This bill amends and reenacts section 64-9-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, to authorize the Board of Occupational Therapy to establish a legislative rule regarding the consideration of prior criminal convictions in initial licensure determinations. The specific rule referenced is identified as 13 CSR 08, which was filed in the State Register on January 10, 2024, and subsequently modified and refiled on August 29, 2024, to address concerns raised by the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. The primary purpose of this legislation is to provide the Board of Occupational Therapy with the authority to create guidelines that will govern how prior criminal convictions are evaluated during the licensure process for occupational therapists. This change aims to ensure that the licensure process is fair and considers the individual circumstances of applicants with criminal histories.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 64-9-1