WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2023 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 2848

By Delegates Riley, Linville, Cannon, Barnhart, Westfall, Clark, Fehrenbacher, W. Hall, Maynor, Adkins, and Hite

[Introduced January 20, 2023; Referred to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Health and Human Resources]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-1-9g, related to modifying the requirements for out of state wastewater operators to obtain a license in the state.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1. STATE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

§16-1-9g. Reciprocity in licensing for public water systems operators and wastewater operators.  

The commissioner shall grant certification to a public water systems operator or wastewater operator certified by another jurisdiction, if the applicant:

(1) Is actively seeking, has been offered or has accepted employment which requires a certified operator in West Virginia;

(2) Submits a completed application in a manner approved by the commissioner;

(3) Meets the educational and work experience requirements prescribed by the commissioner through his rulemaking authority; and

(4) Establishes he or she has successfully passed an examination equivalent to the certification level sought in West Virginia, as determined by the commissioner. If the commissioner determines that the other jurisdiction's examination is not equivalent, the water system operator or wastewater operator is required to successfully complete the West Virginia certification examination applicable to the certification level sought.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide requirements for the certification of public water systems and wastewater operators who have completed requirements in another jurisdiction and to allow commissioner to determine whether another jurisdiction's certification examination is equivalent to West Virginia in order to exempt applicants from that specific requirement.

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