WEST virginia legislature

2018 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

Senate Bill 313

By Senators Gaunch, Azinger, Boso, Karnes, Maynard, Ojeda, Palumbo, Romano, Rucker, Baldwin, Cline, Stollings, Prezioso, and Plymale

[Originating in the Committee on Government Organization; reported on February 21, 2018]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-1-22, relating to waiver of occupational licensing fees for certain individuals; requiring boards and licensing authorities to waive occupational licensing fees for low-income individuals, military families, and young workers; defining terms; requiring individuals seeking waiver of occupational licensing fees to apply on a form provided by the board or licensing authority; and granting rule-making authority.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL STATE BOARDS OF EXAMINATION OR REGISTRATION REFERRED TO IN CHAPTER.

§30-1-22. Waiver of licensing fees for certain individuals; definitions.

(a) Each board or licensing authority referred to in this chapter shall waive all occupational licensing fees for the following classes of individuals:

(1) Low-income individuals. – This includes individuals whose household adjusted gross income is below 130 percent of the federal poverty line. This term also includes any person enrolled in a state or federal public assistance program including, but not limited to, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, Medicaid, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

(2) Military families. – ­This includes any person who serves as an active member of the armed forces of the United States, the National Guard, or a reserve component as described in 38 U. S. C. §101, honorably discharged veterans of those forces, and their spouses. This term also includes surviving spouses of deceased service members who have not remarried.

(3) Young workers. ­– This includes applicants who are between the ages of 18 and 25, inclusive.

(b) Individuals seeking a waiver of occupational licensing fees must apply to the appropriate board or licensing authority in a format prescribed by the licensing authority. The licensing authority shall process the application within 30 days of receiving it from the applicant.

(c) The licensing authority shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code to implement the provisions of this section.

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