Delaware legislation designed for military spouses

While looking for a job may be challenging for traveling military families, those who make their way to the Delaware workforce could have an easier transition, thanks to new legislation.

On Monday, Gov. Jack Markell, D-Del, signed legislation to help military spouses secure employment faster. House Bill 238 is expected to do the job by allowing a military spouse to apply for a six-month provisional license or permit while the application for endorsement is being processed.  The main requirement is that the spouse must have an active license in good standing on U.S. territory. 

According to Rep. Darryl Scott, D-Dover, he’s all too familiar with the transition military families at Dover Air Force Base are faced with, and said he’s seen firsthand what it’s like for them who have to transfer into a new community.

“That can be especially hard for military spouses, many of whom are professionals in their own right. They want, and in many cases need, to get licensed to apply for jobs and bring in a second paycheck and continue their careers,” said Rep. Scott who introduced the bill. “This bill will allow those spouses to obtain a provisional license while they are waiting for the permanent license to be processed, which sometimes can take months.”

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House Bill 238 will also make it easier for military spouses who are looking to reinstate their professional license within two years of a license lapsing.

“We should be doing all we can to support our military families who sacrifice to protect our freedom, including removing regulatory red tape that may be in their family’s way,” added Gov. Markell. “Our troops drop everything when called to serve. The bill ensures their spouses can pick back up their own licensed careers and professions without months of delay.”

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