Georgia Boards Owe $3M to Military Spouses With Out-of-State Licenses

The state of Georgia must pay some 5,000 military service members and their spouses a total of $3 million to settle charges that state boards failed to recognize out-of-state professional licenses.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced this week that 42 Georgia licensing boards had violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2023, which requires states to waive “bureaucratic hurdles” for family members of armed forces personnel who relocate.

“This groundbreaking settlement ensures that service members and their spouses stationed in Georgia can have their out-of-state licenses recognized without facing unnecessary hurdles,” U.S. Attorney Margaret “Meg” Heap, of the Southern District of Georgia, said in a statement. “Licensing authorities in other states should take note of this settlement and ensure they comply with the SCRA.”

The settlement agreement, the first of its kind, did not name the Georgia insurance commissioner’s office or mention military spouses that may have sought work as insurance agents, adjusters, or customer service representatives. The commissioner’s office, like many insurance departments around the country, often temporarily waives in-state licensing requirements for adjusters after hurricanes and other emergencies.

The DOJ’s list of professionals who may see compensation includes physical therapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, chiropractors, electrical and air-conditioning contractors, and others. Some service members or spouses may see as much as $50,000 from the settlement. The average payment may be about $600.

The Georgia licensing boards must also adopt new policies and comply with the federal law, the DOJ said.

The legal action stemmed from multiple complaints from service members and spouses who said they were unable to work in Georgia because their licenses from other states were not recognized.

Topics
Georgia