Relating to authorizing the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to promulgate a legislative rule relating to a waiver of initial licensing fees for certain initial licensure applicants
Summary
HB2311 is a rule-authorization bill that allows the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine to adopt a legislative rule concerning a waiver of initial licensing fees for certain first-time licensure applicants. The bill does not itself create the fee waiver program in detail; instead, it gives legislative approval to the board’s existing or proposed rule filed in the State Register under 24 CSR 08.
In practical terms, the measure is aimed at the licensing process for osteopathic physicians and other applicants regulated by the Board of Osteopathic Medicine. By authorizing the rule, the Legislature would permit the board to implement a policy that could reduce upfront costs for some new applicants, potentially making initial licensure more accessible.
Impact
The bill amends §64-9-1 of the West Virginia Code, which governs authorization for miscellaneous boards and agencies to promulgate legislative rules, by approving the Board of Osteopathic Medicine’s rule on waiver of initial licensing fees for certain initial licensure applicants. Its effect is limited to validating the board’s rulemaking authority for this specific licensing fee waiver and does not directly alter substantive medical practice standards or broader licensing requirements.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the overall sentiment appears neutral to favorable. The measure is administrative in nature and likely intended to support licensure access and reduce barriers for new applicants, with no evidence in the available record of organized opposition or controversy.
Contention
There is no committee transcript or voting history provided, so no specific points of contention are documented. Any potential concerns would likely center on whether waiving initial licensing fees could reduce board revenue or whether the policy should be set by statute rather than through agency rulemaking, but those issues are not reflected in the available materials.