FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Matt Smith D-Allegheny www.pahouse.com/MSmith

Smith bill provides professional license portability for military spouses   

HARRISBURG, July 24 – State Rep. Matt Smith, D-Allegheny, has introduced legislation aimed at easing the transfer of professional licenses for military spouses.

Smith’s bill, House Bill 2558 also known as the Military Spouse License Portability Act, will allow military spouses to move more rapidly and efficiently into the workforce by providing a streamlined process in obtaining the transfer of their professional licenses into the Commonwealth.

"The lives of military families are dominated by frequent deployments, relocations and extended periods of single parenthood," Smith explained. "We owe it to these families, who already sacrifice so much, to provide an easier method for obtaining a professional license while upholding Pennsylvania’s professional standards."

Acquiring the transfer of a professional license can prove time consuming and costly, causing delays in employment and preventing the utilization of valuable skills in the workplace. Often transferal of professional licenses becomes cumbersome to the point where military spouses abandon their careers.

"Accountants, nurses, social workers, and real estate agents are just a few of the professionals who would benefit from being able to more quickly transition and obtain a job in a new state," Smith added.

Spouses of military service members currently experience the inability to practice their professions due to the non-transference of their professional license, causing an inability to find employment, or at best a lengthy delay in finding a job while waiting for their professional license to be transferred.

Since February of this year, a dozen states have enacted laws on this topic, bringing the total number to twenty-three.

"It is important that we join the growing number of states working to reduce any barriers to employment for military spouses," Smith said. "I'm encouraged by the bipartisan interest and support this bill has received thus far."

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