployment and underemployment of military spouses Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report evaluating the extent to which spouses of members of the Armed Forces are unemployed and underemployed, in comparison to the general population. The report shall include an estimate of the number and percentage of unemployed and underemployed military spouses, the primary reasons for their unemployment or underemployment, and recommendations to increase employment opportunities for military spouses.

Summary: Lift the Relocation Burden from Military Spouses Act This bill authorizes the military department concerned to reimburse a member of the Armed Forces who is reassigned for a permanent change of station or assignment from one state to another for qualified relicensing costs of the member's spouse. Reimbursement may not exceed $500 for each change of station or assignment. The Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security (with respect to the Coast Guard) shall work with states to improve license portability. "Qualified relicensing costs" are the costs, including exam and registration fees, needed to secure a license or certification to engage in the same profession in the new state.