(a) The state board shall issue a water treatment operator certificate and water distribution operator certificate by reciprocity to any person holding a valid, unexpired, comparable certification issued by another state, the United States, a territory or tribal government that has been designated as the primacy agency by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or a unit of any of these. The state board may, by regulations, prescribe the procedures and requirements for issuing a water treatment operator certificate and water distribution operator certificate by reciprocity.
(b) The state board shall evaluate opportunities for the following:
(1) Issuing a water treatment operator certificate and water distribution operator certificate by reciprocity to persons who performed duties comparable to the duties of an operator at a water treatment facility or water distribution system while serving in the United States military.
(2) Awarding experience and education credits to persons who performed duties comparable to the duties of an operator at a water treatment facility or water distribution system while serving in the United States military.
(c) The state board shall seek consultation with the United States Department of Defense in carrying out subdivision (b).
(d) If the state board identifies opportunities pursuant to subdivision (b), the state board shall, where appropriate, issue a water treatment operator certificate or water distribution operator certificate by reciprocity to, or award experience or education credits to, persons who performed duties comparable to the duties of an operator at a water treatment facility or water distribution system while serving in the United States military.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 760, Sec. 1. (AB 1588) Effective January 1, 2020.)