<section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="2.5-101" title_number="2.5" title_name="Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses -- Licensing" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>“Eligible spouse” means the spouse of an active service member or an eligible veteran.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Eligible spouse” includes the surviving spouse of:</text> <level label="i"> <text>an eligible veteran; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>an active service member who died before the date on which the application for a license is submitted.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Eligible veteran” means a veteran who was discharged from active duty before the date on which the application for a license is submitted.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>“License” means any grant of authority to an individual to practice an occupation or profession.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“License” includes a certificate, permit, or registration.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>“Unit” means a unit in the Department that is authorized to issue a license.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="2.5-102" title_number="2.5" title_name="Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses -- Licensing" subtitle_number="1"> <text>This title does not apply to licenses issued under Title 11, Subtitle 5 or Subtitle 6 of the Financial Institutions Article.</text> </section> <section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="2.5-103" title_number="2.5" title_name="Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses -- Licensing" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>This section applies only to a unit that establishes a process under subsection (b) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Each unit may establish a process to include a notation indicating veteran status on a license or public profile.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>An application for an initial license or renewal license issued by a unit shall allow the applicant to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>request that a notation of the applicant’s veteran status be included on the license or public profile; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>provide affirmative consent to being contacted by appropriate Executive Branch agencies regarding the applicant’s eligibility for State or federal veterans’ benefits.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>An applicant for an initial license or a renewal license shall submit to the unit one of the following as certification of veteran status:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a certification of veteran status obtained from the Department of Veterans and Military Families in accordance with § 9–905 of the State Government Article;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a federal Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214); or</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>any other documentation acceptable to the unit.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>If an applicant for an initial license or a renewal license submits the documentation required under subsection (c)(2) of this section, the unit shall include a notation of veteran status on the license or public profile.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>In accordance with §§ 4–304 through 4–325 of the General Provisions Article and any other applicable law, and on request by an Executive Branch agency, a unit shall electronically transmit to the Executive Branch agency appropriate information about each applicant for an initial license or a renewal license who consents to being contacted under subsection (c)(1) of this section.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="2.5-104" title_number="2.5" title_name="Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses -- Licensing" subtitle_number="1"> <text>A unit may allow an individual licensee who is an active service member deployed outside the State to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>renew the license after the expiration of the renewal period without payment of a penalty or reinstatement fee if the late renewal is a direct result of the deployment; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>complete any continuing education or continuing competency requirements for renewal within a reasonable time after renewing the license.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="2.5-105" title_number="2.5" title_name="Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses -- Licensing" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In calculating an individual’s years of practice in an occupation or a profession, each unit shall give credit to the individual for all relevant experience as an active service member.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Each unit shall credit any training and education provided by the uniformed services and completed by an active service member toward any training or education requirements for licensure if the training or education is determined by the unit to be:</text> <level label="1"> <text>substantially equivalent to the training or education required by the unit; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>not otherwise contrary to any other licensing requirement.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="2.5-106" title_number="2.5" title_name="Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses -- Licensing" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>Each unit shall issue an expedited license to an active service member, eligible veteran, or eligible spouse who meets the requirements of this section.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If an active service member, eligible veteran, or eligible spouse meets the requirements for licensure, a unit shall issue the license within 60 days after receiving a completed application.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>An application for a license shall include the following, in the form and manner required by the unit:</text> <level label="1"> <text>proof that the applicant is an active service member, eligible veteran, or eligible spouse;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>proof that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the applicant has held a valid license in good standing issued in another state for at least 1 year; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>each valid license held by the applicant issued in another state is in good standing;</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>if the applicant is an active service member or eligible veteran, proof that the applicant is assigned to a duty station in the State or has established legal residence in the State;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>if the applicant is an eligible spouse, proof that the applicant’s spouse is assigned to a duty station in the State or has established legal residence in the State;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>if a criminal background check is required by the unit for licensure, proof of application for a criminal background check;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>proof that the applicant has submitted the full application for licensure; and</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>payment of any application fee required by the unit.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>An individual authorized to practice in the State under § 10–14B–03 of the State Government Article may not be required to apply for expedited licensure under this section to practice in the State.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="2.5-107" title_number="2.5" title_name="Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses -- Licensing" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a unit may issue a temporary license to an active service member, eligible veteran, or eligible spouse who has held a valid license in good standing issued in another state for less than 1 year, provided that each valid license held by the active service member, eligible veteran, or eligible spouse is in good standing.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A temporary license issued under this section authorizes the active service member, eligible veteran, or eligible spouse, for a limited period of time, as determined by the unit, to perform services regulated by the unit while the active service member, eligible veteran, or eligible spouse completes additional requirements for licensure in this State.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A unit may not issue a license under this section if issuance of the license would pose a risk to public health, welfare, or safety.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="2.5-108" title_number="2.5" title_name="Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses -- Licensing" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>The Department shall publish prominently on its website:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the process for obtaining a license from any unit under § 2.5–106 of this title;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the time period during which a unit is required to issue an expedited license under § 2.5–106(a) of this title; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>a list of the names of each unit that issues a license under this title and a direct link to each unit’s website.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Each unit shall publish prominently on its website:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the process for obtaining a license under § 2.5–106 of this title and, if applicable, § 2.5–107 of this title; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the time period during which a unit is required to issue an expedited license under § 2.5–106(a) of this title.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="2.5-109" title_number="2.5" title_name="Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses -- Licensing" subtitle_number="1"> <text>Each unit may adopt regulations to carry out this title. </text> </section>