House OKs bill to help soldiers & spouses with licensing

The Utah House adopted a bill Thursday that would allow military members and their spouses greater credit and flexibility when applying for state licensing.

It passed HB384 on a 73-0 vote and sent to the Senate.

The measure would provide an exception to state licensing requirements in some professions for military spouses who hold a license in another state.

The bill also would allow the Utah Department of Health to take military education, training and experience into consideration when certifying emergency medical technicians and would add military education and training programs to programs the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing considers for licensing.

Bill sponsor Tim Cosgrove, D-Murray, said he conceived of the bill after hearing from constituents who had served as Army medics in Iraq but could not get credit for that experience when they sought licensing as EMTs in Utah.

Lee Davidson