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House Judiciary Met Today

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Today, the House Judiciary Committee met and discussed HB 2006-committee substitute and HB 2205.

The Committee Substitute of HB 2006 was approved in the committee to go to the House floor. HB 2006 would increase the penalties for violating the Whistle-blower Law. The bill additionally authorizes the termination from employment for a violation, instead of the current allowance of a suspension not to exceed six months. 

HB 2205 would exempt hearing oil used for residential purposes from the Motor Fuel Excise Tax. It was amended today to include propane used for the purposes of home heating. It was approved and will be sent to the Finance Committee. 

Day Three in the House

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Today, 22 new bills were introduced to the House of Delegates. Among these bills were HB2329 and HB2339. 

HB2329 would make the production, manufacture, or possession of fentanyl unlawful. 

HB2339 would create the Intrastate Coal and Use Act. It establishes that the environmental regulation of coal and certain coal products mined and used within the state are exclusively regulated by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. This bill also states the legislative authority and defines terms. 

Committee Meetings Monday, February 13th

Judiciary 9:30 a.m. in House Judiciary- 410M

Roads and Transportation: 1 p.m. in Gov. Org- 215E

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

Finance: 2 p.m. in House Finance- 410M

Rules: 2 p.m. in Gov. Org.- 215E

Joint Finance and Joint Pension and Retirement: 3 p.m. in Chamber

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Monday, February 13.

Senate Introduces 21 New Bills

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The Senate met today briefly to introduce 21 new bills. These bills included SB 241 and SB 246.

Senate Bill 241 would create the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Act of 2017.

Senate Bill 246 would implement water quality standards of drinking water.

Senate Resolution 11 was adopted today. This designated February 10, 2017 as Dental Hygienists Day.

The Select Committee on Tax Reform will beet today at 1 p.m. in 451M.

 

The Senate is adjourned until Monday the 13th at 11 a.m. 

Senate Confirmations Committee Hold First Meeting

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The Senate Confirmations Committee met briefly 10 a.m. Friday.

Members discussed regular meeting times, as well as adopted the agenda for the committee.

For now, meetings are expected to take place 10 a.m. each Friday.

Senate Education Forms New Subcommittee, Hears Request for SB 184

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The Senate Education Committee met Thursday and approved the creation of the Subcommittee on School Choice.

Senator Robert Karnes (R-Upshur) will serve as chair of the subcommittee, and Senators Mike Azinger (R-Wood) and Robert Plymale (D-Wayne) will serve as members.

Following this decision, Senator John Unger (D-Berkeley) asked that SB 184 relating to the privitization of higher education be sent to the Education Committee for discussion, once it is out of the Government Organization Committee.

Unger said the Education Committee need to have a say in the bill’s progress, as it pertains to an aspect of education.

“This is an urgent matter,” Unger said, since the decision on SB 184 could affect what direction the state goes in to fund education overall.

The next meeting for the Senate Education Committee has not yet been announced.

Senate Energy, Industry & Mining Committee Hold First Meeting

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The Senate Energy, Industry & Mining Committee met briefly 1 p.m. Thursday.

Members adopted the rules and agenda for the committee, which followed with a movement to adjorn by the committee chair, Senator Smith (R-Tucker).

The next committee meeting has yet to be determined.

Senate Finance Warned of Possible Recession

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The Senate Finance Committee reviewed several areas of potential shortcomings in the state’s fiscal status during a meeting Thursday at 9:30 a.m. with Deputy Revenue Secretary Mark Muchow presenting a report from the West Virginia Department of Revenue.

In his presentation, Muchow warned the committee of a possible recession next year, which would mostly come about as a result of West Virginia’s slow employment rate, which has a projected growth of 2.5 percent from 2015-2019, in comparison to the projected national average of 4.9 percent.

Muchow said many factors work to inhibit the state’s progress, including “sluggish” wage growth over the past four years, slow recovery from drops in coal and natural gas profits and exports, and a lack of significant income tax and sales tax revenue growth.

Muchow said the state should expect a $200 million budget gap this year, with a gap of $500 million in 2018.

West Virginia’s greatest challenge, Muchow said, is that job growth takes place in urban areas, but many of the state’s citizens live in rural communities that might not have as much access to potential job opportunities now that coal is a declining source of revenue.

The Senate Finance Committee will focus more on how these factors apply to Governor Justice’s proposed budget bill at their next meeting Thursday 3 p.m.

40 Bills Introduced in Senate

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The West Virginia Senate met briefly today to introduce 40 bills. Some of the bills included SB 200 and SB 228.

Senate Bill 200 would increase high-quality educational opportunities within the public school system.

Senate Bill 228 relates to workers compensation disability and death benefits.

Senate Resolution 9 and Senate Resolution 10 were adopted today. These resolutions recognized the St. Marys High School boys cross country team for winning the 2016 Class AA/A state championship and the St. Marys High School football team for winning the 2016 Class A state championship.

The following committees are meeting today:

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Education at 2 p.m. in 451M

Government organization at 2 p.m. in 208W

Energy at 1 p.m. in 208W

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

The following committees are meeting tomorrow:

Confirmations at 10 a.m. in 208W

 

The Senate adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

House Convenes for Day Two of the 83rd Legislature

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Today, the House of Delegates convened for day two of the 83rd Legislature. Citations were presented and remarks made by delegates. Several bills presented including HB 2129, HB 2130, HB 2157, and HB 2315.

HB 2129 would state the legal right and authority of state and local law enforcement to enter public areas on or adjacent to any private club, or take other appropriate police action to enforce the underage drinking laws of this state. 

HB 2130 would require legislators to annually pass a drug test in order to receive any pay or expense reimbursement.

HB 2157 would change the mandatory school instructional days from one hundred eighty days to minutes over a period of one hundred eighty days based upon the minimum amount of hours of instruction offered to students provided by state board rules. 

HB 2315 would require that the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs conduct hearings to report to the Select Committee on Minority Issues and to create the West Side Revive Pilot Program for community development. 

Committee Meetings Today

Finance: 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. in House Finance- 460M

Energy: 2 p.m. in House Judiciary- 410M

Health and Human Resources: 2 p.m. in  House Gov. Org- 215E

Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse: 3:30 p.m. in House Gov. Org.- 215E

Legislative Oversight Committee on Education and Accountability: 5 p.m. Senate Finance- 451M

Commitee Meetings Tomorrow, Friday February 10th

Judiciary: 10 a.m. in House Judiciary 410M

 

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

Senate Convenes Session, Introduces 198 Bills

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The West Virginia Senate convened at Noon today to reconvene the 1st Regular Session of the 83rd Legislature.

Senate Resolution 8 was adopted, which recognizes the contributions of Gary K. Wilson to Mineral County and the State of West Virginia.

The Senate introduced bills 1-198 this afternoon. Senate Bill 71 would create a 24/7 Sobriety Program, Senate Bill 69 would create a Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights, and Senate Bill 63 would require school counselors to spend all their time on comprehensive school counseling programs.

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

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

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

UPDATE:

The Senate convened briefly following the State of the State Address to  introduce the  Budget Bill 

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m.

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