The bill aims to standardize the process of determining substantial equivalency in professional licensing across various occupations in Montana. It introduces a clear definition of "substantial equivalency," which refers to the comparability of education, examination, and experience requirements between jurisdictions. The bill specifies that boards will assess substantial equivalency for their respective professions, while the department will do so for programs under its authority. Additionally, it amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to streamline the licensure process by removing duplicative subsections related to equivalency and reciprocity.

Key amendments include changes to Section 37-1-304, which now focuses on licensure by endorsement rather than out-of-state applicants, and clarifies that applicants must have an active license in good standing from a jurisdiction with substantially equivalent qualifications. The bill also repeals sections that previously addressed licensure reciprocity for out-of-state applicants and license verification, thereby simplifying the regulatory framework. Overall, the legislation seeks to enhance the efficiency and clarity of professional licensing in Montana.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_1(1): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_1(2): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_1(3): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_1(4): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_1(5): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_1(6): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_1: 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_X(1): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_X(10): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_X(2): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_X(3): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_X(4): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_X(5): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_X(6): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_X(7): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_X(8): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_X(9): 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204
HB0246_X: 37-1-302, 37-1-304, 37-26-201, 37-33-405, 37-50-203, 37-73-204