Sec. 604. Reimbursement of qualifying spouse relicensing costs and business costs
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Chapter 521 of title 46, United States Code, as amended by section 602, is further amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a program to reimburse an individual serving in the merchant marine of the United States for qualified relicensing costs and qualified business costs of the spouse of that individual when the individual relocates to a new jurisdiction or geographic area as the result of a reassignment as a result of service as a commissioned officer in the Navy Reserve (including the Strategic Sealift Officer Program, Navy Reserve), the Coast Guard Reserve, or any other reserve component of the Armed Services of the United States.
Reimbursement provided to a member under this subsection for qualified relicensing costs may not exceed $1,000 in connection with each relocation described in paragraph (1). Reimbursement provided to a member under this subsection for qualified business costs may not exceed $1,000 in connection with each relocation described in paragraph (1). No reimbursement may be provided under this subsection for qualified relicensing costs or qualified business costs paid or incurred after December 31, 2034.
In this section, the term qualified relicensing costs means costs, including exam, continuing education courses, business license, permit, and registration fees, incurred by the spouse of an individual serving in the merchant marine of the United States if— the spouse was licensed or certified in a profession, or owned a business, during the individual's previous assignment and requires a new professional license or certification, or business license or permit, to engage in that profession in a new jurisdiction because of the individual's relocation described in paragraph (1); and the costs were incurred or paid to secure or maintain the professional license or certification, or business license or permit, from the new jurisdiction in connection with such relocation.
In this section, the term qualified business costs means costs, including moving services for equipment, equipment removal, new equipment purchases, information technology expenses, and inspection fees, incurred by the spouse of an individual serving in the merchant marine of the United States if— the spouse owned a business during the individual's previous assignment and the costs result from the individual's relocation described in paragraph (1); and the costs were incurred or paid to move such business to a new location in connection with such relocation.
There is authorized to be appropriated out of the Maritime Security Trust Fund, established under section 9512 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to carry out this section, $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2034. . The table of sections for chapter 521 of title 46, United States Code, as amended by section 602, is further amended by adding at the end the following: 52103. Reimbursement of qualifying spouse relicensing costs and business costs. .