New Mexico § 61-1-34 - Expedited licensure; military service members, including spouses and dependents, and veterans; waiver of fees

§ 61-1-34. Expedited licensure; military service members, including spouses and dependents, and veterans; waiver of fees

A. A board that issues an occupational or professional license pursuant to Chapter 61 NMSA 1978 shall, as soon as practicable but no later than thirty days after a military service

member or a veteran files a complete application, and provides a background check

if required: (1) process the application; and (2) issue a license prima facie to a qualified applicant who submits satisfactory

evidence that the applicant holds a license that is current and in good standing,

issued by another jurisdiction, including a branch of the armed forces of the United

States. B. A license issued pursuant to this section is a provisional license but shall confer

the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as a regular license. If the military service member or veteran was licensed in a licensing jurisdiction

that did not require examination, a board may require the military service member

or veteran to take a board-required examination prior to renewing the license. C. A military service member or a veteran who is issued a license pursuant to this

section shall not be charged an initial or renewal licensing fee for the first three

years of licensure. D. Each board that issues a license to practice a trade or profession shall, upon

the conclusion of the state fiscal year, prepare a report on the number and type of

licenses that were issued during the fiscal year under this section. The report shall be provided to the director of the office of military base planning

and support not later than ninety days after the end of the fiscal year. E. As used in this section: (1) “ licensing fee ” means a fee charged at the time an initial or renewal application for a professional

or occupational license is submitted to the state agency, board or commission and

any fee charged for the processing of the application for such license; “licensing

fee” does not include a fee for an annual inspection or examination of a licensee,

a late fee or a fee charged for copies of documents, replacement licenses or other

expenses related to a professional or occupational license; (2) “ military service member ” means a person who is: (a) serving in the armed forces of the United States as an active duty member, or

in an active reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including

the national guard; (b) the spouse of a person who is serving in the armed forces of the United States

or in an active reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including

the national guard, or a surviving spouse of a member who at the time of the member's

death was serving on active duty; or (c) the child of a military service member if the child is also a dependent of that

person for federal income tax purposes; and (3) “ veteran ” means a person who has received an honorable discharge or separation from military

service.