An Act To Encourage the Hiring of Skilled Immigrants through Flexible Certification
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1152
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: CHENETTE, BEEBE-CENTER, GATTINE, GOLDEN, TALBOT ROSS, DOW
Amends: 10 MRSA §8012

Legislative Document
No. 1152
H.P. 815
House of Representatives, March 23, 2017
An Act To Encourage the Hiring of Skilled Immigrants through 
Flexible Certification
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative CASÁS of Rockport.
Cosponsored by Senator CHENETTE of York and
Representatives: BEEBE-CENTER of Rockland, GATTINE of Westbrook, GOLDEN of 
Lewiston, TALBOT ROSS of Portland, Senator: DOW of Lincoln.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA §8012 is enacted to read: 
§8012.  Flexible certification 
By January 1, 2018, each board, commission, office and agency within the 
department listed in section 8001 or affiliated with the department under section 8001-A 
shall adopt a process in accordance with this section to facilitate qualified work-
authorized immigrants obtaining in an expeditious manner professional licenses granted 
by those boards, commissions, offices and agencies.  For the purposes of this section, 
"work-authorized immigrant" means an alien who has been lawfully admitted to the 
United States for permanent residence as well as an alien whose employment is 
authorized by the United States Department of Homeland Security, United States 
Citizenship and Immigration Services. 
1.  Endorsement.  The board, commission, office or agency may permit a work-
authorized immigrant who holds a comparable license in another state or country to 
acquire a license by endorsement in this State for the remainder of the term of the license 
from the other state or country or until a license is obtained in this State, whichever 
occurs first. 
2.  Temporary license.  The board, commission, office or agency may permit a 
work-authorized immigrant who holds a comparable license in another state or country to 
obtain a temporary license in this State for a period of time necessary to obtain a license 
in this State. 
3.  Education.  The board, commission, office or agency may not issue a license by 
endorsement under subsection 1 or a temporary license under subsection 2 to a work-
authorized immigrant unless the work-authorized immigrant is enrolled in and 
participating in an education program approved by the board, commission, office or 
agency.  The board, commission, office or agency may not approve an education program 
under this subsection unless successful completion of the education program allows the 
work-authorized immigrant to qualify either for licensure in this State or to take the 
examination required for licensure in this State. 
4.  Rules.  Each board, commission, office or agency affected by this section shall 
adopt rules establishing the criteria for work-authorized immigrants to obtain a license by 
endorsement or a temporary license under this section, including rules for determining 
whether a license issued in another country is comparable to a license issued by the 
board, commission, office or agency.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are 
routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires each board, commission, office and agency under the oversight of 
or affiliated with the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to adopt a 
process allowing a work-authorized immigrant who possesses a professional license in 
another state or country to obtain a time-limited license by endorsement or a temporary 
license while participating in an education program designed to meet the qualifications 
for professional licensure in this State.