Blog – Page 288

Six Bills Pass House in Morning, Complete Legislation On One

House Floor Session

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February 27, 2012

The House passed several bills on 3rd reading today with one bill in particular considerable debate. House Bill 4486 passed and is in relation to the disclosure of insurance coverage.

Additional bills passed on the floor include House Bill 4583, which deals with the termination and resignation deadlines of school personnel, and House Bill 4322, which would add coyote and fox to the list of species to be permissible to hunt at night with artificial light. There were also three others bills passed which were House Bill 2278, House Bill 4236, and House Bill 4424.

The following committees will meet today:

Health and Human Resources- 4 p.m.- 215E

The House is in recess until 2 P.M.

Update:

Following this morning’s floor session, the House met in the afternoon to complete legislation on House Bill 4493 and advance many others. With the signature of Governor Tomblin, House Bill 4493 will establish memorial days for certain military veterans.

Twelve bills advance to 3rd reading including House Bill 4645, which involves changing the membership requirements for a board of governors, and House Bill 4257, which would allow opportunities for late voter registration for citizens overseas.

A total of 58 bills were advanced to second reading on the House Special Calendar.

The following committees will meet this afternoon:

Finance- 3 p.m.- 460M

Judiciary- 3 p.m.- 410M

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

Senate Passes 13 Bills

Senate Floor Session

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February 27, 2012

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In today’s floor session, the Senate passed 13 bills and read 45 for a second time. One of the bills that was passed is Senate Bill 386, which would clarify entities included in waters-edge group for net income tax. The bill would provide clarification of the entities to be included in a water’s-edge group for corporation net income tax purposes.

Another bill that was passed is Senate Bill 572, which would replace the term “advanced nurse practitioner” with “advanced registered nurse.” It would provide a new definition, make technical corrections, and provide a grandfather clause that would permit the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses to set an application fee.

One bill that was read for a second time is Senate Bill 576. This bill would change the school personnel termination, resignation, retirement and rehiring deadlines.

The following committees will meet today:
Judiciary 3 P.M. – 208W
Finance 2 P.M. – 451M

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Government Organization 10 A.M. – 208W
Economic Development 9 A.M. – 451M
Transportation and Infrastructure 10 A.M. – 451M

The Senate will be in recess until 5:30 p.m.

UPDATE: The Senate met after a recess to take up committee reports and read 15 bills for the first time. One bill that was read for the first time was Senate Bill 51, which would provide that adultery is a bar to receiving alimony in a divorce proceeding. It also allows an adjustment to be made if a party learns of adultery after entry of divorce decree. Other bills included Senate Bill 149 , Senate Bill 153 , Senate Bill 342 and Senate Bill 362.

The Senate is adjourned until 11 A.M.

Prince Railroad Station Bill Completes Legislation

Senate Floor Session

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February 24, 2012

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During today’s floor session, the Senate recognized Senate Resolution 43 which memorializes Lloyd Jackson, former Senate President, who passed away last year.

The Senate completed legislative action on House Bill 4415, which would renovate and put to use the railroad station at Prince to accommodate Boy Scouts as the travel to visit the Summit Bechtel Family Scout Reserve. Legislative action was also completed on House Bill 4087 and House Bill 4493.

Additionally, the Senate passed Senate Bill 496, Senate Bill 551, Senate Bill 564, Senate Bill 566, Senate Bill 575 and Senate Bill 673.

Fifteen bills were read for the second time today. Senate Bill 535 has been laid over for one day and maintains it position on second reading.

Sixteen bills were on first reading, including House Bill 4122 , relating to alternative programs for teacher education.

The following committees will meet Monday morning:

Judiciary 9 a.m. – 208W

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

Glenville State College Bluegrass Band Entertains House

House Floor Session

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February 24, 2012

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Members of the House were treated to the sounds of the Glenville State College Bluegrass Band at the start of today’s session. Following the performances, members presented a citation to the Chemical Valley Rollergirls for introducing a new activity to the Charleston area.

One House Resolution was adopted that will recognize the Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the House also adopted five House Concurrent Resolutions.

There were six bills passed by the House with one bill completing legislation. Senate Bill 379 will now await the signature of Governor Tomblin, and will instate that the Board of Registered Professional Nurses designate certain treatment & recovery programs for licensees. The remaining bills passed included House Bill 4630, House Bill 2740, House Bill 4028, House Bill 4037, and House Bill 4530.

There were also six bills to advance to 3rd reading including House Bill 4322, which would add coyote and fox to the list of species in any color artificial light is permitted for hunting at night, and House Bill 4486, which relates to the disclosure of insurance coverage.

The House also read 11 bills on first reading. Among those was House Bill 4281, which would increase the rate of pay for the West Virginia State Police.

The following committees will meet today:

Judiciary 12:30 p.m. – 410M

Finance 1:30 p.m. – 460M

The House is in recess until 3 P.M.

This afternoon, the House met briefly to receive committee reports.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Monday, February 27.

House Names Memorial Highway after Purple Heart Recipient

House Floor Session

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February 23, 2012

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Several House Resolutions were adopted on the floor today including House Resolution 87, which names the four mile stretch of highway in Mineral County after war hero and Purple Heart recipient Sargent James “Aubrey” Stewart. House Resolution 86 names a bridge in Mineral County after Private Woodrow Wilson Barr, and House Resolution 13 celebrates the contributions of the Bluefield Coal Show to the West Virginia Coal Industry.

In addition, the House also passed six bills today including House Bill 4020, which recognizes students with outstanding statewide test scores, and House Bill 2657, which creates the West Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The House advanced six bills to 3rd reading as well. Of those, Senate Bill 379, would instate that the Board of Registered Professional Nurses designate certain treatment & recovery programs for licensees, and House Bill 2740 would make covenants that restrict the installation or use of solar energy systems unenforceable. The House also advanced House Bill 4028, House Bill 4037, House Bill 4530 and House Bill 4630.

There were also seven bills were read for the first time today.

The following committees will meet today:

Government Organization- 1:30 p.m.- 215E

Finance 2 p.m. – 460M

Judiciary 2 p.m. – 410M

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Judiciary- 2 p.m.- 410M

Government Organization- 9:30 a.m.- 215E

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

Senate Passes Two Bills

Senate Floor Session

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February 23, 2012

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In today’s floor session the Senate passed two bills and read seven for the first time. Senate Bill 501 was passed. This bill would require health insurance coverage of hearing aids for individuals under eighteen years of age. The bill would also set a date for coverage, set age limitations and modify some benefits for accident and sickness insurance.

Senate Bill 544 was also passed, it would extend the expiration date of exemptions for occupied vehicles with sleeper-berth compartments from May 1, 2012 to May 1, 2017, in the Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act which regulates the idling time of a diesel-powered motor vehicle, subject to certain exceptions.

Senate Bill 606was one of seven bills read for a first time, it would create a procedure for forfeiture of items related to child pornography arrests and other computer crimes and prosecutions.

The following committees will meet today:
Banking and Insurance 2 P.M. – 208W
Education 2 P.M. – 451M
Finance 3 P.M. – 451M
Health and Human Resources 1 P.M. – 451M
Judiciary 3 P.M. – 208W

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Economic Development 9 A.M. – 451M
Judiciary 9 A.M. – 208W
Military 10 A.M. – 208W
Transportation and Infrastructure 10 A.M.- 451M

The Senate is in recess until 4 P.M.

UPDATE:The Senate reconvened for this afternoon’s session after a brief recess to take up committee reports and read five bills for the first time. Senate Bill 656 was one of the bills that was read, it would require direct health care providers wear identification badges. The other bills included Senate Bill 76, Senate Bill 514, Senate Bill 535, and Senate Bill 572.

The Senate is adjourned until 11 A.M.

Vol. XXIII Issue 6

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February 22, 2012

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Bluegrass Band Plays During Senate Floor Session, 12 Bills Pass

Senate Floor Session

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February 22, 2012

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The Senate opened session today with a performance from the Putnam Family of Looneyville, West Virginia. Proceeding the families performance, the Senated honored and recognized two resolutions. Senate Resolution 38 designated February 22 as Homeschool Day at the Legislature and Senate Resolution 39 recognized Community College Day.

The Senate also passed 12 bills today, 11 of which passes unanimously. Senate Bill 507, which passed 29-4, with one Senator absent, involves dedication of proceeds from county excise tax on transfer of real property. Senate Bill 568, which relates to college and career readiness, and Senate Bill 555, which would provide contractor exception to sales and use tax exemption for certain nonprofit youth organizations were both read on third reading today in the Senate.

Additionally, two bills, Senate Bill 544, which would extend expiration dates for certain diesel-powered motor vehicles idling restrictions, and Senate Bill 501, which would require health insurance coverage of certain hearing aids, were read on second reading. Senate Bill 113 was laid over on second reading.

The Senate is in recess until 4 p.m.

UPDATE:The Senate reconvened for this afternoon’s session after a brief recess to take up committee reports.

The following committees will meet tomorrow morning:

Judiciary- 9:30 a.m.- 208W

Finance- 9:30 a.m.- 451M

Banking and Insurance- 9 a.m.- 208W

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

In the House

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February 22, 2012

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As of 4 p.m.,Wednesday February 22, 2012, the 43rd day of the 80th Legislatures 2nd Regular Session, 1344 bills have been introduced in the House. Of those, 61 have passed the House and have moved on to the Senate for further consideration. Bills passed by the House this week include:

House Bill 3174 would allow freestanding liquor stores to conduct responsible liquor sampling events on days of the week, other than Sunday.

House Bill 4007 would provide that an individual who has voluntarily quit employment to accompany a spouse serving in active military service who has been reassigned within the military be qualified for unemployment benefits.

House Bill 4018 would permit licensed real estate appraisers to have access to commercial or residential review documents. The bill also disallows county assessors from charging more than $3 per form.

House Bill 4053 relates to abduction, kidnapping and human trafficking and would require the Department of Health and Human Resources to develop a plan for the delivery of services to victims of human trafficking, authorize the establishment of standards the training of law-enforcement to effectively investigate human trafficking offenses and update the state’s criminal laws to address human trafficking, especially the trafficking of children.

House Bill 4070 would change the basis for paying the county salary supplement equivalent pay rate for division of rehabilitation teachers from the county where the facility is located to the county where the administrative headquarters of the division are located.

House Bill 4087 would extend the moratorium on the regular severance tax on the privilege of severing timber to coincide with the expiration of the “Workers’ Compensation Debt Reduction Act” tax on the privilege of severing timber.

House Bill 4088 would repeal the West Virginia telecommunications tax and would preserve provisions governing the confidentiality and exemptions from disclosure of certain information received by the tax commissioner during the study of the business of telecommunications service and related businesses.

House Bill 4126 would authorize a legislative rule for the Higher Education Policy Commission regarding authorization of degree-granting institutions and rules of the Council for Community and Technical College Education regarding the Workforce Development Initiative Program and tuition and fees.

House Bill 4245 would permit certain auxiliary lighting on motorcycles.

House Bill 4299 would permit a county board of education to use bus operators regularly employed by the county board of a different county to operate buses leased by the county if bus operators from the owning county are unavailable.

House Bill 4403 would ensure that the filing deadline for certified write-in candidates is sufficiently early to allow for the inclusion of absentee ballots of voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986 (UOCAVA).

House Bill 4330 would provide that driver’s licenses might contain information designating the licensee as an honorably discharged veteran of any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, upon request of the veteran. The bill would also redefine ‘previously licensed’ as an applicant who has held at least a level two or comparable driver’s license.

House Bill 4338 would raise the maximum value amount of an abandoned motor vehicle from $2,500 to $7,500 prior to its sale by an enforcement agency at a private sale or auction. The bill also requires that an additional $10 fee be paid to the Division of Motor Vehicles for titling an abandoned vehicle.

House Bill 4398 would declare certain claims against the state and its agencies to be moral obligations of the state to be paid with public moneys. A separate bill would appropriate the moneys.

House Bill 4433 would award high school diplomas to veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The diplomas would be provided regardless of whether the veterans were attending high school before serving in the military.

House Bill 4493 would provide that March 30 be recognized as Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day, July 27 be recognized as the Korean War Veteran Recognition Day and August 7 be recognized as Purple Heart Recognition Day.

West Virginia Schools for the Deaf & Blind Students Entertain House

House Floor Session

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February 22, 2012

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The House was treated to a musical performance this morning by students of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf & Blind in Romney. The students performed through sign, voice and musical instruments the songs,”Big Yellow Taxi” and “Sweet Home, West Virginia.” A citation also recognized the 250th anniversary of the founding of the town of Romney.

Three bills were passed by the House today, including House Bill 4126, which would authorize legislative rules for the Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical College Education; House Bill 4139, which would authorize miscellaneous agencies and boards to promulgate legislative rules; and House Bill 4220, which would authorize the bureau of commerce to promulgate legislative rules.

Six bills were read for the second time this morning and were advanced to third reading, among them is House Bill 4260, which relates to insurance coverage for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Additional bills advanced to third reading today include: House Bill 2657, House Bill 4020, House Bill 4049, House Bill 4327 and House Bill 4451.

Read for the first time today was House Bill 2740, which would make covenants that restrict the installation or use of solar energy systems unenforceable. Another five bills were also on first reading today and include: Senate Bill 379, House Bill 4028, House Bill 4037, House Bill 4530 and House Bill 4630.

The following committees will meet today:

Finance 1 p.m. – 460M

Judiciary 1 p.m. – 410M

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Judiciary 9 a.m. – 410M

Education 9 a.m. – 434M

Finance 9 a.m. – 460M

The House is in recess until 4 p.m. this afternoon.

UPDATE: Following the recess, the House breifly convened to recieve committee reports from afternoon committee meetings.

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