A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT providing that the Program Evaluation Division shall study ways in which to improve the ability of military‑trained applicants and military spouses to become licensed by occupational licensing boards in the State.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  The Program Evaluation Division, in consultation with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, shall study the extent to which the provisions of G.S. 93B‑15.1 has improved the ability of military‑trained applicants and military spouses to become licensed by occupational licensing boards in the State. All occupational licensing boards, as that term is defined in G.S. 93B‑1 shall cooperate with the Program Evaluation Division in conducting this study, including providing data on its compliance with the provisions of G.S. 93B‑15.1. In conducting the study, the Program Evaluation Division shall consider, among other things, the following:
(1)	Whether the criteria in G.S. 93B‑15.1 should be expanded to allow for the licensure of more military‑trained applicants and military spouses.
(2)	The effectiveness of publishing information on the criteria for licensure of military spouses as required by G.S. 93B‑15.1, and whether there are additional platforms on which this information should be published to ensure broader dissemination to military spouses.
(3)	The feasibility and effectiveness of including a question about military status, including status as a military spouse, on applications for licensure.
(4)	Determining what steps can be taken to provide or enhance continuing education programs to assist military spouses in maintaining an active occupational license, even if issued by another state.
(5)	Providing training for at least one employee in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs on the licensure process outlined in G.S. 93B‑15 for military‑trained applicants and military spouses, and considering ways in which to disseminate information about this employee's availability to applicants.
(6)	Whether to develop a process for annually gathering data from all occupational licensing boards on the number of military‑trained applicants and military spouses who (i) were licensed pursuant to G.S. 93B‑15.1 or under the existing licensure, certification, or registration requirements established by occupational licensing boards and (ii) were denied licensure. The data shall include a summary of the reasons military‑trained applicants and military spouses were denied licensure, but shall not disclose any identifying information about any applicant.
SECTION 1.(b)  By February 1, 2020, the Program Evaluation Division shall report the findings of its study, and any recommendations for proposed legislation, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on General Government and to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.