Professional and occupational licenses; renewal fees waived; educational requirements

A. A person who is performing or has performed service in the uniformed services, as provided in 10 U.S.C. 101, or the National Guard, as provided in 10 U.S.C. 311, or a military spouse who has relocated with their servicemember spouse assigned or ordered to active duty outside the United States and its territories and who has provided evidence of deployment or relocation to the professional or occupational licensing board prior to expiration of their license may be exempt from both of the following: (1) The payment of any reinstatement or licensing renewal fee required by any profession or occupation governed by this Title or by any other provision of law or ordinance during the servicemember's period of service in the uniformed services. (2) Compliance with any continuing educational requirements applicable to such license during the servicemember's period of service in the uniformed services. B. An exemption provided pursuant to Subsection A of this Section shall not apply to licensing or renewal fees or continuing educational requirements applicable to such license for the year in which the servicemember is released or discharged from active duty. C. Any applicable license that is not subject to minimum licensing standards set forth in federal law or regulation shall continue in force and effect, provided that any applicable renewal fees are paid and any educational requirements are completed within one hundred eighty days of the servicemember's release or discharge from active duty. For occupational licenses or registrations which are subject to minimum standards set forth by federal law or regulation, the professional or occupational licensing board may take any such action that may be available to maintain such licenses in an inactive or dormant status so that the servicemember or spouse may resume the licensed activity promptly upon satisfying applicable minimums standards. D. For the purposes of this Section, "professional or occupational licensing board" shall mean any state agency, board, commission, or substantially similar entity, involved in the licensing, certification, or registration of any regulated profession or occupation within the state of Louisiana. E. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any license issued and regulated under the authority of the judicial branch of government.