WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Governor signs Rolfes-Kilmer bill easing transition from military to civilian jobs

New law cuts red tape for qualified veterans entering a number of professions

OLYMPIA – Another hurdle faced by military veterans returning to civilian life in Washington state fell Monday (May 16) afternoon. Surrounded by a group of both peacetime and combat vets, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed Rep. Christine RolfesHouse Bill 1418, which lets veterans use their relevant military training to satisfy state licensing requirements for a number of professions.

A month ago, the governor signed into law Senate Bill 5307, sponsored by Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, which established a similar process to help vets apply their military skills to educational and licensing requirements when seeking private-sector careers as healthcare professionals.

Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island) had sponsored a House companion bill to SB 5307, and Kilmer introduced a Senate companion to HB 1418. It’s common for legislators working toward the same goal to introduce identical bills in their respective chambers, then focus their energy on the one that seems more likely to move through the system. Rolfes and Kilmer, West Sound lawmakers who share a long history of working together successfully on military and veterans’ issues, each took the lead on one bill and the result is a one-two punch designed to knock down unnecessary barriers for men and women leaving the military.

“Our bills essentially eliminate redundant training and licensing requirements for a whole range of civilian professions,” Rolfes said. “The U.S. military provides service members with some of the finest, most rigorous training programs in the world. Whatever time our veterans spend repeating unnecessary training amounts to lost salary, and makes it harder to support themselves and their families. Our veterans need jobs, and they need them now, not weeks or months in the future.”

“Our veterans have gained valuable skills and performed them often under far more stressful conditions than they might ever face in civilian life,” Kilmer said. “For a long time, they’ve had our backs. Now that they’re returning to civilian life, it’s only right that we have theirs by doing whatever we can to help them into jobs for which they’re eminently qualified.”

“Last year, there was a 21.9 percent unemployment rate for Gulf War II male veterans,” said Mark B. San Souci, Northwest regional liaison for the U.S. Department of Defense. “Here in our state, we have a 14 percent unemployment rate for our Guard members and reservists. These measures, led by Rolfes and Kilmer in a great bipartisan effort, are going to go a long way in helping our people transition and put them to work.”

Rolfes’ bill, which takes effect July 23 of this year, will allow vets to use their military training when applying for licenses in dozens of civilian professions, including notary public, on-site wastewater designer, private investigator, real-estate broker or appraiser, architect, cosmetologist, court reporter, engineer, funeral director and home inspector.

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