Post-military jobs bill heads to House

Many military veterans struggle to find work after retirement and their spouses sometimes have a hard time finding a job after a base transfer, but legislation that was approved unanimously Wednesday in the Senate could make their search much easier. Senate Bill 1863, by retired Army Lt. Colonel Sen. Steve Russell, creates the Post-Military Service Occupation, Education and Credentialing Act.

“Many military men and women have applicable military education, training, and experience which could qualify for an occupational license or certification, or which could provide academic credit toward college, university or technical degree requirements, but most employers won’t acknowledge this type of alternative education or training,” said Russell, R-Oklahoma City. “This bill is an effort to help military personnel be able to qualify for more jobs if they have the equivalent training or education required for those positions. It’s the least we can do for their service.”

SB 1863 would authorize Oklahoma institutions of higher education and the career and technology centers to utilize the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, published by the American Council on Education (ACE) to help retired military personnel. The guide would be used to

compare and apply academic credit for education, training and experience received through military duty or service, which is applicable to the area of study of an honorably discharged military service member within three years of leaving military service.

The measure would also authorize every administrative body, state agency director or official with authority over any occupational or professional license or certification as well as all examining and licensing boards to accept any equivalent education, training, and experience of an honorably discharged military service member for qualification for certification or licensure.

Finally, the bill would help the spouses of military personnel by allowing health-related agencies, boards or commissions to expedite endorsement of licenses, certifications or permits for those individuals. For a spouse to qualify, the military service member would have to be on active duty in Oklahoma or have claimed permanent residency in the state for the six months prior to assignment to active duty or while on active duty. The spouse would have to be certified or licensed in another state to perform professional services.

The bill was requested by the U.S. Department of Defense’s state liaison.

SB 1863 will next be heard in the House.