Senator Thad Altman, District 24 — Press Release

Florida Senate Approves Senator Altman’s Bill to Assist Working Military Spouses

Tallahassee, FL — The Florida Senate unanimously approved a measure to assist the spouses of military service members assigned to a duty station in Florida.  Under Senate Bill 1228, sponsored by Senator Thad Altman (R – Rockledge), spouses of active duty service members in Florida would be eligible to receive a temporary medical license to practice for 12 months. 

Additionally, the bill recognizes the late Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr., by renaming temporary certificates of practice in areas of critical need in his honor.  Under Admiral Collins’ leadership, these temporary certificates of practice were established to use the potential assets provided by retired physicians, especially military physicians, to help increase patient access to healthcare in Florida.

“This bill demonstrates Florida’s commitment to our military families, and will help the medical professional spouses of our service members by allowing them to begin work almost immediately upon moving to Florida to fulfill their spouses’ military orders.  Military service members and their families make great sacrifices to protect the freedom we enjoy, and this is one way we can help those families in return,” said Senator Altman.  “I’m proud to honor the late Rear Admiral Collins in this bill by recognizing his efforts to increase healthcare access for Floridians.”

To be eligible to receive a temporary license, the military spouse must hold a valid medical license in another U.S. jurisdiction in good standing.  Applicants must submit to a background check and demonstrate they are married to an active duty service member assigned to a duty station in Florida.   The temporary license is nonrenewable, and is intended to allow the military spouse to begin working and earning income while they complete the necessary steps for full licensure.  Florida has 22 military bases, over 58,000 active duty personnel and over 37,000 Reserve and National Guard personnel.  There are approximately 37,000 military spouses living in Florida.

In addition to establishing the temporary medical licenses for military spouses, the bill updates standards of dental licensure which will further increase patient access to dental care in the state.

Representative Gayle Harrell (R – Stuart) sponsored the companion legislation, HB 1319, in the House of Representatives.  A similar measure was passed into law last year which provided temporary professional licenses to military spouses, and this bill extends that concept to establish the temporary medical licenses.  The bill will now go before the Governor for final approval.  For more information please visit www.flsenate.gov.

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