Blog – Page 291

Bluegrass Band Plays During Senate Floor Session, 12 Bills Pass

Senate Floor Session

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February 22, 2012

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.

In the Senate

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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 Legislature’s 2nd Regular Session, 674 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Of those bills, 38 have passed this week and have been sent to the House for consideration. The bills passed by the Senate this week include:

Senate Bill 73 would require parental consent for minors between the ages of 14 and 17 to use tanning devices. The bill would also require parental accompaniment for minors using tanning beds under the age of 14.

Senate Bill 204 would provide a clear zone for stopped vehicles along a highway as well as the cut off the traffic flow in emergency situations.

Senate Bill 336 would eliminate exemptions from licensing a mortgage lender that may be available to subsidiaries of banks.

Senate Bill 341 would create the Restroom Access Act. It would require access to employee-only restrooms for individuals with certain medical conditions. The bill also would require people with medical conditions to present a valid medical alert restroom access card provided by National Foundation for Clinical Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Senate Bill 353 would exempt individuals with a valid Concealed Carry Permit from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, also known as NICS, when purchasing a firearm.

Senate Bill 373 would allow the Superintendent of the State Police to provide other law-enforcement officers’ entry level training with a fee-free training but would allow a fee for advanced level training. The bill would also create a special revenue account titled the Academy Training and Professional Development Fund, which would be available to pay for the entry-level training and various other training costs.

Senate Bill 410 would align West Virginia law to federal law regarding withholding of personal income tax on gambling winnings. The bill would require proceeds of more than $5,000 from any lottery prize to be subject to withholding.

Senate Bill 471 would authorize the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to establish reasonable fees of compensation for mental hygiene services instead of a circuit court. The bill would also establish a payment procedure for the compensation, which must be submitted to the administrative director of the courts for payment.

Senate Bill 477 would prohibit the possession of wild and exotic animals. The bill would provide for a permit for those possessing exotic animals prior to effective dates of the bill. Additionally, the bill would remove animals if they are being kept in violation of the bill.

Senate Bill 510 would change the process for analyzing votes after an election or after a requested re-count. Currently, five percent of all precincts are randomly selected for ballots to be hand-counted to confirm the machine counts. The bill would require the hand count would be of one contest or ballot issue per randomly selected precinct instead of hand counting every single contest in an election.

Senate Bill 518 would prohibit certain persons from being elected or appointed to positions under the laws of the State of West Virginia. The bill states no person under conviction for treason, a felony, perjury or bribery in an election may be elected or appointed to any elective office. If any person holding office under the new law is convicted of such crimes then they would be vacated from office.

Senate Bill 603 would authorize the Adjutant General to establish an entity to operate morale, welfare and recreation facilities for military families within the state.

Completed Legislation

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February 22, 2012

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Senate Bill 30 would provide additional means to notify the DMV of the purchase of a junked vehicle.

Senate Bill 209 would update the meaning of “federal adjusted gross income” as well as certain other terms used in the West Virginia Personal Income Tax Act.

Senate Bill 210 would update terms in the Corporation Net Income Tax Act including the definition of “federal taxable income.”

Lawmakers Honor Veterans, Push for Policies that Support Them

Maribeth Smith

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February 22, 2012

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Lawmakers Honor Veterans, Push for Policies that Support Them

This week the West Virginia Legislature celebrated Veterans Visibility Day. Resolutions were adopted in both the House of Delegates and Senate to honor West Virginia’s citizens who dedicated their lives to service for this country and state. West Virginia has more citizens per capita who have served in the United States Armed Forces than any other state. Veterans Visibility Day was designated to honor the past, current and future veterans of the state.

Senator Erik Wells, Chairman of the Senate Military Committee said, “We owe our democracy to the men and women who have been willing to serve during both times of war and peace. So when we honor our veterans, we are indeed honoring our democracy and the freedoms we enjoy.”

Delegate Richard Iaquinta, Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said “The importance of this day is to learn about our history so that we don’t make the same mistakes.”

During a ceremony in the House of Delegates Chamber, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard General James Hoyer spoke to those in attendance, including many, many West Virginia veterans.

“Our children have had the opportunity to do anything and be anything they wanted to be because of the service and sacrifice of people like you,” Hoyer said.

During the 2012 Regular Session, legislators have proposed numerous bills and resolutions seeking to honor and support the lives of veterans. The content of each strive to act on issues that would address and recognize specific issues facing veterans of wars and conflicts as well as those current serving in the Armed Forces.

House Bill 4433, which passed in the House on February 20 and awaits action by the Senate, would award a high school diploma to any surviving veteran of World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars as well as any other conflict or war that West Virginia has authorized a bonus. Diplomas would be awarded to those who left school prior to graduation to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, who did not receive a high school diploma and who were honorably discharged.

“Veterans really appreciate this bill because they left to support our country during the Vietnam and Korean Wars, fulfilling their duties as citizens, yet want to finish high school but couldn’t,” said Delegate Iaquinta.

Another bill, Senate Bill 152, which is in the Senate Finance Committee, would deal with unemployment benefits of certain spouses of military personnel. The bill specifies if a spouse quits his/her job to be with his/her military spouse who has been reassigned as a part of his/her service, that spouse would not be disqualified from unemployment benefits. A House version of this bill has already been passed by that body.

“The hardest job in the military is that of the military spouse,” said Senator Wells. “This bill allows the spouse to collect unemployment and the spouse’s former employer is not charged. Many states provide this for military spouses and most times, the military spouse returns to the workforce quickly.”

Delegate Iaquinta added, “A military spouse is just like a civilian spouse. If a young man or women is working in West Virginia and his/her spouse was not in the military they would get it so we think they deserve it just like anybody else.”

Meetings will continue during the interim meetings and work related to studying returning veterans and looking at how war may or may not have affected them will also continue.

Senator Wells said, “I’m proud the Legislature agreed to continue a study on returning veterans and the psychological impact the war may or may not have had on them. This was not a bill, but was requested by the Interim Veterans Affairs Committee and agreed to by the Joint Committee.”

Recognizing the commitment of West Virginia veterans and members of the military has always been a top priority of the West Virginia Legislature. Lawmakers will continue to work to pass legislation to lighten the burdens West Virginia soldiers and their families are dealing with as they serve their state and country around the world.

House Passes Bill Related to Human Trafficking

House Floor Session

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February 21, 2012

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During this morning’s floor session, the House completed legislative action on Senate Bill 30, which would provide additional means to notify the DMV of the purchase of a junked vehicle.

The House passed another five bills today, including House Bill 4053, which would require the Department of Health and Human Resources to develop a plan for the delivery of services to victims of human trafficking; House Bill 4070, which would change the basis for paying the county salary supplement equivalent pay rate for division of rehabilitation teachers; House Bill 4088, which would repeal the West Virginia telecommunications tax; House Bill 4398, which would declare certain claims against the state and its agencies to be moral obligations of the state; and House Bill 4493, which would establish special memorial days for certain military veterans.

Bills read for the second time today include: House Bill 4126, House Bill 4139 and House Bill 4220.

Six bills were on first reading today and advanced to second, including House Bill 2657, which would create the West Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The following committees will meet today:

Energy, Industry and Labor, Economic Development and Small Business 1 p.m. – 460M

Roads and Transportation 2 p.m. – 215E

Judiciary 3 p.m. – 410M

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

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Agriculture 8:30 a.m. – 215E

Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security 9 a.m. – 460M

Natural Resources 9:15 a.m. 215E

Banking and Insurance 10 a.m. – 215E

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

Senate Adopts West Virginia University Resolution

Senate Floor Session

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February 21, 2012

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The Senate passed 10 bills today on third reading, majority of which passed unanimously during today’s floor session. A sampling of these bills include: Senate Bill 353, which relates generally to possesion of firearms; Senate Bill 507, which relates to voluntary and involuntary hospitilization of mentally ill persons; and Senate Bill 536, with deals with authorizing auditor’s land department to accept credit, debit or charge card payments.

Additionally, the Senate adopted two resolutions today. Senate Resolution 36 designated February 21 as West Virginia University Day. The resolution was received by the University’s President, Jim Clements. Also on hand today was the Orange Bowl trophy from West Virginia University’s thrilling Orange Bowl victory in January over Clemson University. Senate Resolution 37 honored Concord University’s Football Team.

A total of 12 bills were read on second reading, and one bill, Senate Bill 113, was laid over on second reading. A sampling of bills read on second reading include: Senate Bill 369, which would permit Deputy Sheriff Retirement System retirants to modify benefit options upon divorce; Senate Bill 468, which would allow Courthosue Facilities Improvement Authority to issue bonds; and Senate Bill 478, which would create apprentice hunting and trapping license.

Two bills, Senate Bill 544 and Senate Bill 501 were read on first reading.

The following committees will meet today:

Judiciary- 3 p.m.- 208W

Education- 2:00 p.m.- 451M

Health and Human Resource- 1 p.m.- 451M

The following committees will meet tomorrow morning:

Energy, Industry and Mining- 10 a.m.- 208W

Agriculture- 9 a.m.- 208W

Natural Resources- 1 p.m.- 208W

Interstate Cooperation- 1 p.m.- 451M

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

Senate Celebrates Veterans Visibility Day

Senate Floor Session

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February 20, 2012

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The adoption of several Senate Resolutions took up a majority of time during today’s session. One such resolution revolved around honoring veteran’s visiting today’s floor session. Senate Resolution 32 designates February 20 as Veterans Visibility Day. Senator Wells of the 8th District gave a speech commending the visiting veterans. Additionally, Senate Resolution 33, which honored Jefferson County Day, Senate Resolution 34, which honored Jefferson Leadership, and Senate Resolution 35, which honored Sheperdstown, were all adopted during the Senate session today.

Senate Bill 343, relating to construction zone signage, completed legislation today. Several bills were also read on third reading today. A sampling of these bills passed include: Senate Bill 204 relates to removal of vehicles from highway in emergency situations; Senate Bill 540, relates to subdivision land development plans or plats; and Senate Bill 554 relates to write-in voting when using electronic voting systems.

Ten bills, including Senate Bill 341, which would create the Restroom Access Act, were read on second reading. Senate Bill 406, which regulates commerical dog-breeding operations, was laid over on second reading.

A total of 22 bills were introduced today, including Senate Bill 671, which would impose a consumer sales tax on utility terrain vehicles.

The following committees will meet today:

Judiciary- 3 p.m.- 208W

Agriculture- 2 p.m.- 451M

Pensions and Retirement- 1:45 p.m.- 208W

Finance- 3 p.m.- 451M

The following committees will meet tomorrow morning:

Government Organizations- 10 a.m.- 208W

Health and Human Resources- 1 p.m.- 451M

Transportation and Infrastructure- 10 a.m.- 451M

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

House Recognizes Veterans, Passes Veterans Diploma Bill

House Floor Session

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February 20, 2012

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The House recognized our state’s Veterans today. House Resolution 26 designated Feb. 20, 2012 as Veterans Visibility Day in the Legislature. Per capita, more citizens from West Virginia have served in our nation’s armed forces than from any other state.

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

Additional bills passed include: House Bill 3174, relating to liquor and beer sampling events; House Bill 4119, which would provide a definition for an athletic director who is employed by a county board of education; House Bill 4142, which would authorize the Department of Administration to promulgate legislative rules; and House Bill 4245, which would permit certain auxiliary lighting on motorcycles.

Six bills were on second reading today and were advanced to third reading, among them is House Bill 4493, which would establish special memorial days for certain military veterans.

Bills read for the first time today include: House Bill 4126, House Bill 4139, House Bill 4220 and House Bill 4351.

Today is the last day for bills to be introduced in either chamber. A total of 37 bills were introduced by the House today.

The following committees will meet today:

Judiciary 1:00 p.m. – 410M

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

Education 3:00 p.m. – 434M

Health and Human Resources 4:00 p.m. – 215E

Political Subdivisions 5:00 p.m. – 460M

Judiciary Hearing 4:30 p.m. – House Chamber

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Judiciary 9 a.m. – 410M

Education 9 a.m. – 215E

Finance 9:30 a.m. – 460M

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