OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE(MrLrTARy COMMUNtTy AND FAMILy pOLtCy)

4OOO DEFENSE PENTAGONwASHINGTON, D.C. 20301 4000

DoD-State Liaison Office

The Honorable David Bobzienn ChairAssembly Commiffee on Commerce and LaborMarch 26,2A13

Testimony ofLaurie Crehan, Ed.D.

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Military Community & Family PolicyDoD-State Liaison Office

AB 349

Chairman Bobzien and Members of the Committee:

On behalf of the Department of Defense, I would like to thank you for the opportunity tosubmit testimony on AB 349, abill relating to professional and vocational licensing for veterans,Service members and military spouses. My name is Laurie Crehan. I am with the Department ofDefense State Liaison Office which operates under the direction of the Under Secretary ofDefense for Personnel and Readiness, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for MilitaryCommunity and Family Policy.

The Department of Defense has made licensure for separating Service members andmilitary spouse career portability priority issues. Veterans are sometimes delayed getting post-Service employment even though they have a license in a state other than the state in which theychose to settle. Military spouses who have licenses in good standing in one state but move toanother on military orders often have diffrculty getting licensed and finding employment in atimely fashion. We hope to level the playing field for military spouses in quickly finding workas they move from assignment to assignment accompanying their Service member spouse.

Currently, AB 349 only addresses one of these concerns - endorsement of Servicemembers and veterans who hold a license in another state and move to Nevada. We also ask fora policy that would provide endorsement and or temporary licenses for military spouses whohold licenses in another state but are stationed in Nevada. This addition would codifu theExecutive Order made by Govemor Sandoval last year.

Over 70Yo of military spouses say they want to work or need to work. Military familiesare not unlike their civilian counterparts; they depend on two incomes, and like anyone else,want to achieve their goals and aspirations. Military spouses relocate on average every 2-3 yearc.The annual percent of the military spouse population that moves across state lines is 14.5%o -compared to I.lYo for civilian spouses.

In2007, the RAND Corporation published a study; "Working Around the Military," inwhich they indicated that military spouses had more education than their civilian 'look alike'counterparts, yet on average are employed at lower rates and eam less. This result is indicative

Improving the Lives of Military Members and their Families

of a mobile lifestyle, which does not support military spouses expediting the transfer of theirprofessional licenses and often leads them into taking lower paying positions below their trainingand certifications.

The Defense State Liaison Office conducted an informal study to identify some of thebarriers hindering military spouses from attaining licenses following a military move. In a reviewof twenty states, using the top five highest demand professions according to the US Departmentof Labor, the licensing timeline was delayed up to 6 months due to the exam process, applicationprocess, or requirement for background checks. This delay in licensing means military spouseshave little time left in their assignment to find ajob and employers are less likely to hire militaryspouses because they will have less time in the position before being transferred out of State.

One of our primary objectives is retention of Service members and its impact on militaryreadiness. We know that most decisions to stay in the military are made around the kitchen tabieand not in the personnel office. To retain our trained and experienced military, we must retainthe family. The Defense Manpower Data Center reported in a survey of active duty Servicemembers that 59Yo of our military are married. Additionally, that percentage increases to 72Yofor non-commissioned officers and73o/o for officers. As you know, these two groups possess thecritical experience necessary for our professional armed forces. Sixty-eight percent of marriedService members reported their spouse's ability to maintain a career impacts their decision toremain in the military by a large or moderate extent.

To date, twenty-seven states have passed legislation to endorse licenses or providetemporary licenses for military spouses with fifteen more states introducing legislation thissession.

Military spouse employment is a key component of the White House Joining Forcesinitiative. We request that this Committee give carefi.rl consideration to making the neededamendments to the language in AB 349 inorder to guarantee our spouses stationed in Nevada areable to get licensed and find work during the limited time they are in Nevada. We also supportthe policy in AB 349 that will help those veterans who hold a license in another state to movemore quickly into the workforce in Nevada.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

d^,.r*0*h-,*Laurie Crehan, Ed.D.State LiaisonOffice of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Military Community and Family PolicyLaurie. Crehan@osd.mil703-380-6538

Improving the Lives of Military Members and their Families

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