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An Act To Assist Maine's Returning Veterans
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 10 MRSA §8002, sub-§10, as amended by PL 2007, c. 466, Pt. C, §4, is further amended to read:
 
10. Confidentiality of shared information.   Keep confidential any information provided by or to the commissioner that has been designated confidential by the agency, bureau, board or commission within or affiliated with the department that furnished the information and that is the property of the agency, bureau, board or commission that furnished the information. Any information provided pursuant to this subsection may not be disclosed by the recipient of the information unless disclosure has been authorized by the agency, bureau, board or commission that furnished the information; and
Sec. 2. 10 MRSA §8002, sub-§11, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 466, Pt. C, §5, is amended to read:
 
11. Report on fees.   By December 1st of each even-numbered year, conduct a review of the fees assessed by the department and provide a written report to the State Budget Officer and the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs, insurance and financial services matters and business, research and economic development matters identifying any fee changes the commissioner recommends for the next biennium.; and
Sec. 3.  10 MRSA §8002, sub-§12  is enacted to read:
 
12.  Recommend measures.     Recommend legislation or other measures to the Governor and the Legislature for the purpose of assisting current and former members of the United States Armed Forces in obtaining any professional license within the provisions of the department related to their relevant training and experience from their military service.
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §462-A  is enacted to read:
§ 462-A. Temporary registration plates; United States Armed Forces deployments; rules
Upon application to the Secretary of State and evidence of insurance as required by section 402, the Secretary of State may issue a temporary registration plate to a member of the United States Armed Forces authorizing that member to operate a motor vehicle or trailer for a period of 30 days if that member has returned to the State from a deployment outside the continental United States, unless the provisions of section 353 apply. The application required by this subsection may be completed by an authorized representative of the member of the United States Armed Forces. The Secretary of State may delegate the authority granted under this subsection and shall adopt rules to establish the application criteria and fees. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation to recommend legislation or other measures to the Governor and the Legislature to assist current and former members of the United States Armed Forces in obtaining professional licenses in Maine related to the service members' relevant training and experience. It also authorizes the Secretary of State to provide a temporary registration plate to a member of the United States Armed Forces to operate a motor vehicle or trailer for 30 days if that service member has recently returned to the State from a deployment outside the continental United States.