Today in the House HB 2007 and HB 2205 were sent to the House Finance Committee to be reviewed and HB 2099 Committee Substitute was requested.

HB 2007 would eliminate the courtesy patrol programs operated by the Division of Highways and the Parkways Authority. If the Finance Committee approves the bill, it will be moved to the floor. 

HB 2205 would exempt heating oil for residential purposes from the Motor Fuel Excise Tax. 

HB 2099 Committee Substitute would define the act of leaving the scene of a crash involving death or serious bodily injury as a felony. It 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 2006 was read for the second time today and will be voted on tomorrow. 

Committee Meetings Today

Political Subdivisions: 1 p.m. in 434M

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

There will be a budget presentation at 4 p.m. in the House Chamber.

Committe Meetings Tomorrow 

Judiciary: 9 a.m. in 410M

Gov. Org.: 9 a.m. in 215E

Finance: 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. in 410M

Veterans Affairs and Homland Security: 1 p.m. in 434M

Education: 2:30 p.m. in 434M

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

The Roads and Transportation Committee met today and discussed HB 2007. 

HB 2007 would eliminate the courtesy patrol programs operated by the Division of Highways and the Parkways Authority. 

Originally, the funding from these programs was to be transferred into the general revenue, but the committee amended it to send the funds into the State Road Fund. 

This isn’t the first time discussion on a bill of this nature has come up. Delegate Jim Butler mentioned that he proposed a similar bill a few years back. Other delegates remembered speaking to a similar bill last session. 

Delegate Ed Evans discussed how beneficial the courtesy patrol is to the state. He said the officers are the “primary eyes and ears on the road for Amber Alert.” He pointed out that they’ve administered CPR to people and saved lives.

Delegate Boggs opposed the bill. He said that on his way to Charleston from Braxton County there were 11 vehicles on the side of I-79 and six of those vehicles had people in them; the others had bags over the window. The courtesy patrol provides to those who are stranded. 

Delegate Jim Butler supported the bill, stating that when he did his research, years ago, it cost $300 per stop by the courtesy patrol. He stated that the program was “not a very wise use of taxpayers’ money.”

Delegate Howe rose in support of the bill. He stated that 73% of people have roadside assistance insurance. If this program cost $4 million, we are spending money and stopping $3 million from coming into the state from insurance companies. He said looking at the deficient; it’s important to remember “4 million here, 4 million there, it all adds up.”

Delegate Hamrick looked up his GEICO insurance bill and found that he pays a little over $6 every six months for roadside assistance. He supported the bill.

The bill passed through the Roads and Transportation Committee with the recommendation it be sent to the floor after being sent to the Finance Committee.