Miss. law aims to help veterans, military spouses

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A new Mississippi law could help veterans and spouses of active-duty military people find jobs.

Gov. Phil Bryant signed Senate Bill 2419 Monday, and it becomes law July 1.

It says state boards can issue a temporary or permanent license to someone transferred to Mississippi because of a spouse's military job, if the person already has a professional license from another state.

This could affect teachers, cosmetologists, accountants, engineers, real estate brokers, physicians, nurses and other medical professionals. People with temporary licenses can start working while applying for permanent ones.

The new law also says people who learn job skills in the military can count that experience as they work toward licensure, certification or registration in their fields in civilian life. Bryant says welders are an example.