2022 Alaska Statutes
Title 8. Business and Professions
Chapter 01. Centralized Licensing
Sec. 08.01.063. Military courtesy licenses.

(a) Except as provided in (d) of this section, and notwithstanding another provision of law, the department or appropriate board shall issue a temporary courtesy license to an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States or the spouse of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States if the active duty member or spouse meets the requirements of this section and applies to the department or appropriate board in the manner prescribed by the department or appropriate board. An application must include evidence satisfactory to the department or appropriate board that the applicant

(1) is an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States or is married to and living with a member of the armed forces of the United States who is on active duty and assigned to a duty station in this state under official active duty military orders;

(2) holds a current license or certificate in another state, district, or territory of the United States, or that is recognized by the United States, including a branch of the armed forces of the United States, with requirements that the department or appropriate board determines are substantially equivalent to those established under this title for that occupation;

(3) if required by the department or appropriate board for obtaining a license in the applicant's profession, has been fingerprinted and has provided the fees required by the Department of Public Safety under AS 12.62.160 for criminal justice information and a national criminal history record check; the fingerprints and fees shall be forwarded to the Department of Public Safety to obtain a report of criminal justice information under AS 12.62 and a national criminal history record check under AS 12.62.400;

(4) has not committed an act in any jurisdiction that would have constituted grounds for the refusal, suspension, or revocation of a license or certificate to practice that occupation under this title at the time the act was committed;

(5) has not been disciplined by a licensing or credentialing entity in another jurisdiction and is not the subject of an unresolved complaint, review procedure, or disciplinary proceeding conducted by a licensing or credentialing entity in another jurisdiction; and

(6) pays any fees required under this title.

(b) The department or appropriate board shall issue a temporary license under this section to a person who meets the requirements under (a) of this section within 30 days after the department or appropriate board receives the person's completed application for the temporary license.

(c) A temporary courtesy license issued under this section is valid for 180 days and may be extended at the discretion of the department or appropriate board for one additional 180-day period, on application of the holder of the temporary courtesy license.

(d) This section does not apply to the practice of law or the regulation of attorneys under AS 08.08.

(e) The department shall prepare an annual report that describes, for the previous fiscal year, information on temporary courtesy licenses issued under this section, including

(1) expedited application procedures;

(2) progress made toward implementing regulations for the licenses, changes to regulations made to accommodate the needs of military spouses, and any plans for future regulations;

(3) the number and type of the licenses that have been issued; and

(4) the department's efforts to inform each board authorized to issue a temporary courtesy license under this section and the military community in the state about the licenses.

(f) The department shall submit the report prepared under (e) of this section to the Joint Armed Services Committee on or before the first day of March each year. In addition, the department shall consolidate the two most recent reports and submit a biennial report to the legislature on or before the first day of March during the first regular session of each legislature. The department shall deliver a copy of the biennial report to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives and notify the legislature that the report is available.

(g) The department shall annually produce and distribute to each board authorized to issue a temporary courtesy license under this section informational materials for the purpose of improving the board's knowledge of the licenses, the application process, and best practices in providing applicant support. The department shall encourage the boards to designate a single employee to serve as the point of contact for public information and inquiries related to temporary courtesy licenses for military spouses.