Section 17-4-102 - Legislative findings and intent(a) The General Assembly finds that:(1) Arkansas sets the bar as a national leader in addressing employment barriers faced by uniformed service members, uniformed service veterans, and their spouses in attaining occupational licensure;(2) Arkansas is one (1) of only four (4) states to successfully address eight (8) or more of the ten (10) issues affecting uniformed service families identified by the United States Department of Defense;(3) Of the United States Department of Defense's ten (10) issues in fiscal year 2020, four (4) of the issues concern occupational licensure of spouses of uniformed service members;(4) Annually, fourteen and five-tenths percent (14.5%) of spouses of uniformed service members move across state lines as opposed to one and one-tenth percent (1.1%) of civilians;(5) States can continue to improve the attainment of occupational licensure and to eliminate barriers impeding employment of spouses of uniformed service members following a move across state lines;(6) Acts 2019, No. 820, established provisions for the granting of automatic occupational licensure or expedited occupational licensure to active-duty service members, recently separated veterans, and their spouses who hold occupational licensure in good standing in another jurisdiction; and(7) Additional steps need to be taken to clarify, simplify, and elevate the occupational licensure process for uniformed service members, uniformed service veterans, and their spouses.(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to address occupational licensure barriers that impede the launch and sustainability of civilian occupational careers and employment faced by uniformed service members, uniformed service veterans, and their spouses due to frequent uniformed service assignment by: (1) Providing: (A) Automatic occupational licensure or expedited occupational licensure to current license holders to expedite their entry into the workforce of this state;(B) Temporary or provisional licensure to initial licensure candidates while expediting full licensure;(C) Legislative oversight of rulemaking by occupational licensing entities to ensure removal of occupational licensure barriers faced by uniformed service members, uniformed service veterans, and their spouses; and(D) Guidance to assure effective rulemaking and clear license application instructions to uniformed service members, uniformed service veterans, and their spouses;(2) Recognizing uniformed service education, training, experience, and credentials of uniformed service members and uniformed service veterans applying for initial occupational licensure; and(3) Extending licensure expiration and any continuing education required for occupational licensure renewal when a uniformed service member is deployed.Added by Act 2021, No. 135,§ 2, eff. 2/23/2021.