AUGUSTA — A measure to help veterans use their military training to snag civilian jobs that require licenses sailed through the Legislature and was signed into law recently by Gov. Paul LePage.

Rep. Jared Golden, D-Lewiston, proposed allowing the director of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation “to modify licensing requirements of professional licensing boards on a case-by-case basis for veterans” so they could move into jobs more easily.

Both the House and Senate approved the bill unanimously before LePage gave it his blessing.

“When veterans leave the service, they often have to go through entire civilian educational programs for fields they were trained in during their military service,” Golden said in a prepared statement.

Golden, a Marine veteran, said the current system “results in wasted time and expense going over things they already know and have experience with.”

Once the bill takes effect in 90 days, though, authorities will have the power to clear licensing obstacles for veterans if they think it won’t pose a problem for the public.

It removes barriers veterans “shouldn’t have to face,” Golden said.

State Rep. Jared Golden, D-Lewiston Copy the Story Link