ENGROSSED

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR


H. B. 2749

(By Delegates Staton and Amores)

(Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary)


[February 14, 2003]


A BILL to amend article twenty, chapter thirty of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section six-a, relating to reciprocal licensure of physical therapists from other states or countries.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article twenty, chapter thirty of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section six-a, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 20. PHYSICAL THERAPISTS.
§30-20-6a. Reciprocal licensure of physical therapists from other states or countries.

(a) The West Virginia physical therapy board may by reciprocity license physical therapists in this state who have been legally registered or licensed physical therapists in another state. The board shall by rule, pursuant to section five of this article establish requirements for reciprocity: Provided, That reciprocity is not authorized for physical therapists from another state where that state does not permit reciprocity to physical therapists licensed in West Virginia.
(b) The board may refuse reciprocity to physical therapists from another country unless the applicant qualifies under such rules as may be promulgated by the board for licensure of foreign applicants: Provided, That if at the time of application, the applicant holds a valid license from another state, the applicant's credentials are deemed to meet West Virginia credentialing criteria, if the applicant's credentials were verified and accepted by a nationally accredited credentialing board, approved by the West Virginia physical therapy board , in the state where the applicant is validly licensed: Provided, however, That the applicant must demonstrate language proficiency as required by the rules of the West Virginia board of physical therapy.

This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.