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2024 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 60
BY SENATOR PRESSLY
FEES/LICENSES/PERMITS. Provides relative to occupational licenses. (8/1/24)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Chapter 1-E of Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised
3 of R.S. 37:51 through 59, relative to universal occupational license recognition; to
4 provide for definitions; to provide for conditions for application; to provide for
5 occupational licensing requirements; to require proof of residency; to provide for
6 jurisprudential examination; to provide for board decisions on applications; to
7 provide for appeals of a board decision on applications; to provide for state law and
8 jurisdiction; to provide for exemptions; to provide for limitations; and to provide for
9 related matters.
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. Chapter 1-E of Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
12 comprised of R.S. 37:51 through 59, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 CHAPTER 1-E. WELCOME HOME ACT
14 §51. Definitions
15 The words defined in this Section have the meanings given to them for
16 purposes of this Chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
17 (1) "Board" means any state executive branch board, commission,
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1 department, or other agency that regulates the entry of persons into a particular
2 profession or occupation or that is authorized to issue or revoke occupational
3 licenses or certifications.
4 (2) "Occupational license" means a nontransferable authorization issued
5 by a state to an individual to legally practice or engage in a regulated profession
6 or occupation.
7 (3) "Other state" or "another state" means any United States territory
8 or state in the United States other than this state.
9 (4) "Scope of practice" means the procedures, actions, processes, and
10 work that a person may perform pursuant to an occupational license or
11 certification issued in this state.
12 §52. Occupational license or certification
13 A. Notwithstanding any other law, a board shall issue an occupational
14 license or certification to a person upon application, if all of the following apply:
15 (1) The applicant holds a current and valid occupational license or
16 certification in another state in a lawful occupation with a similar scope of
17 practice, as determined by the board in this state.
18 (2) The applicant has held the occupational license or certification in the
19 other state for at least one year.
20 (3) The other state required the applicant to pass an examination, or to
21 meet education, training, or experience standards.
22 (4) The other state holds the applicant in good standing.
23 (5) The applicant does not have a disqualifying criminal record as
24 determined by the board in this state under state law.
25 (6) The applicant does not have a disciplinary action or investigation
26 pending in another state. If the applicant has a disciplinary action or
27 investigation pending, the board in this state shall not issue or deny an
28 occupational license or certification to the person until the disciplinary action
29 or investigation is resolved or the person otherwise meets the criteria for an
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1 occupational license or certification in this state to the satisfaction of the board
2 in this state.
3 (7) The applicant pays all applicable fees in this state.
4 (8) The applicant lives in this state and provides proof of residency as
5 outlined in R.S. 37:53.
6 B. If another state issued the applicant a certification, but this state
7 requires an occupational license to work, the board in this state shall issue an
8 occupational license to the applicant if the applicant otherwise satisfies
9 Subsection A of this Section.
10 C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
11 Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and the Louisiana Board of
12 Veterinary Medicine shall issue a conditional license or certification, pending
13 normal licensure, to an applicant who otherwise satisfies Subsection A of this
14 Section.
15 D. In addition to the requirements of Subsection A of this Section, the
16 Louisiana State Board of Dentistry may require that an applicant for dental
17 licensure has successfully completed an initial clinical licensure examination in
18 a jurisdiction that included a hand skills assessment.
19 E. A license issued under this Chapter may contain the following
20 statement: "Licensed by Endorsement, R.S. 37:51 et seq."
21 §53. Residency
22 For purposes of this Chapter, residency may be established by producing
23 proof of one of the following:
24 (1) A current state-issued identification card.
25 (2) A state-issued voter registration card.
26 (3) Documentation of current in-state employment or notarized letter of
27 promise of employment of the applicant or his spouse. If an applicant uses this
28 method to obtain licensure, a board shall require another form of proof of
29 residency listed in this Section, six months after licensure is granted.
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1 (4) A current homestead exemption for this state.
2 §54. Examination
3 A. A board may require an applicant to pass a jurisprudential
4 examination specific to relevant state laws that regulate the occupation if an
5 occupational license or certification in this state requires an applicant to pass
6 a jurisprudential examination specific to relevant state statutes and
7 administrative rules that regulate the occupation or certification.
8 B. If the Horticulture Commission of Louisiana administers an
9 examination as part of the licensure process, it may require applicants to take
10 and pass all or part of the examination as may be necessary to demonstrate
11 competence regarding Louisiana specific flora or Louisiana specific
12 environmental issues.
13 §55. Decision
14 A board shall provide an applicant with a written decision regarding his
15 application within sixty days after receiving a completed application.
16 §56. Appeal
17 A. An applicant may appeal a board's decision to a court of general
18 jurisdiction.
19 B. An applicant may appeal any of the following:
20 (1) The board's denial of an occupational license or certification.
21 (2) The board's determination of the occupation or certification.
22 (3) The board's determination of the similarity of the scope of practice
23 of the occupational license or certification issued.
24 §57. State laws and jurisdiction
25 A person who obtains an occupational license or certification pursuant
26 to this Chapter is subject to the laws regulating the occupation in this state and
27 the jurisdiction of the board in this state.
28 §58. Exceptions
29 A. This Chapter does not apply to an occupation regulated by the state
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1 supreme court.
2 B. This Chapter shall not apply to peace officers, as defined in R.S.
3 40:2402.
4 §59. Limitations
5 A. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prohibit a person from
6 applying for an occupational license or certification under another statute or
7 rule in state law.
8 B. An occupational license or certification issued pursuant to this
9 Chapter is valid only in this state. It does not make the person eligible to work
10 in another state under an interstate compact or reciprocity agreement unless
11 otherwise provided by law.
12 C. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent the state from
13 entering into a licensing compact, professional national mobility agreement, or
14 reciprocity agreement with another state, foreign province, foreign country,
15 international organization, or other entity. A person may apply for licensure
16 under this Chapter or may apply for licensure pursuant to the terms of the
17 applicable licensing compact, professional national mobility agreement, or
18 reciprocity agreement.
19 D. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent the state from
20 recognizing occupational credentials issued by a private certification
21 organization, foreign province, foreign country, international organization, or
22 other entity.
23 E. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to require a private
24 certification organization to grant or deny private certification to any
25 individual.
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Xavier I. Alexander.
DIGEST
SB 60 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Pressly
Proposed law provides definitions for "board', "occupational license", "other state" or
"another state", and "scope of practice".
Proposed law provides that notwithstanding any other law, a board shall issue an
occupational license or certification to a person upon application, if all the following apply:
(1)The applicant holds a current and valid occupational license or certification in
another state in a lawful occupation with a similar scope of practice, as determined
by the board in this state.
(2)The applicant has held the occupational license or certification in the other state for
at least one year.
(3)The other state required the applicant to pass an examination, or to meet education,
training, or experience standards.
(4)The other state holds the applicant in good standing.
(5)The applicant does not have a disqualifying criminal record as determined by the
board in this state under state law.
(6)The applicant does not have a disciplinary action or investigation pending in another
state. If the applicant has a disciplinary action or investigation pending, the board in
this state shall not issue or deny an occupational license or certification to the person
until the disciplinary action or investigation is resolved or the person otherwise
meets the criteria for an occupational license or certification in this state to the
satisfaction of the board in this state.
(7)The applicant pays all applicable fees in this state.
(8)The applicant lives in this state and provides proof of residency.
Proposed law provides that if another state issued the applicant a certification, but this state
requires an occupational license to work, the board in this state shall issue an occupational
license to the applicant if the applicant otherwise satisfies proposed law.
Proposed law provides that notwithstanding any other provision of present law, the La. State
Board of Medical Examiners and the La. Board of Veterinary Medicine shall issue a
conditional license or certification, pending normal licensure, to an applicant who otherwise
satisfies proposed law.
Proposed law provides that the La. State Board of Dentistry may require an applicant for
dental licensure to successfully complete an initial clinical licensure examination in a
jurisdiction that includes a hand skills assessment.
Proposed law requires a license issued under proposed law to contain the statement:
"Licensed by Endorsement, R.S. 37:51 et seq."
Proposed law provides for the methods for which an applicant can prove residency in this
state.
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Proposed law provides that a board may require an applicant to pass a jurisprudential
examination specific to relevant state laws that regulate the occupation.
Proposed law provides that the Horticulture Commission may require applicants to pass all
or part of an examination as may be necessary to demonstrate competence regarding
Louisiana specific flora and environmental issues.
Proposed law provides that a board shall provide an applicant with a written decision
regarding his application within 60 days after receiving a completed application.
Proposed law provides that an applicant may appeal a board's decision to a court of general
jurisdiction. An applicant may appeal any of the following:
(1)The board's denial of an occupational license or certification.
(2)The board's determination of the occupation or certification.
(3)The board's determination of the similarity of the scope of practice of the
occupational license or certification issued.
Proposed law provides that a person who obtains an occupational license or certification
pursuant to proposed law is subject to the laws regulating the occupation in this state and the
jurisdiction of the board in this state.
Proposed law does not apply to an occupation regulated by the state supreme court and peace
officers.
Proposed law provides that nothing in proposed law shall be construed to prohibit a person
from applying for an occupational license or certification under another statute or rule in
state law.
Proposed law provides that an occupational license or certification issued pursuant proposed
law is valid only in this state. It does not make the person eligible to work in another state
under an interstate compact or reciprocity agreement unless otherwise provided in law.
Proposed law provides that nothing in proposed law shall be construed to prevent this state
from entering into a licensing compact, professional national mobility agreement, or
reciprocity agreement with another state, foreign province, foreign country, international
organization, or other entity. Further provides that a person may apply for licensure under
present law or may apply for licensure pursuant to the terms of the applicable licensing
compact, professional national mobility agreement, or reciprocity agreement.
Proposed law provides that nothing in proposed law shall be construed to prevent this state
from recognizing occupational credentials issued by a private certification organization,
foreign province, foreign country, international organization, or other entity.
Proposed law provides that nothing in proposed law shall be construed to require a private
certification organization to grant or deny private certification to any individual.
Effective August 1, 2024.
(Adds R.S. 37:51-59)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer
Protection, and International Affairs to the original bill
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1. Changes the title of the Chapter to the Welcome Home Act.
2. Removes the following terms and definitions "lawful occupation", "military",
"person" and "professional or occupations licensing".
3. Defines the term "board".
4. Requires an applicant to prove residency in this state and provides for
proofing residency.
5. Provides for universal recognition of occupational certifications.
6. Removes the work experience requirement to obtain an occupational license.
7. Removes preemption provision in proposed law of local laws regulating
occupational licenses.
8. Change the period for an applicant to receive a written decision regarding the
application from 45 to 60 days.
9. Changes the effective date from governor's signature to August 1, 2024.
10.Makes technical changes.
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Requires the La. State Board of Medical Examiners and the La. Board of
Veterinary Medicine shall issue a conditional license or certification, pending
normal licensure, to an applicant who otherwise satisfies proposed law.
2. Provides that the La. State Board of Dentistry may require an applicant for
dental licensure to successfully complete an initial clinical licensure
examination in a jurisdiction that includes a hand skills assessment.
3. Requires a occupational license issued under this Chapter to contain the
statement: "Licensed by Endorsement, R.S. 37:51 et seq."
4. Provides that the Horticulture Commission may require applicants to pass all
or part of an examination as may be necessary to demonstrate competence
regarding Louisiana specific flora and environmental issues.
5. Provides relative to licensure pursuant to licensing compact, professional
national mobility agreements, or reciprocity agreements.
6. Make technical changes.
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