H. B. 4447


(By Delegates Douglas, Martin, Varner,

Kuhn, Stalnaker and Willison)


(Originating in the House Committee on Government Organization)

[February 8, 2000]




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, providing that a master's degree in forestry satisfies the educational requirement for registered professional foresters.

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 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.

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