By Kathy Kennedy
State Rep., R-119
Kathy Kennedy
This year I was proud to support HB 6449 (now Public Act 21-152)¸ An Act Expanding Economic Opportunity in Occupations Licensed by the Departments of Public Health and Consumer Protection. This new law makes it easier for professionals in a number of fields who are licensed in other states to obtain Connecticut credentials if they have residency in the state.
This is meant in particular to assist the spouses of active duty service members who are permanently stationed in Connecticut. Individuals seeking a license to practice in Connecticut must meet certain experience and background check requirements.
Providing military spouses with job opportunities in Connecticut is not only the right thing to do, but it is also good for our state and local economies. Military members call many places home during their years of service to this nation, but we hope to make their stay in Connecticut a bit more productive and enjoyable for them and their families.
The unemployment rate for military spouses has been historically higher than the national average, which underlines the urgent need for this legislation, especially in light of the ongoing pandemic. Professions that fall under this bill include physicians, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, accountants, architects, engineers, realtors, contractors and technicians.
I sit on the legislature’s Public Health Committee. At the public hearing on this bill, we heard testimony from the executive director of the Connecticut Office of Military Affairs, Robert T. Ross. He testified that according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, military spouses have an unemployment rate of 16 percent, four times the national average. Among these spouses, 67 percent report that they had to quit their jobs and 71 percent report that they had higher education qualifications than their new position requires.
The legislation would allow Connecticut to benefit from access to the talent of military spouses. Overall, “streamlining and expediting licensure for experienced and qualified professionals is an opportunity for state agencies to make positive contributions to private sector enterprises who need this talent,” Ross said.
This legislation is meant to quickly open doors for individuals in health care and in the trades, which are high-demand industries in our state. I am thrilled to see this legislation become law. This is a great example of state government working on behalf of its citizens in a positive way.
As always, please contact me should you have any questions about this important issue or concerns on any other topics relating to state government at Kathy.Kennedy@housegop.ct.gov or at 800-842-1423.