IMPORTANT NEWS...
DBPR Applauds Legislation Passed to Reduce the Cost of Licensure for Military Veterans
March 8, 2012
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) today applauded the passage of legislation that will reduce the costs to obtain licensure and expedite the licensing process for military veterans returning home from service. Under HB 887, the initial license fee, initial application fee and initial unlicensed activity fee will be waived for veterans returning from service, provided the veteran applies for licensure within 24 months of being honorably discharged.
"Waiving fees is the least we can do for our veterans who are returning home and want to get to work," said Secretary Ken Lawson. "I appreciate the support from our legislators to get this bill passed for our heroes."
The bills were sponsored by Senator Dennis Jones (R - Seminole) and Representative Clay Ingram (R - Pensacola) and co-sponsored by Senate President Designate Don Gaetz (R - Destin), Representative Bryan Nelson (R - Apopka) and Representative Jimmie Smith (R - Lecanto). The bill will now go to the Governor for his signature.
Florida's military-friendly licensure laws have been a model for other states. Recently, Florida was acknowledged in a report written by the United States Department of Defense as one of only 11 states in the country that has a state license program specifically for spouses of military veterans. More information about the Department's programs for members of the military, their spouses and military veterans is available online at: http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/dbprmilitary.html.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation's mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. The Department licenses and regulates more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from hotels and restaurants, real estate agents and certified public accountants to veterinarians, contractors and cosmetologists. For more information, please visit www.MyFloridaLicense.com.