|
Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: March 7, 2012
Sen. Steve Russell
Post-military jobs bill heads to House
Many military veterans struggle to find work after retirement and
their spouses sometimes have a hard time finding a job after a base
transfer, but legislation that was approved unanimously Wednesday
in the Senate could make their search much easier. Senate Bill 1863,
by retired Army Lt. Colonel Sen. Steve
Russell, creates the Post-Military Service Occupation, Education
and Credentialing Act.
“Many military men and women have applicable military education,
training, and experience which could qualify for an occupational
license or certification, or which could provide academic credit
toward college, university or technical degree requirements, but
most employers won’t acknowledge this type of alternative
education or training,” said Russell, R-Oklahoma City. “This
bill is an effort to help military personnel be able to qualify
for more jobs if they have the equivalent training or education
required for those positions. It’s the least we can do for
their service.”
SB 1863 would authorize Oklahoma institutions of higher education
and the career and technology centers to utilize the Guide to the
Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, published
by the American Council on Education (ACE) to help retired military
personnel. The guide would be used to
compare and apply academic credit for education, training and experience
received through military duty or service, which is applicable to
the area of study of an honorably discharged military service member
within three years of leaving military service.
The measure would also authorize every administrative body, state
agency director or official with authority over any occupational
or professional license or certification as well as all examining
and licensing boards to accept any equivalent education, training,
and experience of an honorably discharged military service member
for qualification for certification or licensure.
Finally, the bill would help the spouses of military personnel by
allowing health-related agencies, boards or commissions to expedite
endorsement of licenses, certifications or permits for those individuals.
For a spouse to qualify, the military service member would have
to be on active duty in Oklahoma or have claimed permanent residency
in the state for the six months prior to assignment to active duty
or while on active duty. The spouse would have to be certified or
licensed in another state to perform professional services.
The bill was requested by the U.S. Department of Defense’s
state liaison.
SB 1863 will next be heard in the House.
For more information contact:
Sen. Russell: (405) 521-5618
|
