ENROLLED
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
H. B. 3152
(By Delegates Caputo, Ashley, White,
Kominar and Campbell)
[Passed March 13, 2010; in effect ninety days from passage.]
AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new article, designated §30-20A-1, §30-20A-2,
§30-20A-3, §30-20A-4, §30-20A-5, §30-20A-6 and §30-20A-7, all
relating to athletic trainers; providing definitions;
restricting the use of certain titles; setting forth powers
and duties of the board; setting forth rulemaking authority;
providing for registration of athletic trainers; establishing
registration criteria; establishing renewal requirements; and
allowing for disciplinary actions.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new article, designated §30-20A-1, §30-20A-2,
§30-20A-3, §30-20A-4, §30-20A-5, §30-20A-6 and §30-20A-7, all to
read as follows:
ARTICLE 20A. ATHLETIC TRAINERS.
§30-20A-1. Definitions.
As used in this article:
(1) "Applicant" means any person making application for an
original or renewal registration to act as an athletic trainer
under the provisions of this article.
(2) "Board" means the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy
established under article twenty of this chapter.
(3) "Registrant" means a person registered as an athletic
trainer under the provisions of this article.
(4) "Registration" means a registration issued by the board to
practice athletic training.
§30-20A-2. Title protection.
(a) A person may not advertise or represent himself or herself
as an athletic trainer in this state and may not use the initials
"AT", the words "registered athletic trainer" or "athletic
trainer", or any other words, abbreviations, titles or insignia
that indicates, implies or represents that he or she is an athletic
trainer, unless he or she is registered by the board.
(b) Nothing contained in this article shall be construed as
preventing any person, firm, partnership or corporation from
practicing athletic training, in any manner desired.
(c)
Nothing in this article may be construed to prohibit or
otherwise limit the use of the term "athletic trainer" in secondary
school settings by persons who were practicing athletic training
under a West Virginia Board of Education Athletic Certification,
provided the practice is in accordance with Board of Education policy in effect prior to July 1, 2011.
§30-20A-3. Powers and duties of the board.
The board has the following powers and duties:
(1) Establish procedures for submitting, approving and denying
applications for registration;
(2) Investigate alleged violations of the provisions of this
article;
(3) Establish a fee schedule;
(4) Issue, renew, deny, suspend, revoke or reinstate a
registration;
(5) Determine disciplinary action and issue orders;
(6) Institute appropriate legal action for the enforcement of
the provisions of this article; and
(7) Maintain an accurate registry of the names and addresses
of registrants.
§30-20A-4. Rulemaking authority.
The board shall propose rules for legislative approval, in
accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-
nine-a of this code, to implement the provisions of this article,
including:
(1) Procedures for the issuance and renewal of a registration;
(2) A fee schedule;
(3) Procedures for denying, suspending, revoking, reinstating
or limiting the registration of a registrant; and
(4) Any other rules necessary to effectuate the provisions of this article.
§30-20A-5. Requirements for registration.
(a) To be eligible for registration by the board as an
athletic trainer, an applicant shall:
(1) Submit an application in the form prescribed by the board;
(2) Submit a current certification from the National Athletic
Trainers' Association Board of Certification or successor
organization; and
(3) Pay the required fee.
(b) The board shall issue a registration to an applicant
satisfying all the requirements in subsection (a) of this section:
Provided, That the board may deny an application for registration
if the applicant:
(1) Has been convicted of a felony or other crime involving
moral turpitude;
(2) Is an alcohol or drug abuser as these terms are defined in
section eleven, article one-a, chapter twenty-seven of this code:
Provided, That the board may take into consideration that an
applicant in an active recovery process, which may, in the
discretion of the board, be evidenced by participation in a twelve-
step program or other similar group or process;
(3) Has been convicted of fraudulent, false, misleading or
deceptive advertising;
(4) Has been convicted for wrongfully prescribing medicines or
drugs, or practicing any licensed profession without legal authority;
(5) Has had a registration or other authorization revoked,
suspended, restricted or other disciplinary action taken by the
proper authorities of another jurisdiction;
(6) Is incapacitated by a physical or mental disability which
is determined by a physician to render further practice by the
applicant inconsistent with competency and ethic requirements; or
(7) Has been convicted of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct.
(c) In determining whether an application should be denied for
any of the reasons set forth in subsection (b), the board may
consider:
(1) How recently the conduct occurred;
(2) The nature of the conduct and the context in which it
occurred; and
(3) Any other relevant conduct of the applicant.
(d) A registration issued by the board is valid for two years
from the date it was issued.
§30-20A-6. Renewal requirements.
(a) A registrant may apply to renew his or her registration by
submitting an application for renewal in the form prescribed by the
board and paying the renewal fee. The renewal application must be
signed by the applicant.
(b) A renewal of registration issued by the board is valid for
two years from the date it was issued.
(c) The board may deny an application for renewal for any reason which would justify the denial of an original application
for a registration.
§30-20A-7. Due process procedures; grounds for disciplinary action.
(a) The board may, after notice and opportunity for hearing,
suspend, restrict or revoke a registration of, impose probationary
conditions upon or take disciplinary action against, any registrant
if the board determines the registrant:
(1) Is grossly negligent in the practice of athletic training;
(2) Obtained a registration by fraud, misrepresentation or
concealment of material facts; engaged in the practice of athletic
training under a false or assumed name; or impersonated another
registrant of a like or different name; or
(3) Has violated any of the provisions of subsection (b),
section five of this article.
(b) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section,
disciplinary action may include:
(1) Reprimand;
(2) Probation;
(3) Administrative fines;
(4) Practicing under supervision or other restriction;
(5) Requiring the registrant to report to the board for
periodic interviews for a specified period of time; or
(6) Other corrective action as determined by the board.