WEST virginia legislature

2024 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 5347

By Delegates Jennings, Statler, Tully, Mallow, and Shamblin

[Introduced January 30, 2024; Referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources

 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §16-4G-1 and §16-4G-2, all relating to creating the "Pathway for a Career in Medicine Program."

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 4G. Pathway to a Career in Medicine Program.

§16-4G-1. Legislative Findings.

The Legislature finds that there is a shortage of qualified medical personnel in the state of West Virginia. The Legislature further finds that this shortage is particularly harmful in the areas of emergency medical services (EMS) or emergency medical technician (EMT), registered nurses (RN), and nurse practitioners (NP). Accordingly, the Legislature finds that it would be in the best interests of the state of West Virginia to create the Pathway for a Career in Medicine Program.

§16-4G-2. Standards for the program; effective date.

(a) In order to meet the shortage of qualified medical personnel, the following pathways to advancement in the medical field shall be implemented:

(1) After three years of serving in EMS or as an EMT, that person shall become eligible to begin study as a certified paramedic with the costs being borne by the state of West Virginia;

(2) After obtaining the certified paramedic certification, if that person serves as a certified paramedic for a period of five years, then he or she shall become eligible to begin study as an RN with the costs being borne by the state of West Virginia;

(3) After obtaining licensure as an RN, if that person serves as a registered nurse for 10 years, they shall become eligible to begin study as an NP with the costs being borne by the state of West Virginia.

(b) This program shall become available to medical personnel as of July 1, 2024.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Pathway to a Career in Medicine Program.

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