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Introduced Version House Bill 4092 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 4092


(By Delegates Morgan and Burdiss)

[Introduced January 18, 2008; referred to the

Committee on Government Organization.]





A BILL to amend and reenact §30-19-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-19-12, all relating to the licensure requirements of foresters and forestry technicians and giving the Board of Foresters rule-making authority.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That §30-19-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-19-12, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 19. FORESTERS.

§30-19-6. General requirements and categories of licensure.
(a) The following is the minimum evidence required to satisfy the board that the applicant is qualified for licensure and entitled to use the title of "registered professional forester," "professional forester," "forester" or other title connoting to the general public that the applicant is a registered forester qualified to perform professional forestry services:
(1) Graduation from a four-year degree program or master's degree program in professional forestry from an accredited college or university plus two years related experience in the field of forestry as defined by rule of the board; or
(2) Graduation from a two-year technical forestry program in a program recognized by the society of American foresters, plus a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and four years related experience in the field of forestry as defined by rule of the board.
(b) The following is the minimum evidence required to satisfy the board that the applicant is qualified for licensure and entitled to use the title of "registered forestry technician" or "forestry technician": Graduation from a two-year technical forestry program recognized by the society of American foresters and four years related experience in the field of forestry as defined by rule of the board.
(c) Evidence of graduation and completion of required courses shall be presented by means of an official transcript which shall be filed permanently with the board. Upon the effective date of this section, the board may adopt an interpretive rule pursuant to the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, for the limited purpose of providing information and guidance to prospective applicants and the public related to the qualifying experience considered acceptable to the board pursuant to this section and to the job titles acceptable for use by persons obtaining qualifying experience, until such time as a legislative rule is made effective. On or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, the board shall propose for legislative approval pursuant to the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, rules authorized by this article and article one of this chapter, which rules must include provisions relating to a code of ethics for registered professional foresters and registered forestry technicians.
(a) To be eligible for a license to practice forestry, as a registered forester, the applicant must:
(1) Be of good moral character;
(2) Have a high school diploma or its equivalent;
(3) Successfully complete an examination as prescribed or approved by the board. Those persons licensed as of the effective date of this subdivision are not required to take the examination; and
(4) Graduate from a four-year degree program or masters degree program in professional forestry from an accredited college or university and have two years' related experience in the field of forestry; or
(5) Graduate from a two-year technical forestry program in a program recognized by the Society of American Foresters, plus a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and four years' related experience in the field of forestry.
(b) To be eligible for a license to practice forestry, as a registered forestry technician, the applicant must:
(1) Be of good moral character;
(2) Have a highschool diploma or its equivalent;
(3) Successfully complete an examination as prescribed or approved by the board. Those persons that are licensed as of the effective date of this subdivision are not required to take the examination; and
(4) Graduate from a two-year technical forestry program recognized by the Society of American Foresters and four years' related experience in the field of forestry.
(c) Evidence of graduation and completion of required courses shall be presented by means of an official transcript which shall be filed permanently with the board.
§30-19-12. Rulemaking.
(a) The board shall propose rules for legislative approval, in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to implement the provisions of this article, including:
(1) Standards and requirements for licensure to practice forestry;
(2) Procedures for examination and reexamination;
(3) Educational and experience requirements;
(4) Standards for approval of courses;
(5) Procedures for the issuance and renewal of licenses;
(6) A fee schedule;
(7) Continuing education requirements for licensees;
(8) The procedure for denying, suspending, revoking, reinstating or limiting the practice of a licensee;
(9) Requirements for inactive or revoked licenses; and
(10) Any other rules necessary to effectuate the provisions of this article.
(b) All rules in effect on the effective date of this article shall remain in effect until they are amended, repealed or replaced.




NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to change the requirements for licensure as a forester or forestry technician and give the Board of Foresters rule-making authority.

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