Expedited licensure; military service members, spouses

and dependents; veterans; waiver of fees. A. The division shall, as soon as practicable but no later than thirty days after a military service member or a veteran files an application, and provides a background check if required, for a license or certificate issued pursuant to the Construction Industries Licensing Act accompanied by any required fees: (1) process the application; and (2) issue a license prima facie to a qualified applicant who submits satisfactory evidence that the applicant holds a license or certificate that is current and in good standing, issued by another jurisdiction, including a branch of the armed forces of the United States, and has met minimal licensing or certification requirements that are substantially equivalent to the licensing or certification requirements for the license or certificate that the applicant applies for pursuant to the Construction Industries Licensing Act. B. A license or certificate issued pursuant to this section is not a provisional license and shall confer the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as a license issued pursuant to the Construction Industries Licensing Act. C. A license issued pursuant to this section shall not be renewed unless the license holder satisfies the requirements for the issuance and the renewal of a license pursuant to the Construction Industries Licensing Act. Upon the issuance of a license pursuant to this section, the division shall notify the license holder of the requirements for renewing the license in writing. D. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this section, a military service member or a veteran who is issued a license pursuant to this section shall not be charged a licensing or certificate fee for the first three years a license or certificate issued pursuant to this section is valid. E. Upon the conclusion of the state fiscal year, the division shall prepare a report on the number and type of licenses or certificates that were issued during the fiscal year under this section. The report shall be provided to the director of the office of military base planning and support not later than ninety days after the end of the fiscal year. F. As used in this section: (1) "military service member" means a person who is: (a) serving in the armed forces of the United States as an active duty member or in an active reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the national guard; (b) the spouse of a person who is serving in the armed forces of the United States as an active duty member or in an active reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the national guard; or a surviving spouse of a member who at the time of death was serving on active duty; or (c) the child of a person who is serving in the armed forces of the United States as an active duty member or in an active reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the national guard; provided that child is also a dependent of that person for federal income tax purposes; and (2) "veteran" means a person who has received an honorable discharge or separation from military service in the armed forces of the United States or in an active reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the national guard.