Friday, August 1, 2025
Friday, August 1, 2025
Home Blog Page 151

Judiciary Committee Sends Sexual Assault Bill to the Senate

admin
-
0

The Senate Judiciary Committee met Thursday afternoon to discussed three bills on the agenda.

Senate Bill 72 Relates to sexual assault victims. The bill would give sexual assault victims a bill of rights. The bill of rights would include:

·   The right to receive a forensic medical examination

·   The right to have a sexual assault evidence collection kit tested and preserved

·   The right to be informed of the results of any forensic medical examination

·   The right to receive notification of evidence obtained from a forensic medication examination no fewer sixty days prior to the date of the intended destruction or disposal of said evidence

·   The right to have said evidence to be preserved for an addition period not to exceed ten years as a result of a written request

Senate Bill 102 would authorize certain West Virginia courthouse security officers to carry concealed firearms while off duty with court approval. Qualifying individuals would be required to complete yearly training.

Senate Bill 199 is Bundle Nine and included 32 other bills. One of those bills include Senate Bill 192 which relates to industrial hemp. The bill would establish requirements for licensing, cultivating, testing, supervision, production, process and sale of industrial Hemp in West Virginia.

All three bills were approved by the Committee, and were reported to the Senate to be voted upon.

RA

Government Organization Committee Approves Home Rule Bill

admin
-
0

The Senate Committee on Government Organization met Thursday afternoon to discuss two items on the agenda.

Senate Bill 4 relates to municipal home rules. The Municipal Home Rule Pilot Program, which gives certain cities throughout the state the power to create legislation for their jurisdiction, sunsets this year. The proposed bill would make the program permeant. Rules created during the pilot program will carry over unless it interferes with additional state legislation.

Senate Bill 270 relates to Streamlining process for utilities access to Division of Highways (DOH) rights-of-way. The bill would make DOH rights-of-way more efficient.

Both bills were approved by the Committee, and were reported to the Senate to be voted upon.

RA

Senate Finance Reports Bills to Senate, Receives Budget Presentation

admin
-
0

The Senate Finance Committee took five bills under consideration, 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24.  

Of the bills on the agenda, Senate Bills 149, 243, 256 and 297, were unanimously voted to be sent to the full Senate.   

  • Senate Bill 149 would exempt certain veterans from concealed weapons license fees. 

  • Senate Bill 243 would require racetrack participate in WV Thoroughbred Development Fund. 

  • Senate Bill 256 would allow certain deductions from individual personal income tax refunds

  • Senate Bill 297 would extend the expiration of military members’ spouses’ driver’s license.  

Senate Bill 263, which would limit the number of days legislators may be compensated during extended and extraordinary sessions, was reviewed by the committee and reported to a subcommittee established by Committee Chair, Craig Blair, R-Berkeley. Fellow Senator, Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur, was named as the subcommittee chair.  

Committee members also received information pertaining to the West Virginia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s fiscal year 2020 budget proposal. 

 

Comprehensive Education Reform Presented to Senate Education

admin
-
0

Information pertaining to a Comprehensive Education Reform bill was delivered to the Senate Finance Committee, 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24.  

Committee Chair, Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, called the meeting to order by assuring members that discussions of the bills would take place following the initial presentation  of information.  

“We’re going to give the committee plenty of time to look over it and digest it,” Rucker said. 

Currently, the proposed bill is seeking to establish changes which include—  

  • A retirement conversion which would allow for teachers to convert 10 days of sick leave into 1 month of PEIA coverage.  

  • A tax credit which would award $250 to teachers for qualifying education equipment costs. 

  • An increase of the current teacher/pupil ratio from a cap of 25-28 students to 28-32 students. 

  • Withholding of pay if a teacher or service personnel is to participate in a strike.  In cases where the employee still meets the 250 day requirement of their contract, pay would still be granted.  

  • Broadening the definition of personal service personnel to include social workers and psychologists.  

  • Establishing a flat 1,400 student enrollment for funding. 

  • Awarding an additional $24-$25 million for school districts to hire new teachers.  

  • Providing a 5 percent pay increase for teacher in addition to a one time bonus for teachers who meet 60 percent of the state’s current math requirements. 

A large portion of the bill also pertains to the state’s public charter schools. Many of these changes would establish— 

  • Requirements for an application of an authorizer to become a charter school, including duty and responsibilities. 

  • Requirements to establish a public charter school contract. 

  • A renewal of public charter schools contracts.  

  • An appeals process intended to decide whether or not to establish a public charter school.  

  • Potential funding for public charter schools.  

  • The ability  for a public charter school to participate in the state’s teacher retirement system. 

Prior to the reading of the bill, Rucker explained that the bill was intended to create a stronger education system for West Virginia students.  

“This is a vision that has been worked on with input from many people. I appreciate the cooperation,” Rucker said. “I hope we make this bill the best it can be.”

 

House Health and Human Resources Committee Advances Six Bills

admin
-
0

The House Committee on Health and Human Resources convened at 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 24, in 215-E to consider six pieces of legislation.

House Bill 2407 was first on the agenda, a bill to modernize the Nursing Practice Act. This bill would require that registered professional nurses in the state cannot practice without a license. Additionally, the bill also renames the board that oversees registered nurses, details the requirements for the composition of that board, and establishes permit and license requirements.

This bill passed the committee without question, and was advanced to the floor with recommendation that it should pass.

House Bill 2492 was also advanced to the House Floor without much discussion. This bill would revise the communication mechanism in which abuse and neglect cases could be reported within the state. It would allow the WV Department of Health and Human Resources to explore other methods of reportage that victims could access, such as an electronic portal.

House Bill 2524 would permit a West Virginia license pharmacist to move prescriptions for maintenance drugs that are for thirty days to be 60 or 90-day prescriptions when needed. In order for a pharmacist to do this, a list of criteria must be met for both the patient and the drug being administered. This would mostly apply to medications such as birth control, which are taken by a patient over a long term period.

Delegate Mike Pushkin (D-Kanawha) proposed an amendment to this bill, which would address the issue of some West Virginians in rural locations not having access to life-saving drugs or consistent transportation to get those consistent drugs.

Pushkin referenced a specific case of a man in Ohio who died because he could not get an emergency refill of his insulin.

The amendment to HB2524, which would allow a pharmacist to dispense certain drugs that are considered to be over Schedule II for a 72-hour period. Pharmacists would also have the option to allow for an individual to get a 30-day emergency refill for non-controlled substances, rather than the current 10-day refills they can currently get.

After members from the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy said that the amendment to the proposed legislation could be of benefit to them, Pushkin’s amendment passed overwhelmingly.

House Bill 2524 advanced to the floor with the recommendation that it pass as amended.

House Bill 2525 would permit licensed pharmacists to administer tobacco cessation therapy drugs to people over the age of 18 in the state of West Virginia without having to have a prescription. This bill was voted to advance to the House Floor with recommendation that it should pass.

House Bill 2531 would permit advanced nurse practitioners with a specialization in psychology to perform assisted therapy with the proper training. This would allow for more staffing opportunities for struggling state mental health facilities, which struggle to employ mental health experts. This bill was advanced to the floor with the recommendation that it should pass.

House Bill 2530 would create a voluntary certification for state recovery residencies, if they choose to become a part of the certification process. The DHHR would have discretion over how they facilitate accreditation, and how they evaluate the practice of the certified residencies. The bill has no force of law, and is completely voluntary.

House Bill 2530 was advanced to the House Floor with recommendation that it should pass.

 

Committee Passes Bills Regarding Financial Exploitation

admin
-
0

A House committee passed two bills delegates hope will help protect the elderly from financial exploitation.

The Committee for Seniors, Children, and Family Issues met Thursday, taking up House Bill 2618. This bill includes undue influence as a factor in the definition of financial exploitation of an elderly person or protected person.  There have been many cases where undue influence has been the major factor of cases concerning the elderly, but were dismissed in court because that term is not recognized with financial exploitation. The bill passed and will be referred to the Judiciary Committee. 

The second bill, House Bill 2614, provides protective orders for victims of financial exploitation. The committee adopted a small amendment to the bill to make minor grammatical errors in the bill. The bill passed and will also be reported to the Judiciary Committee.

TH

Raleigh County Delegate Urges House to Decriminalize Cannabis

admin
-
0

Citing West Virginia’s population decline and economy, Delegate Mick Bates urged House members to take up a bill that would decriminalize cannabis in West Virginia.

Bates, D-Raleigh, addressed the House in Thursday’s floor session, urging support of House Bill 2331, relating to legalizing cannabis production, sales and adult consumption, of which he is the lead sponsor.

“Cannabis can fix the greatest problem West Virginia faces, cannabis is the single greatest economic opportunity West Virginia has,” Bates said.

Six bills on third reading passed in the House without any discussion;

  • House Bill 2346 relates to changing the licensing requirement for certain casino employees. 
  • House Bill 2360 relates to placing the Athletic Commission under the Lottery Commission.
  • House Bill 2412 relates to criminal acts concerning government procurement of commodities and services.
  • House Bill 2422 concerns the time for the observation of “Celebrate Freedom Week.”
  • House Bill 2459 exercises authority to exempt individuals domiciled within the state from certain restrictions contained in federal law.
  • House Bill 2462 concerns the issuing of a certificate to correctional employees to carry firearms.

     The House will reconvene Friday at 11 a.m.

TH

Senate Honors West Virginia University

admin
-
0

The Senate passed Senate Resolution 20 which designated Jan. 24 as WVU and WVU Extension Service Day at the Legislature. 

The university’s president, Gordon Gee, accepted the resolution on behalf of faculty and staff from the university.  

Members of the Senate also passed Senate Resolution _, which also designates Jan. 24 as Human Resources Day.  

Sen. Robert Beach, D-Mononalia, rose to address the Senate and thank the state’s Human Resources employees for their service.  

Senate Bill 223, a rule bundle which would authorize theDepartment of Commerce to promulgate legislative rules, passed while Senate Bills 410 through 425 were introduced.  

  • Senate Bill 412 would establish the Katherine Johnson Fair Pay Act of 2019.  

  • Senate Bill 420 would allow the county commissions to impose amusement tax. 

  • Senate Bill 422 would increase supplemental appropriations to the Public Defender Services.  

The following committees will meet today: 

  •  The Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources at 1 p.m. in 451M.  

  • The Senate Committee on Energy, Industry and Mining will meet at 1 p.m. in 208W.    

  • The Senate Committee on Education will meet at 2 p.m. in 451M.  

  • The Senate Government Organization Committee will meet at 2 p.m. in 208W.  

  • The Senate Finance Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in 451M. 

  • The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in 208W.   

The following committees will meet tomorrow: 

  • The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in 208W. 

 

DHHR to Gain 400 Detox Beds, Begin New Treatment Technique

admin
-
0

The West Virginia Department of Heath and Human Resources will reportedly gain 400 detox beds by the end of the year, Bill Crouch, cabinet secretary of the WV DHHR said.   

The Cabinet Secretary addressed the Senate Finance Committee to update the committee about the department while also presenting their fiscal year 2020 budget request. 

Crouch said that the DHHR’s addition of detox treatment beds are intended to help aid in the rehabilitation process used to battle the state’s opioid crisis.  The addition would put the total amount of detox treatment beds within the state at 900.  

Committee members were also introduced to a new treatment plan which is being planned by the DHHR. Crouch explained that the new treatment process would be unlike anything that’s currently being used and will begin helping individuals plan for life following discharge from treatment once they enter treatment facilities.  

“What we did to fight this problem two years ago won’t work today,” Crouch said,  

In order to aid individuals in treatment, Crouch said that transition agents will also be put into place to help an individual create a plan for reentering the workforce. In addition to a transition agent, Crouch said that support services will be offered during and after an individuals treatment.  

“We have to be prepared to pick up where an individual has left off so we can get them into productive life,” Crouch said. “This is an approach that no other state is using.” 

Crouch also discussed the state’s current child welfare crisis which he said is a direct result of the opioid crisis.  

“We’ve got to tackle the drug problem to get a better handle on the child welfare problem,” Crouch said. 

As a way to tackle the issues, Crouch explained that the department has recently added over 50 Child Protective Services workers by asking existing DHHR workers to become CPS workers and placed in a community.  

“CPS workers are the foundation of our child welfare system, but we need more,” Crouch said.  

Along with the addition of more CPS workers, the DHHR is setting aside a large portion of their budget to help battle the child welfare issues according to Jeremiah Samples, deputy secretary of state at the Department of Health and Human Resources. Other areas featured within the budget include, … and …. 

Sen. William Ihlenfeld, D- Ohio, addressed Samples to ask if additional money in areas of the budget could go towards sexual assault prevention. Currently, prevention for sexual assault receives $125,000 of the DHHR’s budget.  

“If there is any way we could put more money into assault prevention it would be money well spent,” Ihlenfeld said. “The rape crisis centers are operating on crumbs.” 

Samples explained that over the past six years, the DHHR’s budget cuts have resulted in a total of $321,080,767. 

In total for fiscal year 2020, the DHHR is currently requesting $2,123,487,552. 

 

Judiciary Committee Approves Partial Fill of Prescription Bill

admin
-
0

The Senate Committee on Judiciary met Wednesday afternoon to discuss two bills.

Senate Bill 63 relates to partial fill of a prescription. The bill would allow partial filling of a prescription of a controlled substances listed in Schedule II. The bill provides that the partial filling of a prescription is permissible if:

·   It is written and filled in conformity with this article

·   The partial fill is requested by the patient or prescribing individual practitioner that wrote the prescription

·   The total quantity dispensed in all partial fills does not exceed the total quantity prescribed.

Senate Bill 236 relates to voting privileges of people convicted of certain crimes. The bill would provide notice and an opportunity to persons convicted of certain crimes that they are eligible to vote after completion of their punishment. The bill would require people to be notified within one week of completing their full punishment or receiving a pardon.

Both bills were unanimously approved, and were reported to the full Senate to be voted upon.

RA

1...150151152...403Page 151 of 403

House Social Media

Wrap Up: Blog of the West Virginia Legislature

Contact us: webmaster@wvlegislature.gov

Legislature Social Media

Senate Social Media

© West Virginia Legislature 2023