Bill Text: WV HCR129 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the professional and occupational licensing policies
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 14-8)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-03-07 - Communicated to Senate [HCR129 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2020-HCR129-Introduced.html
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 129
(By Delegates Howell, C. Martin, Azinger, Barnhart, Cadle, Caputo, Diserio, Hamrick, Hansen, Hanna, Hicks, Hott, D. Jeffries, J. Jeffries, Jennings, Little, Pyles, Staggers, Sypolt, Tomblin, Walker, Wilson and Worrell)
[Originating in the Committee on Government Organization; Reported on February 29, 2020]
Whereas, Residents of this state engaged in professions and occupations are frequently required to obtain a license, registration or certification, which can stand as a barrier to entry into gainful employment; and
Whereas, Professional and occupational regulation is administered by a variety of regulatory agencies, boards, and commissions, with varying overhead expenses and the costs of obtaining a license vary by profession and occupation, in a manner that appears to be inconsistent and lacks uniformity across the professional and occupational spectrum; therefore be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the professional and occupational licensing policies, procedures, and regulatory practices that impact workers in this state; and, be it
Further Resolved, That all professional and occupational licensing entities shall cooperate with the Legislature in the conduct of this study by providing to the Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization on or before June 1, 2020, a copy of the regulatory body’s 2019 Annual Report or, where an annual report has not been produced in the previous 2 years, the regulatory body shall prepare a report of its activities for the preceding two years, containing the following information for that period: (1) The total receipts and itemized disbursements for each year; (2) A list of amounts received in each year for the following categories of receipts: (A) License applications, registrations and renewals; (B) Examination fees, if applicable; (C) Other fees, including late fees, copying charges and fees for printed certificates; (D) Fines or penalties; (E) Expense reimbursements from disciplinary actions; and (F) Grants, special appropriations or other sources of revenue not from fees; (3) A list of amounts spent in each year for the following categories of expenditures: (A) Personal services; (B) Board member per diem compensation; (C) Travel expenses and automobile mileage; (D) Professional contracts; (E) Rent; (F) Office supplies; (G) Postage; (H) Entertainment and hosting; (I) Insurance; and (J) Bank costs; (4) A complete list of the names of all persons newly licensed or registered; (5) A table or list showing numbers of licensees or registrants by West Virginia county of practice or, for out-of-state licensees or registrants, by state of residence, and by specialty, if appropriate to the particular profession; (6) Complaints filed and investigations opened by the regulatory body, with a brief classification of the nature of the complaint, together with the dates of compliance with any time requirements and a description of the disposition, if any; (7) In addition to complaints reported under the preceding subsection, complaints resolved and investigations closed by the regulatory body, with a brief classification of the nature of the complaint, together with the dates of compliance with any time requirements, and the disposition, if any; and (8) Copies of the agendas for, and minutes of, the regulatory body meeting and any committee or subcommittee meetings; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government Organization shall forward a copy of this study resolution to each professional and occupational regulatory body and schedule an entrance interview with each; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Regular Session of the Legislature, 2021, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
