Second Regular Session Sixty-ninth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. 14-0289.01 Jery Payne x2157 HOUSE BILL 14-1198 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Everett, Priola, Humphrey, Wright, Nordberg, Dore, Holbert, Joshi, Landgraf, Lawrence, Navarro, Rankin, Scott, Wilson SENATE SPONSORSHIP Grantham, Hill House Committees Senate Committees State, Veterans, & Military Affairs A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning the authority for active-duty military family members credentialed in another state to practice an occupation regulated by Colorado law. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) Current law allows the spouse of an active-duty service member stationed in Colorado to practice a profession regulated by Colorado law without first seeking Colorado credentials, so long as that spouse is licensed in another state. Currently, the spouse can practice a regulated profession in Colorado for one year upon moving to the state. Current law makes exceptions to the reciprocity policy, requiring Colorado licensure for engineers, architects, surveyors, doctors, optometrists, individuals working with fireworks, and individuals working in real estate. The bill increases the one-year period to 3 years and makes the reciprocity policy applicable to all professions regulated by Colorado law. The bill also extends the authority to practice a regulated profession to an active-duty service member and the children of an active-duty service member. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 12-71-101 as follows: 12-71-101. Definitions. As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Active-duty service member" means any person actively serving in the United States armed forces who is stationed in Colorado in accordance with military orders. (1) (2) "Agency" means an agency of the state that regulates a profession or occupation under this title. (2) (3) "Authority to practice" or "authorized to practice" means the holding of a currently valid license to practice in a profession or occupation or a currently valid certification or registration necessary to practice in a profession or occupation if the person is licensed, certified, or registered under this title or a substantially similar law in another state. (4) "Military dependent" means any child under twenty-two years of age born to or legally adopted by an active-duty service member. (3) (5) "Military spouse" means the current spouse of a person who is actively serving in the United States armed forces and who is stationed in Colorado in accordance with military orders an active-duty service member. SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-71-102, amend (1) introductory portion and (1) (a), and repeal (3) as follows: 12-71-102. Authority to practice - reciprocity. (1) Notwithstanding any other article of this title, a person need not obtain authority to practice an occupation or profession under this title during the person's first year three years of residence in Colorado if: (a) The person is an active-duty service member, a military spouse, or a military dependent who is authorized to practice that occupation or profession in another state; (3) This section does not apply to authority to practice under article 25, 28, 36, 40, or 61 of this title. SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-71-103, amend (1) introductory portion as follows: 12-71-103. Notice. (1) Agency. If a person who is practicing in Colorado under section 12-71-102 applies for authority to continue to practice after the first year three years under another article of this title, the applicant shall notify the agency receiving the application of the following: SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date - applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 6, 2014, if adjournment sine die is on May 7, 2014); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2014 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor. (2) This act applies to active-duty service members, military spouses, and military dependents residing in Colorado on or after the applicable effective date of this act.