What's happening
This bill streamlines and expands recognition of military training for veterans and their spouses to receive academic credit, professional licenses, and certifications in New York.
Why it matters
Makes it faster and easier for veterans and their spouses to get academic or professional credentials recognized in New York. , which can help them transition to civilian life, find jobs, and contribute to the economy more quickly after military service.
Mandates that military training and experience be counted as equivalent for a range of civilian professions. including mechanics, electricians, plumbers, EMTs, and others—potentially reducing unnecessary retraining or barriers to entry in critical fields.
Requires state agencies to regularly publish and update lists of military training programs that meet civilian standards. , improving transparency and ensuring veterans have up-to-date information on how their service translates to academic credit or licensure.
Ensures applications for professional licenses or academic credits by veterans and their spouses are processed expeditiously (within 30 days),. reducing bureaucratic delays that can impact employment and educational opportunities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Give Veterans Credit for Service
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 55
History
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
College Credit for Military Training
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Michael DenDekker
Full text
6 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1253
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 6, 2017
Introduced by Sens. FUNKE, AVELLA, LARKIN, MARCHIONE, RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to course credit for veterans, articulation between military and civilian professional careers and application for admission to practice of a profession by a veteran or a veteran's spouse; to amend the general… Show allHide
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to course credit for veterans, articulation between military and civilian professional careers and application for admission to practice of a profession by a veteran or a veteran's spouse; to amend the general business law, in relation to licensing, certification and registration for veterans and veteran's spouses; to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing motor vehicle inspector certification and mechanic qualifications; to amend the public health law, in relation to certification of first responder or emergency medical technicians; to amend the county law, in relation to licensure of master electricians; and to amend the general city law, in relation to plumber certification
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 669-h to read as follows:
§ 669-h. Course credit for veterans. 1. For purposes of this section, the term "veteran" means a person, male or female, resident of this state, who has served in the active military or naval service of the United States during a war in which the United States was engaged and who has been released from such service by any means of an honorable or general discharge, or who has been furloughed to the reserve.
2. Every veteran who is enrolled on a full-time basis as an undergraduate student in good standing, at an institution within the state university system, shall upon application and approval of the chancellor, or his or her designee, be granted up to six academic credits per semester towards his or her degree for completion of courses that were part of such veteran's military training or service. In determining the approval of such veteran's application, the chancellor, or his or her
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04158-01-7
S. 1253 2
designee, shall consider the standards of the American council on education. No fee, tuition or other charge shall be assessed against a veteran who qualifies for such credit pursuant to this section.
3. The chancellor of the state university of New York may promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to fully implement the provisions of this section.
§ 2. Section 6505-c of the education law, as added by chapter 106 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
§ 6505-c. Articulation between military and civilian professional careers. 1. The commissioner shall develop, jointly with the director of the division of veterans' affairs, a program to facilitate articulation between participation in the military service of the United States or the military service of the state and admission to practice of a profession. The commissioner and the director shall identify, review and evaluate professional training programs offered through either the military service of the United States or the military service of the state which may, where applicable, be accepted by the department as equivalent education and training in lieu of all or part of an approved program. Particular emphasis shall be placed on the identification of military programs which have previously been deemed acceptable by the department as equivalent education and training, programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training for those professions which are critical to public health and safety and programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training for those professions for which shortages exist in the state of New York, and programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training for those professions which would promote the economic development, job creation or technological advancement of business in the state of New York.
2. The commissioner and the director shall prepare a list of those military programs which have previously been deemed acceptable by the department as equivalent education and training in lieu of all or part of an approved program no later than the thirtieth of August, two thousand three. On and after such date, such list shall be made available to the public and applicants for admission to practice of a profession.
3. The commissioner and the director shall prepare a list of those military programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training for those professions which are critical to public health and safety, programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training for those professions for which shortages exist in the state of New York, programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training for those professions which would promote the economic development, job creation or technological advancement of business in the state of New York and any other military programs which may, where applicable, be accepted by the department as equivalent education and training in lieu of all or part of an approved program no later than the thirty-first of October, two thousand three. On and after such date, such list shall be made available to the public and applicants for admission to practice of a profession.
4. Such lists shall be prepared annually no later than the thirtieth of June thereafter with additions and deletions made jointly by the commissioner and the director and made available to the public and applicants for admission to practice of a profession on such date.
5. In their determination pursuant to this section of which military programs provide equivalent education and training, so as to be accepted by the department as equivalent education and training in lieu of all or
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part of an approved program, the commissioner and the director shall consider the standards of the American council on education.
§ 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6505-d to read as follows:
§ 6505-d. Application for admission to the practice of a profession by a veteran or a spouse of a veteran. The commissioner shall provide for an expedited application for admission to the practice of a profession by a veteran or a spouse of a veteran. Such application shall be determined by the commissioner within thirty days of the filing of the application with the commissioner by the veteran or spouse of a veteran. In making the determination for the veteran, the commissioner shall, in addition to the education and training of the veteran, also consider the equivalent education and training of the veteran, in accordance with section sixty-five hundred five-c of this subarticle. In making the determination for the veteran's spouse, the commissioner shall consider the education and training of the veteran's spouse, together with any equivalent education, training, past admission or past practice of such spouse of such profession in another jurisdiction, together with the standards of the American council on education. If the commissioner determines that the education and training of the veteran or the veteran's spouse, and/or their past admission or past practice in another jurisdiction, is essentially equivalent to the requirements necessary for admission to practice the profession in New York state, then the commissioner shall grant such veteran or veteran's spouse admission to practice the profession in New York state.
§ 4. The general business law is amended by adding a new article 2-A to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2-A
LICENSING, CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION FOR VETERANS AND VETERAN
SPOUSES Section 20-a. Articulation between military and civilian professional
careers.
20-b. Application for licensing, certification or registration
to practice a profession by a veteran or a spouse of a
veteran.
§ 20-a. Articulation between military and civilian professional careers. 1. The secretary of state shall develop, jointly with the director of the division of veterans' affairs, a program to facilitate articulation between participation in the armed forces of the United States or the military service of the state and the licensing, certification and registration for veterans to practice any profession licensed, certified or registered pursuant to this chapter. The secretary and the director shall identify, review and evaluate professional training programs offered through either the armed forces of the United States or the military service of the state which may, where applicable, be accepted by the department as equivalent education and training in lieu of all or part of an approved program. Particular emphasis shall be placed on the identification of military programs which have previously been deemed acceptable by the department as equivalent education and training, programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training for those professions which are critical to public health and safety and programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training for those professions for which shortages exist in the state and programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training for those professions
S. 1253 4
which would promote the economic development, job creation or technological advancement of business in the state.
2. The secretary and the director shall prepare a list of those military programs which have previously been deemed acceptable by the department as equivalent education and training in lieu of all or part of an approved program no later than January first, two thousand seventeen. On and after such date, such list shall be made available to the public and applicants for admission to practice of a profession.
3. The secretary and the director shall prepare a list of those military programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training for those professions which are critical to public health and safety, programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training for those professions for which shortages exist in the state, programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training for those professions which would promote the economic development, job creation or technological advancement of business in the state and any other military programs which may, where applicable, be accepted by the department as equivalent education and training in lieu of all or part of an approved program no later than the thirty-first of October, two thousand eighteen. On and after such date, such list shall be made available to the public and applicants for the licensing, certification and registration to the practice of a profession.
4. Such lists shall be prepared annually no later than the thirtieth of June thereafter with additions and deletions made jointly by the secretary and the director and made available to the public and applicants for the licensing, certification and registration to the practice of a profession on such date.
5. In their determination pursuant to this section of which military programs provide equivalent education and training, so as to be accepted by the department as equivalent education and training in lieu of all or part of an approved program, the secretary and the director shall consider the standards of the American council on education.
§ 20-b. Application for licensing, certification or registration to practice a profession by a veteran or a spouse of a veteran. The secretary of state shall provide for an expedited application for licensing, certification or registration to the practice of a profession by a veteran or a spouse of a veteran. Such application shall be determined by the secretary within thirty days of the filing of the application with the secretary by the veteran or spouse of a veteran. In making the determination for the veteran, the secretary shall, in addition to the education and training of the veteran, also consider the equivalent education and training of the veteran, in accordance with section twenty-a of this article. In making the determination for the veteran's spouse, the secretary shall consider the education and training of the veteran's spouse, together with any equivalent education, training, past licensing, certification or registration or past practice of such spouse of such profession in another jurisdiction, together with the standards of the American council on education. If the secretary determines that the education and training of the veteran or the veteran's spouse, and/or their past licensing, certification or registration or past practice in another jurisdiction, is essentially equivalent to the requirements necessary for licensing, certification or registration to practice the profession in the state, then the secretary shall grant such veteran or veteran's spouse licensing, certification or registration to practice such profession.
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§ 5. Subdivision (c) of section 304-a of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 61 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:
(c) The commissioner may, by regulation, establish standards of competency and fitness for certification as an inspector; provided, however, that any person who was a member of the armed forces of the United States, national guard or reserves and who by military training and practice acquired the skills of a motor vehicle inspector shall be certified by the commissioner as an inspector.
§ 6. Section 398-d of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
8. Any person who was a member of the armed forces of the United States, national guard or reserves, and who by military training and practice acquires the skills of a motor vehicle mechanic, shall be deemed to be qualified to perform work upon motor vehicles at motor vehicle repair shops.
§ 7. Subdivision 2 of section 3002 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 580 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to course credit for veterans, articulation between military and civilian professional careers and application for admission to practice of a profession by a veteran or a veteran's spouse; to amend the general business law, in relation to licensing, certification and registration for veterans and veteran's spouses; to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing motor vehicle inspector certification and mechanic qualifications; to amend the public health law, in relation to certification of first responder or emergency medical technicians; to amend the county law, in relation to licensure of master electricians; and to amend the general city law, in relation to plumber certification
Purpose
To require colleges, vocational institutions and other approved programs to provide credits or exemptions for comparable military training, and to provide for articulations by the commissioner of education, the director of veterans affairs and the secretary of state to allow former military personal and their spouses to be admitted to practice professions and receive equivalent licensing, certification and registrations.
Summary of provisions
Section One - states this bill would add a new section 669-h to the education law to provide that every veteran who is enrolled on a fulltime basis as an undergraduate student in good standing, at an institution within the state university system, shall upon application and approval of the chancellor, or his or her designee, be granted up to six academic credits per semester towards his or her degree for completion of courses that were part of such veteran's military training or service. In determining the approval of such veteran's application, the chancellor, or his or her designee, shall consider the standards of the American council on education. No fee, tuition or other charge shall be assessed against a veteran who qualifies for such credit pursuant to this section.
Read the full memo (1,026 words)
Section Two - amends section 6505-c of the education law to expand the currently required articulation between military and civilian professional careers to include programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training for those professions which would promote the economic development, job creation or technological advancement of business in the state of New York. This bill further provides that the commissioner and the director shall consider the standards of the American council on education when determining which military programs provide equivalent education and training.
Section Three - states this bill would add a new section 6505-d to the education law, to expand the articulation performed for veterans under section 6505-c to include practice of a profession by the spouse of a veteran.
Section Four - states this bill would add a new Article 2-A to the general business law to provide the same articulation performed for veterans and veteran's spouses under section 6505-c and 6505-d of the education law, to be performed by the secretary of state with respect to licensing, certification and registration under the general business law.
Section Five - amends section 304-a of the vehicle and traffic law, to provide that the commissioner of motor vehicles may, by regulation, establish standards of competency and fitness for certification as an inspector; provided, however, that any person who was a member of the armed forces of the United States, national guard and or reserves and who by military training and practice acquired the skills of a motor vehicle inspector shall be certified by the commissioner as an inspector.
Section Six - amends section 398-d of the vehicle and traffic law, to provide that every person who was a member of the armed forces of the United States, national guard or reserves and who by military training and practice acquires the skills of a motor vehicle mechanic shall be deemed to be qualified to perform work upon motor vehicles at motor vehicle repair shops.
Section Seven - amends section 3002 of the public health law, to provide that any person who was a member of the armed forces of the United States, national guard or reserves and who by military training and practice was a medic or corpsman shall be certified, without examination, by the state council and regional councils as a first responder or emergency medical technician.
Section Eight - amends section 236-a of the county law, to provide that the counties of Dutchess, Suffolk, and Westchester shall provide for the licensing, without examination, as a master electrician of any person who was a member of the armed forces of the United States, national guard or reserves and who by military training and practice acquired the skills of an electrician.
Section Nine - amends the general city law, to provide that any person who was a member of the armed forces of the United States, national guard or reserves and who by military training and practice acquired the skills of a plumber shall be certified as competent without examination.
Justification
Recently discharged military service members are frequently delayed in obtaining post-service employment, even though they have applicable military education, training and experience which can qualify them for licenses and/or provide academic credit toward degree requirements. The Department of Defense of Military Services provides each Service member a transcript of their experience and training; however, these transcripts are not always adequate for civilian institutions to utilize for possible academic credit and by licensing boards to utilize for licensure requirements. This bill would allow Service members to obtain credit toward occupational licenses based on their military education, training and experience.
Legislative history
S.2946-B; referred to Finance. S.4914-C/A.7488-C of 2013-2015; referred to Finance.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law, provided, however, that section one of this act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, that, effective immediately, any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be amended, added and/or repealed on or before such date.
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