Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Streamline Veterans Licensing and Certification
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0214
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: GOLDEN, JACKSON, FARRIN, HANINGTON, LONGSTAFF, LUCHINI, COLLINS, LIBBY, MASON

Legislative Document
No. 214
H.P. 170
House of Representatives, January 24, 2017
Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Streamline Veterans' 
Licensing and Certification
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GOLDEN of Lewiston.
Cosponsored by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook and
Representatives: CASÁS of Rockport, FARRIN of Norridgewock, HANINGTON of Lincoln, 
LONGSTAFF of Waterville, LUCHINI of Ellsworth, Senators: COLLINS of York, LIBBY of 
Androscoggin, MASON of Androscoggin.
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 
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.