Blog – Page 238

Legislature Begins Extended Budget Session

Senate Floor Session

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March 16, 2015

The House and Senate both briefly met to continue work on the budget bill. The House also announced enrolled bills. Budget Conferees for House Bill 2016 are Senators Mike Hall, Chris Walters, Dave Sypolt, Greg Boso, Roman Prezioso, Ron Stollings and Robert Plymale and Delegates Eric Nelson, Bill Anderson, Bob Ashley, Ray Canterbury, Brent Boggs, Harry Keith White and Larry Williams.

The Budget Conference Committee is meeting at 5:30 p.m. in Room 460M

The House and Senate are both adjourned until 9:00 a.m. tomorrow

Legislature Convenes Extended Budget Session

House Floor Session

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March 15, 2015

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After adjourning the regular session both the House and Senate reconvened briefly to begin the extended budget session where the only bill to be considered is House Bill 2016, the Budget Bill.

The House and Senate will both convene at 5 p.m. for the Extended Budget Session

Senate Passes 11 Bills; Recess till 12:05

Senate Floor Session

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March 15, 2015

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The senate reconvined after a short recess and finished legislation on 11 bills. House Bill 2939 will clarify and specifically include sexual misconduct by a student upon another student as warranting mandatory reporting to law enforcement. The bill makes failure to report such misconduct a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a fine of $10,000. The bill also increases the penalty for other failures to report. Senate Bill 584 will transfer Cedar Lakes Camp and Conference Center to private, nonstock, not-for-profit corporation.

The Senate is adjurned 12:05 A.M.

UPDATE:

They convined briefly for extended budget session.

Senate Completes Five Bills; Recess Until 9:15

Senate Floor Session

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March 14, 2015

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Following the recess the Senate met and completed legislation on five bills. Senate Bill 455 will allow boards of governors of institutions of higher education more flexibility in the procurement and payment of certain expenses.

Senate Bill 439 was amended and passed. It will clarify and update the law regarding higher education personnel generally and to clarify the roles of the Higher Education Policy Commission, the Community and Technical College Council, and higher education institutions, especially as it relates to classification and compensation.

The Senate refused to concur with house amendments to Senate Bill 325 which would set deadlines for candidates to file financial disclosure statements with the Ethics Commission. The bill clarifies to which office the Ethics Commission sends copies of the statements. The bill disqualifies any candidate who fails to file the statement by the deadline.

The senate is in recess until 9:15 P.M.

Workers’ Compensation Bill Completes Legislation, Recess Until 7:20 PM

Senate Floor Session

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March 14, 2015

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Following recess, the Senate met and completed action on nine bills after concurring in House amendments. House Bill 2011 completed legislation, relating to disbursements from the Workers’ Compensation Fund where an injury is self inflicted or intentionally caused by the employer.

The Senate refused to concur with the House on Senate Bill 286, relating to the exemptions compulsory immunizations of students. The body requested the House recede.

The Senate refused to recede on four bills, and requested a conference. House Bill 2664 was one of the bills to be appointed a conference committee, creating “Andrea and Willy’s Law.” The Bill would increase penalities for driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs.

The Senate is in recess until 7:20 p.m.

House Completes Legislative Action on Workers’ Compensation Fund Bill

House Floor Session

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March 14, 2015

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The House reconvened to hear Senate messages. The House concurred and completed legislative action on House Bill 2011. This bill relates to to disbursements from the Workers’ Compensation Fund where an injury is self inflicted or intentionally caused by the employee.

The House completed legislative action on five bills. One such bill was Senate Bill 318. This bill relates to payment of wages by employer. Another bill was House Bill 2878, which will create a one-stop electronic business portal in West Virginia. These bills await signature by the governor.

The House passed 18 bills. These include bills such as Senate Bill 310, which would exempt nonprofit public utility companies from B&O tax. Another such bill would be Senate Bill 447. This bill would allow issuance of diploma by public, private or home school administrator. These bills await concurrence by the Senate.

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Update

The House reconvened this evening to take up Senate messages. The House concurred with and completed legislative action on six bills. These include House Bill 2161, which adopts the Uniform Act on Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking. Another such bill was House Bill 2395. This bill creates the Storm Scammer Consumer Protection Act.

The House also passed Senate Bill 529. This bill relates to PERS, SPRS and TRS benefits and cost.

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Update

The House rejected House Bill 2688, due to a tie vote of 49 for and 49 against.

The House stands adjourned until 5:00 p.m. Monday March 16th, 2015

Senate Passes Common Core Bill, Recess Until 5 PM

Senate Floor Session

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March 14, 2015

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Today, the last day of the regular session, the Senate met and completed action on 17 bills. Six of the bills, including SB 423, were completed after the Senate concurred in House amendments and passed the bills. Senate Bill 423 amends the Aboveground Storage Tank Act, now focusing on tanks with a capacity of 10,000 gallons or above. House Bill 2840 also completed, and would provide an alternate means for students to make up lost instructional days.

The Senate also passed 12 bills, 10 of which were on third reading including Senate Bill 2934, which would repeal certain common core standards. Senate Bills 312 and 393 also passed after the Senate amended House amendments. Senate Bill 312 would set a deadline by which canidates of general elections or their financial agents must file financial statements in order to avoid being disqualified. Senate Bills 393 would reform West Virginia’s juvenile justice system.

House Bill 2263 was referred to Judiciary on third reading. HB 2263 adds language to the West Virginia Code to provide guidance for prosecuting attorneys in cases involving abused and neglected children.

The Senate is in recess until 5 p.m.

Last Day of the First Session of The 82nd Legislature

House Floor Session

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March 14, 2015

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Today is the 60th day and last day of the first session of the 82nd Legislature.

During this morning’s floor session the House took up seven bills up for immediate consideration to concur with Senate amendments in order to complete legislative action on them. One House Bill 2005 which relates to alternative programs for education of teachers.

The House completed legislative action on four bills. One such bill was Senate Bill 242 which would create criminal penalties for certain automated telephone calls during state of emergency or preparedness. Another bill was Senate Bill 250 which relates to conservation Agency financial assistance applications from district supervisors.

The delegates refused to concur with the Senate amendments on House Bill 2016, the Budget Bill. This bill makes appropriations of public money out of the treasury in accordance with the Constitution. This sets the state’s spending for fiscal year 2016 and directs the money to the appropriate agencies. House Bill 2646 was another bill the body refused to concur with the Senate amendments. This bill relates to legalizing and regulating the sale and use of fireworks.

In addition, four bills were amended and passed. Senate Bill 434 was moved up on the calendar and was amended before being passed. The bill relates to horse racing. Senate Bill 286 was heavily debated then passed. This bill relates to exemptions for compulsory immunizations of students.

The House Resolution 22 was taken up for immediate consideration and adopted. This will commemorate the life of H. Laban White.

The House adopted twenty-six other resolutions.

WVPB2 will be live broadcasting today from 11a.m. -5 p.m. and 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

The House is in recess until 2:30 p.m. this afternoon.

House Completes Legislative Action on Uniform Interstate Family Support Act

House Floor Session

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March 13, 2015

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This evening the House met to complete legislative action on three bills. Including Senate Bill 267 which would repeal code relating to Governor’s Office of Health Enhancement and Lifestyle Planning. Senate Bill 363 which will establish maximum rates and service limitations for reimbursement of health care services by Court of Claims. Senate Bill 510 which will create the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.

The House concurred and completed House Bill 2098 and House Bill 2224. HB 2098 will authorize those health care professionals to provide services to patients or residents of state-run veterans’ facilities without obtaining an authorization to practice. HB 2224 will provide that historical reenactors are not violating the provision prohibiting unlawful military organization.

The House refused to concur with Senate amendments on Senate Bill 37. A conference committee was appointed.

Six bills were passed as well. One bill was Senate Bill 273 relating to brewer, resident brewer and brewpub licensing and operations. Another was Senate Bill 267, which would repeal code relating to Governor’s Office of Health Enchantment and Lifestyle Planning.

The House advanced thirty bills to third reading.

The following House committees will meet tomorrow:

Judiciary will meet at 9:15 a.m. in 410M

The House is adjourned until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow

WVPB2 will broadcast for eight hours on Saturday from 11a.m. -5 p.m. and 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

House Passes Amended Aboveground Storage Tank Act

House Floor Session

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March 13, 2015

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Today the House passed Senate Bill 423. This bill will amend the Aboveground Storage Tank Act. The bill will be sent to the Senate for concurrence with House amendments.

The House completed legislative action on two bills. One such bill was Senate Bill 407, which implements a state safety oversight program. The other bill to complete was Senate Bill 486, which authorizes special license plates for Civil Air Patrol vehicles. Both bills await the governor’s signature.

Eight other bills were passed by the House. One such bill was Senate Bill 323. This bill relates to municipal home rule. Another bill that passed was Senate Bill 12, which relates to payment of separated employee’s outstandings wages.

The House is in recess until 4:00 p.m.