Bill
SB 347
SB 347 would empower WV’s Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Board to adopt, update, and enforce ethics standards for licensees to enhance patient safety and accountability.
SB 347 (2026) – West Virginia
Topic: Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Technology Board of Examiners – Ethics Standards
Overview
- Purpose: Proposes rulemaking by the Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Technology Board of Examiners to establish or modify ethics standards governing licensees and credentialed professionals in medical imaging and radiation therapy.
- Jurisdiction: West Virginia
- Session: 2026
- Primary sponsor: (Co-sponsor) Patricia Rucker
- Status path (per actions listed): Filed for introduction and immediately referred to Judiciary in both Senate and committee activity on 2026-01-15; introduced in Senate and placed in Judiciary for consideration.
What the bill would do (key provisions and changes)
- Ethics Standards Framework: The bill would authorize or require the Board of Examiners to adopt or update rules relating to ethical conduct and professional standards for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. This includes establishing expectations for professional behavior, patient safety, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and adherence to relevant laws and professional guidelines.
- Rulemaking Authority: The Board would gain or exercise rulemaking authority to define what constitutes ethics violations, disciplinary procedures, and potential sanctions for breaches.
- Scope of Application: Applies to credentialed individuals under the Board’s jurisdiction (e.g., radiologic technologists, imaging and radiation therapy practitioners) and may specify professional responsibilities in clinical and institutional settings.
- Alignment with Practice Standards: Rules would be intended to align ethics requirements with current practice guidelines, patient rights, and safety standards in medical imaging and radiation therapy.
- Enforcement and Discipline: Likely provisions would detail how ethics violations are investigated, how findings are adjudicated, and what penalties or corrective actions may be imposed (e.g., fines, credential suspension or revocation, mandatory continuing education).
- Compliance and Updates: The bill would authorize periodic updates to ethics rules to reflect advances in technology, patient care standards, and evolving professional norms.
Who would be affected
- Medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals licensed or certified by the West Virginia Board of Examiners.
- Employers and facilities employing such professionals (hospitals, clinics, imaging centers) due to the compliance requirements.
- The Board itself, which would implement, enforce, and revise ethics standards through rulemaking.
- Patients and the public, as adherence to ethics rules is intended to improve safety, confidentiality, and quality of care.
Procedural and timeline considerations
- Introduction and referral: The bill was filed for introduction and immediately referred to the Judiciary committee in January 2026, indicating an initial step in the legislative process.
- Committee action: As of the provided actions, the bill has moved to Judiciary for consideration; any amendments or hearings would occur in committee before potential floor action in the Senate.
- Implementation timeline: If enacted, rules would be developed or updated by the Board; typical timelines involve a phased rule adoption process with public notice, public comment, and potential effective dates for the new ethics standards. Specific effective dates would be defined in the final text of the act and accompanying rulemaking timelines.
Notes
- The provided content does not include the full statutory language or explicit numeric requirements (percentages, dollar amounts, or exact penalties). The final bill text would specify these details, including any transitional provisions and how existing licenses are affected.
- Historical actions show initial legislative steps; subsequent committee votes, amendments, and potential companion actions in the House would shape the final form.
Bottomline
SB 347 seeks to empower the West Virginia Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Technology Board of Examiners to establish, update, and enforce ethics standards for its licensees, reinforcing professional conduct, patient safety, and accountability within medical imaging and radiation therapy practices.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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