Section 43-14-16. Limited reciprocal licensing of military spouses

   (a) As used in this Code section, the term "military" means the armed forces of the United States or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the National Guard.

(b) The spouse of any member of the military who resides in this state due to the assignment of the military spouse and who holds a license or certification from another state the training, experience, and testing for which substantially meet or exceed the Georgia requirements to obtain a license or certification as an Electrical Contractor Class I, Journeyman Plumber, Conditioned Air Contractor Class I, or Utility Foreman shall be entitled to apply to the licensing board for the immediate issuance of such a license or certification. In order to qualify under this subsection, an applicant shall make application not later than 180 days after his or her relocation to the State of Georgia. Such application shall be in such form and shall require such documentation as the division director shall determine. A committee composed of the division director, members of the Governor's Office of Workforce Development, and members of the relevant divisions of the licensing board representing the profession for which the applicant is seeking a license, with a chairperson appointed by the Governor from among the membership of the committee, shall determine whether the training, experience, and testing for obtaining a license in the relevant foreign state substantially meet or exceed the requirements to obtain the professional licenses provided in this state. If the applicant satisfies the requirements of this Code section, the division director shall direct the appropriate division to issue the appropriate license, and the division shall immediately issue such license; provided, however, that the applicant shall satisfy all financial and insurance requirements for the issuance of such license. This Code section shall only apply to the initial issuance of a license. After the initial issuance of a license, the licensee shall be subject to any provisions relating to the renewal of the license applicable to all licensees.

Code 1981, § 43-14-16, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 26, § 1/HB 188.