The Senate met at 11:00 a.m. today and passed five Senate bills.

SB 291 requires PEIA and other health insurance providers to provide mental health parity. This would be divided between mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse disorders and medical procedures.

SB 502 increases the penalty for methamphetamine trafficking. The bill defines the different terms and degrees of this felony and provides a description of how the penalty should be implemented.

SB 562 clarifies expungement of certain criminal convictions. The bill also eliminates the requirement that the chief law enforcement officer or head of a law-enforcement agency is sought where such an agency was not the arresting agency. The bill also clarifies that the Commissioner of Corrections is served with a copy of the petition for expungement if the petitioner was confined for a crime they seek to have expunged.

SB 610 removes the resident manager requirement for the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission. The bill also removes the residency requirement for granting permits under the Medical Cannabis Act. The WV Lottery is also to remove residency and United States citizenship requirements from its statutes.

SB 692 clarifies that persons indicted or charged jointly for a felony is entitled to a separate trial to address the guilt or innocence of the offense or offenses.

The House did not concur with amendments made by the Senate for House bill 4275, which is a rules bundle for the Fire commission, to be authorized by the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety. A Conference Committee is being arranged to resolve differences between the houses.

The Senate adopted resolution 47, congratulating the Clay County High School “We the People” team for winning their sixth consecutive WV state championship. The Senate held a brief recess to present this resolution.

The Senate is adjourned until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.

The Senate met at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday and passed 1o Senate bills and 1 House bill.

The Senate debated SB 285, which terminates the WV Greyhound Breeding Development Fund and redirects all money from the Fund to the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund.

Senator Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, spoke in favor of the bill. “Whether we pass it this year, or next year, or the next, it is going to happen,” he said. Carmichael stated that Greyhound racing is a dying industry that has been outlawed in many venues. He argued that the industry is harmful for dogs, and that it should not be considered a priority for the state’s funding.

Senator Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, spoke against the bill, saying that the industry was not in decline. Weld stated that in 2019, this industry generated $124 million, a 34% increase from the last ten years. Weld also opposed the bill saying that there was no plan described for finding homes for the dogs involved if the industry was terminated.

Senator William J. Ihlenfeld, D-Ohio, also rose in strong opposition to the bill. “This bill would be catastrophic to the city of Wheeling,” he said. He argued that the economic impact of the Greyhound Racing industry is substantial and also stated that he would not support the industry if he found that the dogs were mistreated.

When the Senate voted on the bill, it was rejected 11-23.

The Senate passed SB 747, which requires the Bureau of Public Health to develop a Diabetes Action Plan. This plan would include convening a task force, conducting data, drafting a plan for prevention, disease management and treatment and tracking relevant statistics regarding diabetes.

Senate bills 6, 204, 652, 655, 686, 740 and 748 were also passed and will advance to the house.

The Senate also passed House bill 4501, which amends procedures for refusing offenders from commitment to a jail. The bill also authorizes the acceptance of certain offenders who refuse medical treatment.

Two bills returned from the House to the Senate with amendments. The Senate concurred with the House to complete legislation for these bills.

SB 620 authorizes the Commissioner of the Division of corrections and Rehabilitation to approve home plans for inmates and to establish requirements for the program.

HB 4007 requires a physician to perform life-saving measures on a child born alive during an abortion.

The Senate also adopted Resolution 46, congratulating the Victory Baptist Academy volleyball team for winning the 2019 WV Christian Education Association State Volleyball Tournament.

The Senate is adjourned until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.

The Senate Finance Committee will meet at 3:00 p.m. today and again at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow in room 451M.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet at 3:00 p.m. in room 208W.

The Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will meet at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.