25 LC 55 0618
House Bill 887
By: Representatives Stephens of the 164
th
, Sainz of the 180
th
, Hitchens of the 161
st
, and
Ballard of the 147
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapters 14 and 41 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
1
to electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low-voltage contractors, and2
utility contractors and residential and commercial general contractors, respectively, so as to3
revise provisions relating to the issuance of certain professional licenses based on specialties4
or certifications obtained during service in the military; to provide for the issuance of5
additional professional licenses based on such specialties or certifications; to streamline the6
process of identifying such specialties or certifications that qualify for the issuances of such7
licenses; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and8
for other purposes.9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10
SECTION 1.11
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Patriots in Trades Act."12
SECTION 2.13
Chapter 14 of Title 41 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to electrical14
contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low-voltage contractors, and utility15
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contractors, is amended by revising Code Section 43-41-15, relating to certain military
16
certifications entitle persons to obtain certain professional licenses, as follows:17
"43-14-15.18
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:19
(1) 'Discharge' means an honorable discharge or a general discharge from active military20
service. Such term shall not mean a discharge under other than honorable conditions, a21
bad conduct discharge, or a dishonorable discharge.22
(2) 'Military' means the armed forces of the United States or a reserve component of the23
armed forces of the United States, including the National Guard.24
(b) A committee composed of the division director, members of the Governor's Office of
25
Workforce Development, and members of the No later than January 1, 2026, each division26
of the board shall determine relevant divisions of the licensing board representing the27
profession for which the applicant is seeking a license shall determine the military any28
specialties or certifications obtainable in the military, the training, or experience, and29
testing for which substantially meets or exceeds the requirements to obtain a any license30
or certificate under this chapter except for any requirement that the necessary experience31
or training be obtained under the employment or direction of a person licensed in this state.32
for Electrical Contractor Class I, Journeyman Plumber, Conditioned Air Contractor Class33
I, or Utility Foreman. The Governor shall designate a chairperson from among the34
members of the committee Such specialties or certifications shall be compiled in a list that35
is published on the public website of the Secretary of State. Beginning in calendar36
year 2027, and at least annually thereafter, such divisions shall review such list and37
determine whether revisions are needed, including, without limitation, whether any38
additional such specialties or certifications shall be included on such list.39
(c) Any current or former member of the military may apply to the licensing board for the40
immediate issuance of a license or certification certificate under this chapter based upon41
his or her having obtained a military specialty or certification during his or her service in42
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the military, the training or experience for which substantially meets or exceeds the43
requirements to obtain a license or certification that is identified in by the relevant division44
of the board pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section as requiring training,45
experience, and testing that meets or exceeds the requirements under this chapter to obtain46
such license or certificate. In order to qualify for a license or certificate under this47
subsection, an applicant shall make an application not later than two four years after his or48
her discharge. The licensing board, in its discretion, may, by rule or regulation, extend49
such two-year four-year period for a any license or certification, or class thereof, under this50
chapter or may extend such two-year four-year period for an individual applicant if certain51
circumstances, including, but not limited to, health, hospitalization, or other related52
emergencies or exigencies, prevented the member of the military individual from making53
an application within such time period. Such application shall be in such form and shall54
require such documentation as the division director shall determine. If the applicant55
satisfies the requirements of this Code section, the division director shall direct the56
appropriate division of the board to issue the appropriate license or certificate, and the such57
division of the board shall immediately issue such license or certificate; provided, however,58
that the applicant shall satisfy all financial and insurance requirements for the issuance of59
such license or certificate. This Code section shall only apply to the initial issuance of a60
license or certificate under this chapter. After the initial issuance of a such license61
certificate, the licensee individual holding such license or certificate shall be subject to any62
provisions of this title relating to the renewal of the such license or certificate applicable63
to all licensees."64
SECTION 3.65
Chapter 41 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to residential and66
commercial general contractors, is amended by revising Code Section 43-41-18, relating to67
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certain military specialties or certifications entitle persons to obtain certain professional
68
licenses, as follows:69
"43-41-18.70
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:71
(1) 'Discharge' means an honorable discharge or a general discharge from active military72
service. Such term shall not mean a discharge under other than honorable conditions, a73
bad conduct discharge, or a dishonorable discharge.74
(2) 'Military' means the armed forces of the United States or a reserve component of the75
armed forces of the United States, including the National Guard.76
(b) A committee composed of the division director, members of the Governor's Office of
77
Workforce Development, and members of the licensing No later than January 1, 2026, the78
board representing the profession of residential light-commercial contracting shall79
determine the military any specialties or certifications obtainable in the military, the80
training, experience, and testing for which substantially meet or exceed the requirements81
to obtain a residential light-commercial contractor's any license under this chapter except82
for any requirement that the necessary experience or training be obtained under the83
employment or direction of a person licensed in this state. Such specialties or certifications84
shall be compiled in a list that is published on the public website of the Secretary of State. 85
Beginning in calendar year 2027, and at least annually thereafter, the board shall review86
such list and determine whether revisions are needed, including, without limitation,87
whether any additional such specialties or certifications shall be included on such list. The88
Governor shall designate a chairperson from among the membership of the committee.89
(c) Any current or former member of the military may apply to the licensing board for the90
immediate issuance of a license or certification under this chapter based upon his or her91
having obtained a military specialty or certification during his or her service in the military92
that is identified by the board pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section as requiring93
training, experience, and testing that the training or experience for which substantially94
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meets or exceeds the requirements to obtain a residential light-commercial contractor's such95
license. In order to qualify for a license under this subsection, an applicant shall make an96
application not later than 180 days four years after his or her discharge. The board, in its97
discretion, may, by rule or regulation, extend such four-year period for any license under98
this chapter or may extend such four-year period for an individual applicant if certain99
circumstances, including, but not limited to, health, hospitalization, or other related100
emergencies or exigencies prevented the individual from making an application within such101
time period. Such application shall be in such form and shall require such documentation102
as the division director shall determine. If the applicant satisfies the requirements of this103
Code section, the division director shall direct the appropriate division of the board to issue104
the license, and such division of the board shall immediately issue such license; provided,105
however, that the applicant shall satisfy all financial and insurance requirements for the106
issuance of such license. This Code section shall only apply to the initial issuance of a107
license under this chapter. After the initial issuance of a license, the licensee shall be108
subject to any provisions of this title relating to the renewal of the such license applicable109
to all licensees."110
SECTION 4.111
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.112
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