Morrisey Signs Bill To Let License Holders ‘Get To Work Right Away’

In an effort to take his “backyard brawl” to a new level, Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a bill Monday at a press conference that he says will make West Virginia far more competitive in attracting a strong, qualified workforce. 

Senate Bill 458 creates universal licensing reciprocity – which proponents say will make it easier for licensed workers to relocate to West Virginia. It affects a long list of state licensed occupations from dentists and pharmacists to attorneys, architects, veterinarians, massage therapists and a host of other sometimes hard-to-fill occupations.

“It’s my priority to make sure that West Virginia is the most attractive place to live, work and play,” Morrisey said. 

“This is going to ensure that nurses, doctors, contractors, realtors, skilled workers who are licensed in other states: You can move to West Virginia, and you can get to work right away. Right away,” he said.

Dr. Andy Tanner from Vandalia Health told the crowd assembled that in the past, a delay in getting a West Virginia license has affected recruiting efforts. The new law, he said, will make it an easy, speedy process.

“We see those applications come and there’s a lot of things that have to happen in order for someone to get licensed,” Tanner said. “It’s really going to help health care for not only for our region, but throughout the state, especially in a lot of smaller areas where it’s hard to recruit and

retain positions.”

“Not only does the passage of this bill open new markets to West Virginia -based engineering and consulting companies to expand their businesses to other reciprocating states, but it also allows manufacturers of all types to hire specialized engineers in other states when that expertise may not be here at home,” said Bill Bissett, President of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association.

The Contractors Association of West Virginia and the state’s Chamber of Commerce also spoke out on behalf of the new law.