LICENSING REQ.; VETERAN EXEMPTIONS                                            S.B. 1222 & 1223:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bills 1222 and 1223 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator John Bizon, M.D. (S.B. 1222)

               Senator Adam Hollier (S.B. 1223)

Committee:  Families, Seniors, and Veterans

CONTENT

Senate Bill 1222 would amend the Public Health Code to do the following:

-- Require the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to waive the fee for an initial license or initial registration otherwise required under Article 15 (Occupations), or an application processing fee for such, if the applicant served in the Armed Forces and was discharged honorably or was a dependent of either a member of the Armed Forces who was on active duty or a veteran.

-- Require an applicant to be granted an initial license or registration, without examination, if the applicant were a member of the Armed forces on active duty, a veteran, or a dependent of either a member of the Armed forces on active duty or a veteran, and if the applicant held a current license or registration in good standing in another State or country for the health profession for which the applicant was seeking licensure or registration, among other requirements.

-- Modify the requirements an applicant who was a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces would have to meet to receive a temporary license or registration.

Senate Bill 1223 would amend the Occupational Code to do the following:

-- Modify the requirements an applicant who was a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces would have to receive a temporary license or registration.

-- Require LARA to issue a license or certificate of registration for an occupation under the Code without examination to an individual who was a member of the Armed Forces on active duty, a veteran, or a dependent of either a member of the Armed Forces on active duty or a veteran, and held a valid license or registration in that occupation from another state, among other requirements.

-- Prohibit LARA from issuing a license or registration if it determined that the issuance of a license or registration for an occupation under the Code could result in a violation of a Federal oversight or licensing guideline for that occupation.

Senate Bill 1223 is tie-barred to Senate Bill 1222.

MCL 333.16103 et al. (S.B. 1222)                               Legislative Analyst:  Tyler VanHuyse

       339.103 et al. (S.B. 1223)

FISCAL IMPACT

The bills would have an indeterminate negative fiscal impact on LARA. An increase in available exemptions to veterans and their dependents would result in decreased fee revenue to the respective bureaus within LARA. Most revenue from these fees is dedicated to administering licensing and regulatory programs. In addition, processing applications would require additional staff time. The magnitude of the revenue loss and costs associated with the bills would depend on the number of applications for exemptions received in the affected professions. The Department does not have sufficient data to predict the potential increase in exemptions at this time.

For fiscal year 2018-19, LARA reported the following figures for exemptions because of veteran status:

Bureau	Exemptions	Total Fees Exempted
Construction Codes	295	$33,975
Corporations, Securities, and Commercial Licensing	6	$835
Professional Licensing	204	$20,550
Total	505	$55,360

Date Completed:  12-3-20                                         Fiscal Analyst: Elizabeth Raczkowski

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.