ENROLLED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 74
BY REPRESENTATIVE ARMES
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request that professional and occupational licensing boards comply with R.S.
37:3651 requiring the licensure, certification, or registration of military members and
military spouses to lawfully practice their occupation in this state when certain
conditions are satisfied, to give due consideration to the lawfully recognized interests
of military members and military spouses, and to clarify the intent of the legislature.
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana celebrates and honors all members of the military
and their families for the sacrifices they make to preserve the security, freedoms, and
liberties that enrich both this state and this nation; and
WHEREAS, members of the military and their families have earned the eternal
respect, admiration, and gratitude of the state of Louisiana and its citizens, and it is fitting
to recognize their unwavering selflessness and courage by giving due consideration to all
laws meant to protect those members, their families, and their lawfully recognized interests;
and
WHEREAS, R.S. 37:3651(C) requires all state agencies, boards, commissions, or
substantially similar entities involved in the licensure, certification, or registration of any
regulated profession or occupation within the state of Louisiana to issue a license,
certification, or registration to a military spouse to lawfully practice the military spouse's
occupation in this state, if, upon application, the military spouse satisfies certain enumerated
conditions; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 37:3651(D) provides for the issuance of a temporary practice
permit to a military member or a military spouse during the time period in which the military
member or military spouse is satisfying the requirements for licensure within this state when
the military member or military spouse is licensed, certified, or registered in another
jurisdiction and the standards of that jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to the standards
of this state; and
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WHEREAS, R.S. 37:3651(E) requires that any individual possessing a temporary
practice permit pursuant to R.S. 37:3651 shall receive priority processing of his application
for licensure, certification, or registration in accordance with rules promulgated by the
applicable professional or occupational licensing board; and
WHEREAS, the legislature finds that certain state agencies, boards, commissions,
or substantially similar entities involved in the licensure, certification, or registration of
regulated professions or occupations have too narrowly interpreted the provisions of R.S.
37:3651 resulting in an overly restrictive atmosphere of excluding members of the military
or their spouses from licensure, certification, or registration in their respective professions
or occupations.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
clarify that the intent of R.S. 37:3651 is to give due consideration to the lawfully recognized
interests of members of the military and their spouses and that the provisions of R.S.
37:3651 shall be construed liberally in favor of members of the military and military
spouses.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to the director of boards and
commissions in the office of the governor, who is hereby requested to distribute copies of
this Resolution to the boards and commissions that license, certify, or register persons who
work in professions and occupations of this state.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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