In the Senate
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, February 21, 2007, the 50th day of the 2007 Regular Session, 757 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Of those, 210 have passed the Senate and will now go to the House for its consideration. They include:
Senate Bill 100 would require school employees to be reimbursed for mileage costs when they use their personal vehicle for school business. School employees would be given the same reimbursement that state employees receive when they use their personal vehicles for work-related matters.
Senate Bill 107 would revise current law to include threatening the use of a firearm as robbery in the first degree. This proposed change would charge a robber with first-degree armed robbery for visibly possessing a firearm.
Senate Bill 165 would give funding to certain public elementary schools that adopt school uniform policies. Each school approved by the state board of education to participate in the school uniform pilot program would receive a $10,000 grant. The school’s faculty senate and local school improvement council would decide the distribution of the money. The grant money could be used for the purchase of uniforms, computers and technology, to refurbish playgrounds, to enhance student behavior, to improve school safety, to increase academic achievement and to address the problems of at-risk students.
Senate Bill 376 would allow the Director of the Division of Natural Resources to charge a fee for wildlife that is killed, captured or kept in captivity for the use of scientific studies. The previous law had no charge for a permit to collect these animals.
Senate Bill 388 would establish the procedures for allocating the costs of medical support between the responsible parties in a child support order. This bill also would provide guidelines for setting the medical support, including premium costs.
Senate Bill 479 would allow county commissions to use county money to repair or improve orphan roads after the roads have been declined for repair by the Department of Administration or the Division of Highways. Once a county commission has made improvements or repairs to a road the commission may then apply to the Division of Highways for ownership of the road.
Senate Bill 510 would allow State Board of Education members to participate in the public employees insurance program. The bill would consider these appointed members “employees” during their term in office. The board members would be required to pay the entire premium cost if he or she chooses to be covered by the insurance plan.
Senate Bill 561 would discontinue the exemption that allowed salvage yards built before 1988 to not use screens. The bill would now require all salvage yard owners that are within 1,000 feet of a private residence or 5,000 feet of a residential community to use screens to mask the scrap yard.
Senate Bill 613 would prohibit the transport of a loaded crossbow in a vehicle and would clarify the proper ways to transport the weapon. The bill also would allow a person to hunt with a crossbow only if they have a class Y hunting permit.
Senate Bill 631 would give contractors a refund essentially equaling the sales tax on materials, services, machinery or supplies bought for the construction, alteration, repair or improvement of buildings or structures that are used by people or groups that have exemptions from paying sales taxes.
Senate Bill 667 would establish the Andrew J. Trail Purple Heart Recipient College Bill of Rights Act of 2007. This would allow every resident of the state who has been honorably discharged from any branch of the US Military and has received a purple heart to attend a state college or university without paying tuition or fees for eight semesters. After the eight-semester limit has been met, the recipient will be required to pay the full tuition for any additional semesters.
Senate Bill 738 would require the West Virginia Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority to report any proposed toll or toll revisions to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance. The bill would then require the Legislature to vote on the proposed toll or toll revision.
Senate Bill 750 would reduce the rate of the corporation net income tax from 8.75 percent to 6.5. This reduction would be phased in over the course of three years. For the tax year 2008 the tax would be 7.5 percent and by January of 2009 the tax will be lowered to 7 percent.
In the House
As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 28, 2007, the 50th day of the 2007 Regular Session, 1,276 bills have been introduced in the House of Delegates. Of those, 159 bills have been passed by the House and sent to the Senate for its consideration. Some of these bills include:
House Joint Resolution 14 would request a statewide vote to change the state’s constitution. The proposed amendment, called the Active Duty Armed Services Motor Vehicle Property Tax Amendment, would exempt active duty military personnel from paying the annual property tax on motor vehicles. In order to qualify for this exemption, a person would have to be a West Virginia resident who is serving out of the state on the day the tax is assessed.
House Bill 2027 would allow victims of identity theft to receive an award from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund. A person would have to file a police report and be a West Virginia resident to qualify. Also, as with other crimes eligible under the fund, a victim of identity theft would have to have a tangible economic loss.
House Bill 2059 would provide a salary increase for state conservation officers. It would bring these officers’ salaries in line with those of State Police officers. The raises would be phased in two stages, the first on July 1, 2007, and then on July 1, 2008.
House Bill 2181 would allow state agencies to file their annual reports in electronic form. The electronic reports would be considered as having satisfied the filing requirement; no print version would be necessary. The copy could be provided on CD-ROM or other media or be sent via the Internet. If a state entity does submit its report electronically, it would have to provide a copy to the legislative manager.
House Bill 2309 would make several changes to the tourism development tax credit. Under current law, certain tourism development projects qualify for this credit, in which the maximum amount of credit is equal to 25 percent of approved costs over a 10-year period. If the project is on or next to an abandoned coal mine, the maximum credit is increased to 50 percent. However, the total amount of credit provided by the state currently cannot exceed $1.5 million per fiscal year. The bill would remove this limit but lower the tax credit for former mines to 35 percent. It would also create a tourism development expansion tax credit for existing tourism projects, which would be capped at a statewide total of $1.5 million per year. The bill would also explicitly exclude parimutuel racetracks and limited video lotteries from either tax credit.
House Bill 2461 would provide all employees, both public and private, with the right to inspect their employee personnel file. An employee would also be allowed two copies of the file per calendar year, unless the employee has been fired or laid off, in which case the employee would be able to request another copy. The employer would be allowed to charge $0.10 per page per copy. The request for a copy must be made in writing.
House Bill 2558 would create a program allowing state agencies to donate used personal computers to public schools and low-income school children. The bill would require the state’s Chief Technical Officer to establish such a program. However, the refurbished computers would have to be four years old or less. These computers would not be subject to current laws dealing with state surplus equipment.
House Bill 2583 would expand the required number of tests performed on newborns to 29. In addition to the current four tests, newborns would have to be tested for congenital adrenal hyperplasia, cystic fibrosis and biotinidase deficiency starting in July 2007. Beginning July 1, 2008, several additional tests would be required, including ones for maple syrup urine disease and carnitine uptake deficiency. Positive results from any of these tests would have to be reported to the Bureau for Public Health.
House Bill 2709 would require the installation of fire hydrants at least once every 2,000 feet on all new water mains. This provision would not apply if there were no businesses within 1,000 feet of where the hydrant would otherwise be required. Existing water mains and ones constructed before July 1, 2007, would be exempted from this requirement.
House Bill 2764 would require applicants for insurance provider licenses to undergo a background check before receiving the license. The state Insurance Commissioner would be authorized to require fingerprints from applicants, which could then be sent to the FBI for processing and returning the criminal background check. Any records retrieved from this would be treated with strict confidentiality and could not be used in any civil law suit. Current license holders would not be subject to the check, except if applying for an additional line of authority.
House Bill 2775 would exempt new state residents from paying the motor vehicle privilege tax. This is a 5 percent tax paid on the value of a car at the time it is registered in the state. In order to apply for this exemption, a new resident would have to: prove he or she was not a West Virginia resident at the time the person got the car, present evidence the vehicle was titled in the person’s previous state, be able to show West Virginia residency, properly report the vehicle to the county assessor, and makes application for registration within 30 days of establishing residency. A three-month amnesty period would be established, as well, during which new residents would be able to transfer their titles to West Virginia without penalty. The bill would also eliminate the privilege tax altogether on July 1, 2008, at which time it would be replaced by a 5 percent sales tax.
House Bill 2796 would allow a tax deduction for donations to public colleges and universities in West Virginia. Donations to certain non-profit organizations that support these schools would also be deductible. The deduction would apply only to state personal income taxes, and the amount of the deduction would be capped at 50 percent of federal adjusted gross income.
House Bill 2842 would place restrictions on the sale of soft drinks at public schools. Soft drinks would be completely prohibited in elementary, middle and junior high schools. Only healthy drinks – defined as water, drinks with at least 20 percent real fruit or vegetable juice, and reduced or low-fat milk – would be allowed. High schools would be allowed to sell soft drinks during the school day except during breakfast and lunch hours. High schools would also have to provide at least the same amount of healthy beverages as they do soft drinks.
House Bill 2918 would allow county boards of education to pay up to $500 to a school service employee who announces his or her retirement or resignation. This is similar to an existing bonus available to classroom teachers. In order to be eligible, written notice of the employee’s intent would have to be given to the board on or before February 1st of the year he or she is leaving.
House Bill 2931 would pay tuition and fees for members of the Army or Air National Guard who are enrolled in graduate school. The bill would only cover the cost of obtaining a single Master’s degree. It would expand a current program providing tuition and fees for Guardsmen taking undergraduate courses.
House Bill 3093 would provide a combined form for medical power of attorney and living will. If there are any directions in the combined form that are found invalid, the rest of the form would still be considered valid and the two functions would be considered separable.
House Bill 3228 would prohibit home confinement officers from engaging in sexual acts with a person who is incarcerated. Violation of this provision would be a felony punishable by one to five years in jail or up to a $5,000 fine. Similar laws already apply to parole officers and correctional officers working in jails and prisons.
Completed Legislative Action
(Week of February 21-28, 2007)
Senate Bill 96 will allow fire departments to use flashing yellow or amber lights on their vehicles for the purpose of safety. This bill also stipulates which vehicles are permitted to use red flashing lights, the list includes: ambulances, fire-fighting vehicles and hazard material response vehicles, among others.
Senate Bill 148 will exempt breast-feeding in public from being considered indecent exposure.
Senate Bill 169 will require that insurance companies obtain the title to a totaled vehicle when they pay a claim to the claimant in question. The bill also updates the definition of a totaled vehicle to include damage particular to flooding.
Senate Bill 412 establishes penalties for minors using cell phones while driving. The first transgression will result in a fine of $25; the second, $50; and from the third on, $75.
Senate Bill 591 will set the monetary allowances for the State Road Fund to the Department of Transportation for Fiscal Year 2007.
House Bill 2791 will eliminate jail time as a penalty for violating a peace bond, which is an agreement between a defendant and a judge that the defendant will refrain from threatening or harassing another person. A defendant who fails to keep the peace can be fined up to $250, or if he or she is unable to pay the fine, the judge can order that the defendant’s property be seized.
These bills now will go to the Governor for his consideration.
The Great Seal: A Symbol of West Virginia Sovereignty
The West Virginia State Seal symbolizes the history and foundation of our state. West Virginia entered into the Union on June 20, 1863, and shortly after, on September 26, 1863, the Legislature adopted the joint resolution that made the state seal official.
The Great Seal of West Virginia promotes the state’s natural resources, economic potential and the resolve of its people through the symbols. The front, or obverse, side of the seal is centered around a large boulder meant to symbolize the strength, steadfastness and stability of the state and its citizens. Etched in the stone is the date “June 20, 1863” and in front of the boulder are two hunter’s rifles with a Phrygian cap, or cap of liberty, resting at the cross of the rifles. The liberty cap is also featured on the state seals of New Jersey and New York, as well as the official seals of the U.S. Army and United States Senate.
There are two men on either side of the boulder, each representing an important facet of the state’s economy. A farmer, promoting agriculture, stands with his ax and plow before a cornstalk while a miner, personifying industry, shoulders his pickax before an anvil and sledgehammer.
Bordering the Great Seal, the words “State of West Virginia” and the state’s motto “Montani Semper Liberi”, a Latin phrase meaning “Mountaineers Always Free”, express the independent spirit inherent in all West Virginians.
The reverse side of the state seal serves as the Governor’s Official Seal. The seal has a wreath border composed of laurel and oak leaves, signifying valor and strength as well as fruits and grains, which are prominent agricultural products of the state.
Presiding over the pastoral vista of wooded hillsides and farm animals below, the words “Libertas E Fidelitate” (Freedom and Loyalty) recall our state motto while imbuing the scene with a sense of pride and accomplishment represented by the artist’s rendering of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, one of the greatest engineering triumphs of its day.
The man behind the seal is Joseph H. Diss Debar, a French native who became an influential pioneer for the state of West Virginia. Diss Debar was born on March 6, 1820, in Strasbourg, France. He came to the United States in 1842 and moved to Parkersburg, WV, in 1846 to work as a land agent. Diss Debar resided in Parkersburg and St. Clara, a Doddridge County Swiss-German immigrant colony he founded and named for his wife, Clara Levassor.
Shortly after achieving statehood, West Virginia’s first Legislature created a committee to oversee the formation of a state seal. Peter G. Van Winkle, head of the committee, appointed Diss Debar to prepare drawings for an official seal for the state. Diss Debar submitted a variety of drawings and sketches accompanied with explanations of each to the Legislature. From these drawings, the House of Delegates approved the concept with only a few changes on September 23, 1863, and three days later the Senate approved what is now the Great Seal of West Virginia.
Diss Debar continued working in state government by representing Doddridge County as a member of the House of Delegates in 1864. That same year he was appointed by Governor Arthur Boreman to serve as the first Commissioner of Immigration, where he worked to recruit labor and landowners from abroad.
Joseph Diss Debar died on January 13, 1905, at the age of 84 in Philadelphia. However, his imprint remains through the proliferation of his contribution prominently displayed on all official state documents, both legislative chambers and the state flag.
In the Senate
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, February 21, 2007, the 43rd day of the 2007 Regular Session, 745 bills have been introduced. Of those, 88 have been passed the Senate and will now go on to the House for its consideration. They include:
Senate Bill 68 would allow the Director of the Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training to take into account a coal mine’s failure to comply with previous warnings when deciding whether to issue an order to shut down the mine for reasons of there being an “imminent danger.” The bill also limits the use of “belt air” as mine ventilation and requires the inspection and review of mines that currently use it.
Senate Bill 76 relates to establishing underage drinking as an unlawful act rather than a status offense. Buying alcohol while underage would result in a misdemeanor and may result in a fine of $50 and possible jail time of 72 hours. Anyone who buys alcohol for a minor would be fined up to $100 and be jailed up to 10 days.
Senate Bill 116 would clarify state voyerism laws, and would exempt law-enforcement officers during a criminal investigation and lawful security surveillance.
Senate Bill 177 would create a new Division of Energy in the Department of Commerce. It would also require the Public Energy Authority to develop a five-year energy policy plan to be presented to the Governor and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance before December 1, 2007.
Senate Bill 204 would require magistrate court judges to assess the cost of juries (for the total of their embarkment, mileage, etc.) at their actual cost rather than current the flat rate of $200.
Senate Bill 219 would prohibit smoking in a motor vehicle when those under 14 years of age are present. This would only be a secondary offense, meaning someone could not be pulled over for the infraction, but found to have transgressed only after having been pulled over for another reason.
Senate Bill 387 This bill provides that an honorably discharged veteran may not be denied the opportunity to have a bronze military grave marker placed on his or her gravesite.
Senate Bill 395 would modify the definition of “intractable pain” (meaning difficult to manage) in the law so that it would come into accordance with the one recommended by the Federation of State Medical Boards. This definition change is already being used by the W. Va. Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathy in their policies pertaining to the use of controlled substances to manage pain.
Senate Bill 399 relates to the issuance of drivers’ licenses. Any driver’s license given up upon relocating to another state must be destroyed and the original state must be notified. For an instruction permit, the applicant must pay five dollars to take the written test and may re-take it up to two times. The organ donor option section would also be provided in this section. This bill also states that a level one instruction permit holder, 18 years of age and younger, may not use a wireless communication device while driving unless contacting a 911 system. Penalties range from a $25 first offense, to a $75 maximum fine.
Senate Bill 411 relates to the founding of the West Virginia Correctional Center Nursery Act. The center would allow imprisoned pregnant women to keep their infants with them in a special housing unit. In order to be eligible to participate in the program the inmate must be pregnant at the time she is delivered into the custody of the Division of Corrections, give birth on or after the date the program is implemented and she and the child must meet any other criteria established by the division.
Senate Bill 414 would raise the fees charged by circuit clerks for various services, such as garnishing a person’s salary and executing the seizure of one’s property to provide the payment of a legal judgment.
Senate Bill 489 relates to the duties of the Workforce Investment Council in the development of a strategic five-year state workforce investment plan that would attempt to establish a public agenda with goals of promoting the success of the state. This would attempt expressly, among other things, to find jobs for PROMISE scholars in West Virginia.
Senate Bill 530 would allow political parties to authorize a voter who is not a member of a political party (i.e. an independent), or not affiliated with any party appearing on the general election ballot to vote in the party’s primary election.
Senate Bill 603 relates to the 21st Century Schools Technology Initiative and would replace and enhance current technology used in the state’s classrooms. This bill would bring technology in public schools up to date with that which is now available across the country.
In the House
As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 21, 2007, the 43rd day of the 2007 Regular Session, 1,163 bills have been introduced in the House of Delegates. Of those, 59 have passed the House and will now go to the Senate for its consideration. They include: House Bill 2206 would prohibit a person who is not the owner of a dog from removing a dog’s tag or collar without the permission of the owner, as well as forbid a person from turning off a radio-transmitting collar. The only exceptions to this provision is if the tag or collar must be removed to prevent injury to the dog or if it is removed by a law enforcement officer for a legitimate lawful purpose. Violation of this law would be a misdemeanor offense, punishable by eight to 40 hours of community service and/or a $50 to $150 fine.
House Bill 2575 would modify current law relating to Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) to comply with federal law. The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) would be responsible for imposing civil penalties on any employer who permitted a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle that is out-of-service, and if found in violation the employer would be fined $2,750. The new provision would decrease the period of suspension from 90 days to 60 days for driving a commercial motor vehicle without holding a valid commercial license, operating a commercial motor vehicle while the license is suspended, or operating an “out-of-service” vehicle. In addition, the DMV would immediately disqualify a driver’s privilege to operate a commercial motor vehicle upon notice from the Assistant Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that the driver poses an imminent hazard. Under this bill, the DMV Commissioner would be authorized to suspend or revoke the CDL of any person who is convicted of an offense in another state that would have been grounds for a suspension or revocation in West Virginia. An employer would also be liable for an infraction of federal, state or local regulations pertaining to railroad highway grade crossings, and upon conviction he or she would be required to pay no more than $10,000.
House Bill 2745 would increase the maximum fine for providing alcohol to a person under 21 years old from $100 to $250.
House Bill 2825 would eliminate an antiquated provision in state law that allowed private clubs to segregate on the basis of race or color and still obtain a license to sell alcoholic beverages.
House Bill 2956 relates to civil actions filed in state courts and would amend two sections of state law relating to the legal power of out-of-state plaintiffs. The bill would give plaintiffs a diminished ability to try their case within the state when the basis for the lawsuit does not directly pertain to West Virginia. The burden of proof is placed on the defendant to show that a West Virginia court is not the proper location to pursue that lawsuit. The state could be inappropriate for reasons such as: lack of access to sources of evidence, proximity of witnesses, need to view a property and other factors that precipitate an expedient discovery phase and civil trial.
House Bill 2718 would allow each of the four counties with racetracks (Jefferson, Kanawha, Ohio, and Hancock) to elect whether or not to allow table games at those existing locations.
House Bill 2972 would enforce a requirement that voters fill in a separate area on an electronic voting ballot if he or she is also going to write-in a candidate. Ballots that do not have the separate marking for a write-in candidate would no longer be counted in an effort to lessen the need for county commissioners to inspect each ballot.
House Bill 2955 would continue a flat-rate excise tax on motor fuel at approximately 20 cents per gallon until August 1, 2013.
House Bill 2875 would modify the procedure for filling a vacancy on a county commission in the event that the commissioners cannot agree on a candidate. Currently, the commissioners must decide who will fill the seat and in the event that a quorum cannot agree on a candidate within 60 days, each county commissioner would write the name of a nominee from the same political party as the vacated seat to be submitted and drawn out of a container by the Chief Justice of the County’s Circuit Court; with the chosen candidate becoming the appointed county commissioner. Under the bill, the decision would have to be made within 30 days from when the seat is vacated, and if the commissioners cannot agree, the county executive committee of the vacating county commissioner’s political party would choose the replacement from within their membership.
House Bill 2544 would increase the penalty for causing death by driving under the influence from one-to-10 years to three-to-15 years in a state correctional facility.
House Bill 2804 would eliminate the timetables that are set up to monitor various stages of utility relocations for highway projects and place the responsibility and costs on the utility company for failure to comply with proper removal notices. Under the bill, the Division of Highways would be required to reimburse utility companies for subsequent relocations due to plan changes after a project has begun construction and would authorize meetings between the Division of Highways and utilities to maintain schedules.
House Bill 2933 would exempt from current nursing licensing provisions the care of the sick when done in connection with the religious beliefs of a church or other spiritual organization at the request of the afflicted recipient. To qualify, treatment must be given in the recipient’s home or at a non-medical healthcare institution.
House Bill 3117 would clarify that a person cannot submit a bid to perform work as a contractor with the state of West Virginia unless he or she has a state contractor’s license.
Completed Legislation
(Week of February 14-21, 2007)
Senate Bill 142 will provide a penalty for illegally possessing, possessing with intent to distribute or distributing iodine crystals or an iodine matrix at a concentration greater than two percent in order to deter illegal drug activity. The provision will not apply to legitimate use by public or private primary and secondary schools, institutions of higher education and licensed veterinarians or health care facilities. It also will not prohibit the transfer or receipt of any betadine or povidone solution with an iodine content that does not exceed 10 percent in containers of eight ounces or less or any concentration of iodine that does not exceed two percent in containers of one ounce or less that is sold over the counter, so long as these solutions are used solely for their intended common household use. The maximum penalty for violating this provision is a $10,000 fine.
House Bill 2120 will set minimum standards for candidates for municipal judge. These candidates will have to submit to a criminal background check by the State Police. The candidate will have to pay all costs associated with the check. If the background check reveals convictions for certain misdemeanors and/or felonies, the candidate will be deemed ineligible. The bill will also require municipal judges who are not licensed attorneys to attend continuing education classes.
House Bill 2285 will update the meaning of federal adjusted gross income and other terms used in the West Virginia Personal Income Tax Act. This will apply any changes made to the federal Internal Revenue Code in 2006 to the state code. Such bills are passed annually to explicitly keep state tax laws up-to-date.
House Bill 2314 will update the meaning of several definitions related to the state’s corporate net income tax. This will apply any changes made to the federal Internal Revenue Code in 2006 to the state code. Such bills are passed annually to explicitly keep West Virginia tax laws up-to-date.
House Bill 2917 will eliminate the requirement of accelerated payments of the consumer sales and service tax and personal income withholding tax for the last month of the fiscal year. Currently, taxes due by certain businesses for the first 15 days of June have to be paid by June 23; taxes for other months are due during the next month. The bill will remove the accelerated payment requirement starting in July 2007.
These bills now will go to the Governor for his consideration.
Legislature Shows Appreciation for West Virginia Veterans
When Virginia Link graduated nursing school from the McMillan Hospital School of Nursing in Charleston in April of 1942, she may not have known the life she was soon to lead. Link was eager to become a nursing instructor after graduation, but instead she joined the Army Nurse Corps in July 1942.
After Link received her training at Fort Knox, she volunteered for overseas duty and was soon deployed to Northern Africa to serve as a World War II nurse. As one of 233,985 West Virginians to serve in World War II, Link died in an automobile accident in September of 1943 defending America’s freedom on foreign shores.
Virginia Link’s sacrifice epitomizes a proud state that, per capita, has had more citizens serve in the Armed Forces than any other and one that is home to five veterans’ affairs (VA) hospitals, seven VA clinics, eight special programs, a veterans’ nursing home and a Veterans’ Council. Each year, this brave and noble sector of society known as veterans is honored by the Legislature. This session, February 19 was deemed Veterans’ Visibility Day by the Senate and House under separate resolutions.
Over the years, the West Virginia Legislature has created many laws to improve the welfare of veterans. Five veterans’ bonus amendments to the state constitution have been ratified over the years, highlighting the importantance of recognition and compensation for those who served our country in times of war.
West Virginia has 58,053 World War I veterans and 233,985 World War II veterans. Ratified in 1950, the first Veterans Bonus Amendment provided a bonus for veterans who served in either of the World Wars. A veteran serving in the continental United States could receive $10 for each month served, those serving abroad could receive $15 per month served.
West Virginians have been able to receive bonuses for serving in other wars too. The state had approximately 112,000 residents that served in the Korean Conflict and 36,000 that served in the Vietnam War. The Legislature has created veterans bonuses for those wars as well.
The only bonus that can still be claimed is the Veterans Bonus Amendment for Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, which was ratified in 2004. Certain time periods apply for this bonus, but this amendment applies to anyone who served on active duty during those periods. However, for Kosovo and Afghanistan, a veteran must have received a campaign badge or expeditionary medal for his or her service. The veteran receiving the bonus must have been a resident of West Virginia for at least six months prior to enlisting and must have been honorably discharged from service. The bonus is $600 for veterans inside the combat zone. Veterans who did not serve inside the combat zone in Iraq and Afghanistan are eligible for a $400 bonus. The bonuses are limited to one per person.
Legislative assistance for state veterans has stretched beyond these bonus amendments. In 2005, there was a growing difficulty to find someone to play “Taps” at military funerals. Many groups, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and Buglers Across America, agreed it was a problem across the state and the nation. In response, the Legislature passed House Bill 2286, which serves as an incentive for students to assist with “Taps”. Now students are being encouraged to learn to play “Taps” and in return receive community service credit for playing at military funerals.
Due to the large number of veterans in West Virginia, a quality veterans’ nursing home was crucial to provide nursing care to those who had served. During the 74th Legislative Session, Senate Bill 1005 was passed to authorize the sale of revenue bonds so the state could fund 35 percent of shared construction costs for a veterans’ nursing home. A lottery scratch-off game also was created to fund a portion of the nursing home. Located in Clarksburg, the nursing home broke ground in 2003. The construction of the building is complete and is currently in the final stages of inspection.
While bills and bonus amendments were passed to give thanks to the men and women who bravely served our country, the value of our Armed Forces goes beyond mere monetary expression. Serving and having served in conflicts past and present, these men and women have made sacrifices for our country that are sometimes taken for granted. However, our service persons’ greatest contribution is that they afford the rest of us the luxury of living lives free of the troubles they struggled to eradicate, a noble endevour worthy of recognition. That is why, beyond the financial support offered or the holidays celebrated, perhaps the greater thanks is to let these awards of merit and bravery act not as ends in themselves, but instead as continued reminders that, without what they have done, we very well might not be able to carry on what we do.