COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
H. B. 2867
(By Delegates Boggs, Martin, Varner, Douglas,
Cann and Facemyer)
(Originating in the Committee on Government Organization)
[March 1, 1999]
A BILL to amend and reenact section six, article nineteen,
chapter thirty of the code of West Virginia, one thousand
nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to general
requirements and categories for licensing and registration
of foresters; requiring rules; authorizing rules relating to
a code of ethics.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section six, article nineteen, chapter thirty of the
code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 19. FORESTERS.
§30-19-6. General requirements and categories of licensure.
(a) The following shall be considered as minimum evidence
satisfactory to 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 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
shall be considered as minimum evidence
satisfactory to 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 job titles acceptable for use by persons obtaining qualifying experience,
until such time as a legislative rule is made effective. The
board shall propose for legislative approval pursuant to the
provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code,
not later than the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred
ninety-nine, rules authorized by this article and article one of
this chapter, which rules may include provisions relating to a
code of ethics for registered professional foresters and
registered forestry technicians.