Required application for regulation of professional or occupational group; application and reporting dates

(a) The Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization is responsible for facilitating the review of all legislation to enact or modify an occupational regulation to ensure compliance with the policy in §30-1A-1 of this code. The Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization shall refer the review of a proposal for regulation of any unregulated profession or occupation to the Performance Evaluation and Research Division of the Office of the Legislative Auditor. (b) Any professional or occupational group or organization, any individual, or any other interested party that proposes the regulation of any unregulated profession or occupation, or who proposes to establish, revise, or expand the scope of practice of a regulated profession or occupation shall submit an application to the Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization, as set out in this article. (c) The Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization may only accept an application for regulation of a profession or occupation, or establishment, revision, or expansion of the scope of practice of a regulated profession or occupation, when the party submitting an application files with the committee a statement of support for the proposed regulation that has been signed by at least 10 residents or citizens of the State of West Virginia who are members of the professional or occupational group or organization for which regulation is being sought, or for which establishment, revision, or expansion of the scope of practice of a regulated profession or occupation is being sought. (d) The completed application shall contain: (1) A description of the occupation or profession for which regulation is proposed, or for which establishment, revision, or expansion of the scope of practice of a regulated profession or occupation is proposed, including a list of associations, organizations, and other groups currently representing the practitioners in this state, and an estimate of the number of practitioners in each group; (2) A definition of the problem and the reasons why regulation or establishment, revision, or expansion of the scope of practice is necessary; (3) The reasons why government certification, government registration, occupational licensure, or other type of regulation is being requested and why that regulatory alternative was chosen over a less restrictive alternative; (4) A detailed statement of the proposed funding mechanism to pay the administrative costs of the regulation or the establishment, revision, or expansion of the scope of practice, or of the fee structure conforming with the statutory requirements of financial autonomy as set out in this chapter; (5) A detailed statement of the location and manner in which the group plans to maintain records which are accessible to the public as set out in this chapter; (6) The benefit to the public that would result from the proposed regulation or establishment, revision, or expansion of the scope of practice; (7) The cost of the proposed regulation or establishment, revision, or expansion of the scope of practice; and (8) Evidence, if any, of present, significant, and substantiated harms to consumers in the state.