SB80 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom ButlerSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Military, spouses, occupational licensing boards, date revised by which rules must be adopted, timeframe extended for which a temporary permit to practice is effective, Sec. 31-1-6 am'd.

Summary

SB80 updates Alabama’s military spouse licensing rules to speed licensure, extend temporary permits, and bring more health licensing boards under reciprocity requirements.

What This Bill Does

It revises the deadline for boards to adopt rules implementing reciprocal licensing for military spouses (target date around January 1, 2023). It extends the duration of temporary permits to practice while applications are processed (at least 180 to 360 days). It narrows or ends certain exemptions for health-related licensing boards, bringing them under these provisions. It allows expedited license approval if the out-of-state requirements are substantially equivalent, permits reciprocity with other states, and provides a fee waiver for eligible applicants.

Who It Affects

• Military spouses relocating to Alabama who hold professional licenses from another state and may be able to work quickly under reciprocity or temporary permits.
• Alabama licensing boards, commissions, and agencies that issue professional licenses, which must adopt implementing rules, process applications faster, and grant temporary permits where appropriate.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Military Family Jobs Opportunity Act to guide reciprocal licensing for military spouses.
• Boards must adopt rules by a revised deadline to implement reciprocity and temporary licensure processes.
• Issuance of a license within 30 days if the out-of-state requirements are substantially equivalent to Alabama's.
• Temporary permit to practice for eligible individuals for 180 to 360 days while completing license requirements.
• Eligibility for military spouses includes being a spouse of an active duty, reserve, or transitioning service member relocated to Alabama, or certain federal employees relocated by order, plus good standing and no disqualifying conduct.
• Boards may establish reciprocity with other states for military spouse licensing.
• New boards created after April 6, 2018 must adopt the required rules within one year of their initial organizational meeting.
• Initial licensing fee waivers for eligible individuals, with processing within 30 days.
• Exemptions remain for certain professions and boards as listed, but some health-occupational boards are no longer automatically exempt.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Military