WV SB443

West Virginia Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology is authorized to require state and national criminal history record checks for licensing purposes

Applicants seeking initial compact privilege under the Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Compact must submit fingerprints and authorize the Board, West Virginia State Police, and FBI to conduct background checks

Background check results cannot be released to private entities except to the subject individual, with their written authorization, or by court order

Criminal history records are exempt from public records disclosure under West Virginia's Freedom of Information Act

Applicants must pay all costs associated with fingerprinting and criminal history record checks, and complete the background check immediately after applying for practice privileges

The Board may propose rules or promulgate emergency rules to implement these requirements