Blog – Page 216

Five Bills with DEP Rule Changes Pass Through Senate Energy Committee

Senate Committee

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February 16, 2017

The Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee met today to discuss five bills. These bills were SB 106, SB 110, SB 111, SB 112, and SB 113. These bills contain rule modifications that promote consistency in language that goes all the way up to a federal level.

Senate Bill 106 would modify a DEP rule relating to various permits.

Senate Bill 110 would modify a DEP rule relating to emission standards for hazardous air pollutants.

Senate Bill 111 would modify a DEP rule relating to ambient air quality standards.

Senate Bill 112 would modify a DEP rule relating to voluntary remediation and redevelopment.

Senate Bill 113 would modify a DEP rule relating to awarding of matching grants to local litter control.

Chair of the committee, Senator Smith (R-Tucker), said this would be the last meeting regarding rule changes and from here on out it would be the “meat and potatoes.”

House Senior Citizen Issues Discuss Two Bills

House Committee

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February 16, 2017

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Today the Committee on Senior Citizen Issues met and discussed HB 2404 and HB 2167.

HB 2404 would bar people who are convicted of certain criminal offenses from acquiring property from their victims through joint tenancy or inheritance; the bill also creates exceptions.

HB 2167 would add senior citizens to the Silver Alert program; the bill also defines a term and provides an establishment date. Silver Alert is a public notification system to broadcast information about missing senior citizens. It uses various media outlets to get information out about the missing persons.

Erin’s Law on Second Reading and 2 other bills on First Reading today in House

House Floor Session

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February 16, 2017

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Today, the House convened and HB 2099, also know as Erin’s Law, was read for second time. HB 2303 and HB 2319 were read for the first time.

HB 2099 would define the act of leaving the scene of a crash involving death or serious bodily injury as a felony. The bill also establishes the act of leaving the scene of a crash that does not proximately cause death or injury as a misdemeanor and defines bodily injury and serious bodily injury.

HB 2303 would increase the fines and community service hours for littering.

HB 2319 would require members of the Legislature to disclose contributions and fund-raising events while the Legislature is in session.

Committee Meetings Today

Senior Citizens Issues: 1 p.m. in 215E

Energy: 2 p.m. in 410M

Health and Human Resources: 2 p.m. in 215E

Select Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse: 3:30 p.m. in 215E

Committee Meetings Tomorrow

Judiciary: 9 a.m. in 434M

Sub-Committee on Anti-Competitive Behavior: 9 a.m. in 215E

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Three Bills Move to Third Reading Today in the Senate

Senate Floor Session

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February 16, 2017

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Today the Senate moved three bills from second to third reading. The bills moved were SB 127, SB 230, and SB 233.

Senate Bill 127 would authorize the Department of Revenue to promulgate legislative rules.

Senate Bill 230 would relate to West Virginia officials carrying concealed firearms nationwide.

Senate Bill 233 would exclude protection of oral communication uttered in child care centers from the Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Act.

Senate Bill 174, which is on third reading, was laid over one day.

Senate Resolution 14 was adopted today which designates February 16, 2017 as West Virginia Homeschool Day.

Senator Woelfel (D-Cabell), during remarks, expressed his opposition to SB 184 which would privatize the West Virginia School of Orthopedic Medicine. He said that the state could potentially lose money on this transaction.

The following meetings are today:

Health and Human Resources at 1 p.m. in 451M.

Energy, Industry and Mining at 1 p.m. in 208W.

Education at 2 p.m. in 451M.

Government Organization at 2 p.m. in 208W.

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M.

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W.

Tomorrow mornings meetings are:

Judiciary at 9 a.m. in 208W.

Confirmations at 9:30 a.m. in 451M.

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

Senate Finance Hears from Attorney General

Senate Committee

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February 16, 2017

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The Senate Finance Committee heard a presentation 9:30 a.m. Thursday from State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey about the budget needs of the Attorney General’s Office.

Morrisey is asking for $4.48 million to be appropriated to the Attorney General’s Office from the budget, as opposed to Governor Justice’s proposed appropriation of $4.44 million.

Morrisey said the extra funds will be used to provide enough reserves to handle “unpredictable” cases that may either end in a settlement or go to an expensive trial.

In the end, Morrisey said the requested appropriation will also help the Attorney General’s Office to stay with in-house counsel and take in the Medicaid Fraud Unit to be “more aggressive” in fighting Medicaid fraud–both of which, Morrisey said, will save money for the state and its taxpayers.

Senate Finance will meet 3 p.m. Thursday in room 451M.

Senate Finance Hears from Treasurer and Auditor

Senate Committee

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February 15, 2017

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The Senate Finance Committee heard from State Treasurer John Perdue and State Auditor John McCuskey as to their budget requests for the 2018 fiscal year.

The committee first heard from Perdue, who gave a presentation on the accomplishments of the Treasurer’s office, as well as the problems they could use more funding for.

Perdue asked the committee to appropriate 3.6 million to the Treasurer’s Office, as opposed to the 3.1 million proposed in Governor Justice’s budget bill, in order to fund several programs run by the office that Perdue believes would help lift the state out of “tough, tough times.”

After a long series of questioning, the committee heard a comparatively short presentation from McCuskey.

McCuskey said the 2.7 million allocated to the Auditor’s Office in Justice’s budget proposal is “sufficient enough for us to perform our constitutional duties.”

Committee Chairman Mike Hall (R-Putnam) reminded the committee after the presentations to research and find any information they might not have been able to acquire from questioning the presenters.

Senate Finance will meet 9:30 a.m. Thursday in 451M.

House Sub-committee on Anti-Competitive Behavior Reports Seven Bills

House Committee

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February 15, 2017

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The House of Delegates sub-committee on Anti-Competitive Behavior met today and reported seven bills to the committee on Government Organization. The bills were HB 2286, HB 2287, HB 2278, HB 2285, HB 2288, HB 2289 and HB 2250.

House Bill 2286 would change how voter registration works at the DMV. Steve Conley, the Deputy Secretary of State said that the DMV and County Clerks cannot support automatic voter registration and that it is unmanageable for them. He suggested that the previous legislation changing voter registration to an opt in to opt out be repealed or HB 2286 go forward in order for automatic voter registration to continue. HB 2286 was reported to the committee on Government Organization with no recommendation.

House Bill 2287 would remove ineligible voters from the county clerk’s record and was reported to the committee on Government Organization with the recommendation that it is adopted.

House Bill 2285 would modify a rule regarding sanitarians. Included would be redefinitions of some of the language of the rule and an added 60-day grace period with a $50 late fee for finishing continuing education for sanitarians. This bill was amended by Delegate Pat McGeehan (R-Hancock) and was reported to the committee on Government Organization with recommendation that it is adopted. Delegates Mike Caputo (D-Marion) and Jon Williams (D-Monongalia) opposed the amended bill’s passage.

House Bill 2288, House Bill 2289, House Bill 2250, and House Bill 2278 were also reported to the committee on Government Organization with the recommendation that they are adopted.

Senate Agriculture Reports One Bill, Postpones Other Bill

Senate Committee

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February 15, 2017

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The Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development has reported SB 25 to the floor with the recommendation that it pass.

SB 25 would establish a credit against personal and corporate income taxes for farmers who donate edible agricultural products to food banks and other nonprofit food programs serving those in need.

A representative thanked the committee on behalf of West Virginia food banks across the state.

The committee also considered SB 27, which would permit home-based, micro-processing foods to be sold at farmers markets under certain requirements, before deciding to postpone their decision on the bill until the next meeting after they are able to find more information on ensuring those foods would be safely administered.

Local West Virginia farmer Pamela Kessler shared her support for SB 27’s passage with the committee. She said she has struggled with being able to provide her clients with the products they wish to buy from her.

“Not being able to give your customers what they want, that hurts,” Kessler said. “It feels like we are being handcuffed.”

Her husband and six children were present with her at the meeting.

Bill to Help WV Schools for the Deaf and Blind Approved in House Education Committee

House Committee

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February 15, 2017

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HB2123 would make the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind eligible to participate in any and all funding administered for distributed by the West Virginia School Building Authority. It was approved by the Education Committee and will be reported to the House floor with the recommendation that it do pass but first be referred to the House Finance Committee.

During this committee meeting, the WV Higher Education Policy Commission presented an overview and fiscal year 2018 budget analysis. It reported that graduation from WV four-year institutions is up by 16 percent and that the demand for four-year degree holders is increasing.

A Sub-Committee on K-12 was created and will be chaired by Delegate Upson. Members of the sub-committee include Delegates Dean, Baldwin, Westfall, and Thompson.

Senate Economic Development Consider Bill to Revitalize Historic Districts

Senate Committee

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February 15, 2017

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The Senate Committee on Economic Development considered a bill Wednesday that would help provide more funding to rehabilitation projects for certified historic structures throughout the state.

The bill, SB 238, would raise the tax credit allowed for these projects from 10 percent to 25 percent.

After hearing from several different supporters of the bill, including representatives from the West Virginia State Preservation Office and the City of Fairmont, the committee voted to postpone their decision on the bill until the next meeting.

Mike Gioulis of Revitalize West Virginia Downtowns said every county except for Clay has a historic district that could benefit from the tax credit increase.

Gioulis said the increase would also attract more projects to the state, that would in turn create more jobs and raise property values for historic cities.

Currently, West Virginia has the lowest tax credit of all surrounding states.