It was a long floor session in the House today. The House concurred with the Senate on two bills to complete legislative action.

House Bill 4801 prohibits the State Treasure from entering term or condition contracts. The bill also requires the State Treasure to announce the commencement of the WV Security for Public Deposits Program by publishing a notice in the State Register at least 30 days before the commencement. The Senate amended the bill by making the text match that of Senate Bill 455. The House concurred to complete Legislative action.

Senate Bill 300 clarifies that although the Office of the Inspector General is housed within the Department of Health, it is a separate and autonomous office. The House concurred to complete Legislative action.

Nine bills passed today in the House, including the following:

House Bill 4851 allows public and private schools to employ school security officers. SSOs must be retired law-enforcement officers in good standing. The individuals must complete training and certification courses in relevant state and federal laws, school and personal liability issues, security awareness, mediation and conflict resolution, de-escalation, disaster and response, awareness of racism, cultural diversity, and implicit bias, working with students with disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, mental health needs, substance use disorders, and past traumatic experiences, and student behavior dynamics. SSOs are limited to taking a student into detention. With the appropriate training, SSOs will be permitted to carry a firearm. An amendment was adopted to remove the words “systemic and individual” regarding racism.

House Bill 5054 creates license types for birthing centers. The bill streamlines administrative requirements and processes for birthing centers to make them more consistent with other OHFLAC-regulated facilities.

House Bill 5064 removes the loan value of a motor vehicle be less than $9,500 to allow auto dealers, licensed automobile auctioneers, motor vehicle repair facilities, or towing companies upon whose property or place of business an abandoned or junked motor vehicle has been abandoned to obtain a certificate of title and registration for the abandoned motor vehicle or junked vehicle.

House Bill 5057 sets the referral fee for an insurance company or producer to a one-time fee of no more than $100.

House Bill 5298 prohibits unsuccessful candidates in a primary election from being nominated by a different political party for placement on the subsequent general election ballot.

Bills introduced today can be found here.
Resolutions introduced today can be found here. 

The House is adjourned until tomorrow, February 9, 2023, at 11 a.m.

Committee Meetings, today Feb. 8
The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 434.
 The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 410.

Committee Meetings, tomorrow Feb. 9 
The Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 460 for Budget Hearings, a meeting to follow. Feb.
The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 410.
The Education Committee will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 434.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.
The Judiciary Committee will meet after the floor session in Room 410.

Today, the House of Delegates passed eight bills.

House Bill 4863 creates the Patriotic Access to Students in Schools Act. The bill allows representatives of a patriotic society to speak with and recruit students to participate in their organization during school hours to inform them on how the patriotic society can further students’ interests and civil involvement.

House Bill 4933 removes dentures from applying to the $1,000 limit for Medicaid Dental Coverage. It takes effect on July 1, 2024.

House Bill 5056 allows full-time school service personnel to substitute in other service personnel positions on a day-to-day basis.

House Bill 5153 updates the requirements of the WV STEM Scholarship. It allows for students of public, private, charter, home, mico, and pod schools to be eligible for the scholarship.  

House Bill 5158 updates the special education code.

House Bill 5179, Jaycie’s Law, requires the WV Department of Education to establish a policy to support the educational and parenting goals of pregnant and parenting students. Each county board shall have a written attendance policy for pregnant and parenting students which shall include excused absences for labor, delivery, recovery, and prenatal/postnatal medical appointments. Mothers shall be given at least eight weeks for recovery and fathers shall be given two weeks. County boards shall ensure the parents remain on track to graduate by providing academic support such as weekly virtual or homebound instructor visits.  

House Bill 5200 requires school counselors to participate in the School Counselors Conference once every two years beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. The bill also requires counselors to receive training regarding building, trades, and apprenticeship programs available to students.

House Bill 5248 creates licenses for residential behavioral health centers and non-residential behavioral health centers. The regulation and oversight of all behavioral health centers by the OHFLAC. The Inspector General shall create rules.

Bills introduced today can be found here.

The House is adjourned until tomorrow, February 8, 2023, at 11 a.m.

Committee Meetings, today Feb. 7
The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460 for Budget Hearings, a meeting to follow. Feb.
 The Judiciary Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410. 
The Education Committee will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 434.
The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

Committee Meetings, tomorrow Feb. 8 
The Committee on Seniors, Children, and Families will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Jails and Prisons will meet at 9:45 a.m. in Room 410.
The Committee on Fire Departments and EMS will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 434.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.
The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410.
 The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 434.
 The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Judiciary Committee will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, February 8, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in the House Chamber for HB 5243 – Relating to Women’s Bill of Rights.

Today, the House of Delegates passed two resolutions and seven bills and postponed eight bills. 

Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 recognizes and honors the First Responders Honor Board’s nominees for the Medal of Valor. The Medal of Valor is presented to those who go above and beyond the call of duty as firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical services personnel, and other professionals. The individuals nominated, recognized, and honored West Virginia State Police Corporal David S. Fry, Upshur County Department of Homeland Security/County Emergency Manager, Deputy Director Derek V. Long, and Upshur County Sheriff John Michael Coffman.

House Joint Resolution 21 proposes an amendment to the WV Constitution, which prohibits individuals who are not US citizens from voting in elections within the state. If the resolution passes both the House and the Senate, it will be on the ballot of the 2024 general election. 

House Bill 5018 gives the DEP authority to regulate community air monitoring programs to ensure proper scientific methods for data collection and evaluation are followed. The data cannot be used to for regulatory action or as evidence in court. 

Opponents of the bill had issues with not allowing the data to be used as evidence. They felt that it is the court’s decision what should and should not be admissible in court proceedings. Some said the bill is imposing on the judicial system. 

Proponents stated the bill does not attack or health community air monitoring. The Secretary of DEP can use the data from air monitoring to decide if an investigation may be needed to protect communities. 

House Bill 5084 requires retailers to verify indentation and age upon the purchase of vapes and vape products. 

House Bill 5091 removes the requirement that critical infrastructure be enclosed by a fence or barrier or marked with no entry sign. The bill increases penalties for the destruction or theft of critical infrastructure. The bill states anyone who willfully damages or destroys equipment in a critical infrastructure facility causing damages more than $2,500 is guilty of a felony and shall be fined $25,000 to $100,000 or be imprisoned for one to five years. For a second offense, the individual would be guilty of a felony and fined between $100,000 and $500,000 and/or be imprisoned for five to ten years. 

House Bill 5122 removes the age cap of 45 years for deputy sheriffs and the age cap of 40 years for all municipal police officers starting their careers. 

House Bill 5257 states the pay scale for magistrate court clerks, magistrate assistants, magistrate court deputy clerks, family court secretary-clerks, and family court judges shall be set by the Administrative Director of the Supreme Court. 

House Bills 4851, 4704, 5038, 5050, 5054, 5064, 5083, and 5252 were postponed.

Bills introduced today can be found here.
Resolutions introduced today can be found here. 

The House is adjourned until tomorrow, February 7, 2023, at 11 a.m.

Committee Meetings, today Feb. 6
 The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 1:45 p.m. in Room 460.
 The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 434.
 The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.

Committee Meetings, tomorrow Feb. 7 
The Committee on the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 215E.
 The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 460.
The Committee on Artificial Intelligence will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 434.
The Committee on Workforce Development will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 410.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.
The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460 for Budget Hearings, a meeting to follow. Feb.
 The Judiciary Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410. 
The Education Committee will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 434.
The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Judiciary Committee will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, February 8, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in the House Chamber for House Bill 5243 – Relating to Women’s Bill of Rights.