OLYMPIA — Legislation to eliminate unnecessary training for military veterans who seek civilian employment passed the Senate today on a 46-0 vote.
Sponsored in the House by Rep. Christine Rolfes and in the Senate by Sen. Derek Kilmer, the legislation would evaluate the skills veterans already possess and apply it to educational and licensing requirements in a wide variety of professional fields.
“Redundant training is a waste of resources,” said Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island. “The Legislature really stepped up to the plate in passing this bill unanimously from the House and Senate. We all recognized that in this rough economy, we should be making it easier to get a job not forcing people to jump through hoops.”
House Bill 1418, sponsored by Rolfes, would apply to: notaries public, on-site wastewater designers, private investigators, professional athletes, real estate brokers, salespersons and land development representatives, real estate appraisers, security guards, tattooing and body piercing licensees, timeshare salespersons, architects, auctioneers, bail bond agents and recovery agents, camping resort salespersons, cosmetologists, court reporters, driver training instructors, engineers, funeral directors and embalmers, geologists, home inspectors and landscape architects.
Identical legislation was sponsored in the Senate by Kilmer, and as both bills advanced in their respective chambers Rolfes and Kilmer opted to go with Rolfes’ version. Conversely, both lawmakers sponsored companion bills that apply a similar process when military veterans seek employment and licensing in a range of private-sector health professions.
In that case, Kilmer and Rolfes went with Kilmer’s version, Senate Bill 5307. That measure passed both the Senate and House and is scheduled to be signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Chris Gregoire. HB 1418 was amended in the Senate and must be reconciled in the House before it can go on to the governor.
“This is pretty significant policy, for a couple of reasons,” Kilmer said of the package of bills. “First, returning veterans face a higher rate of unemployment. Second, this bill starts moving us toward a process that acknowledges experience rather than seat time.
“These are folks who served their country and had our backs. It’s only fair that we have their backs when they return.”
Under the earlier bill, SB 5307, veterans’ relevant military training would be considered toward satisfying licensing requirements in a variety of health professions: denturists; dispensing opticians; ocularists; pharmacy assistants; physician assistants; osteopathic physician assistants; emergency medical technicians; radiologic technologists; nursing assistants; respiratory care practitioners; health care assistants; surgical technologists; dental assistants; expanded function dental auxiliaries; physical therapists; and physical therapy assistants.