WEST virginia legislature

2019 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 633

By Senator Tarr

[Introduced February 15, 2019; Referred
 to the Committee on Government Organization]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-41-4, relating to authorizing the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy to conduct criminal background checks on applicants seeking their initial license; providing the information may not be shared across state lines; and authorizing the board to obtain fingerprints from applicants for initial licenses.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 41. PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT ACT.

§30-41-4. West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy authority to conduct criminal background checks.

(a) The West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy is authorized to conduct state and national criminal background history checks for the purpose of issuing licenses through the state criminal bureau of investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation: Provided, That reports from such record checks shall not be shared with entities outside of this state.

(b) The West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy may require an applicant, including physical therapists and physical therapy assistants, as a condition for eligibility for initial license, to submit a full set of fingerprints in a form and manner prescribed by the board.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy to conduct state and national criminal background checks on applicant’s seeking their initial license.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.