KRS 164.2846: Academic career pathways and integrated academic bridge programs for

military healthcare personnel -- Requirements -- Report.

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Institution" means any college or university that is a part of the

postsecondary education system as defined in KRS 164.001 or a private

accredited college or university;

(b) "Military healthcare personnel" means an individual who has received formal

training and practical experience in healthcare disciplines during his or her

military service, including providing emergency medical care, preventive

healthcare, and specialized medical services; and

(c) "Professional licensure board" has the same meaning as in KRS 211.332.

(2) (a) Any institution may develop academic career pathways and i ntegrated

academic bridge programs for military healthcare personnel that are designed

to enable current and former military healthcare personnel to achieve reduced

time-to-credential outcomes. These pathways and integrated academic bridge

programs shall i ntegrate military academic and experiential learning to

accelerate the transition from military to civilian healthcare credentialing

based on developed military -to-civilian occupational crosswalks for, at a

minimum, the following occupations:

1. Infantryman;

2. Hospital corpsman;

3. Biomedical equipment specialist;

4. Orthopedic specialist;

5. Practical nursing specialist;

6. Operating room specialist;

7. Dental specialist;

8. Physical therapy specialist;

9. Patient administration specialist;

10. Optical laboratory specialist;

11. Medical logistics specialist;

12. Medical laboratory specialist;

13. Occupational therapist specialist;

14. Nutrition care specialist;

15. Cardiovascular specialist;

16. Radiology specialist;

17. Pharmacy specialist;

18. Veterinarian food inspection specialist;

19. Preventive medicine specialist;

20. Animal care specialist;

21. Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist;

22. Respiratory specialist;

23. Combat medic specialist;

24. Behavioral health specialist;

25. Eye specialist;

26. Independent duty medical technician; and

27. Aerospace medical technician.

(b) Any military healthcare personnel academic career pathways and integrated

academic bridge programs shall be fully compatible with the Department of

Defense SkillBridge Program.

(c) Any participating institution shall review military healthcare personnel related

healthcare programs in relationship to realistic earning potential and

employability of the institution graduates and submit a written report to the

Legislative Research Commission for referral to the Interim Joint Committee

on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection no later than September 1

of each year. The report shall include:

1. The minimum number of months or years required to complete the

healthcare program and the average number of months or years military

healthcare personnel graduates of each healthcare program were

enrolled;

2. The graduation rate of each healthcare program and the military

healthcare personnel graduation rate;

3. The employment rate of military healthcare personnel graduates of each

healthcare program within twelve (12) months of graduation; and

4. A summary of all new actions taken by the institution during the

reporting year to increase military healthcare personnel participation and

to reduce transitional barriers to healthcare professionals.

(3) Any participating institution, in collaboration with the United States Department of

Labor, Kentucky veterans' organizations, the Kentucky Department of Veterans'

Affairs, the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs, and any other public or

private entities, including state -based entities transitioning military personnel to

Kentucky-based employment, shall use healthcare and military recruiters, as well as

other dedicated resources, to advocate, facilitate, and promote the recruitment and

enrollment of military healthcare personnel into military healthcare academic and

career pathways.

(4) Each professional licensure board shall collaborate with participating institutions to

integrate the academic career pathways and integrated academic bridge programs

for military healthcare personnel into their licensure requirements.