They are doctors and farmers, educators and attorneys. They are miners and insurance agents, businesspeople and railroad workers.
At first, they may seem to have nothing in common. They may live in completely different areas of the state, or work in completely opposite industries. They aren’t neighbors; they aren’t classmates; they may be complete strangers.
But for 60 days, they are all alike in one respect: they are members of the 76th Legislature.
West Virginia has a part-time Legislature. Unlike other states where legislating is a full time profession, and Legislators are unable to have a job outside their work in government. While West Virginia Senators and Delegates work 365 days a year, they are only required to be working in the State Capitol for 60 consecutive days during the Regular Legislative Session and for any Special Sessions. The rest of the year, our Legislators have their own jobs and their own lives, many of which are far from Charleston.
America is a representative democracy, and sometimes, it is necessary to take a look at the people – not the politics – who work as its representatives.
As an area becomes more well-known for supporting a particular industry or lifestyle, the more likely it is that the representative from that area will have worked in a job that reflects the more specific interests of the people in that region.
For example, most of the farmers in the Legislature come from the agriculturally based eastern area of the state, while more miners from the southern coal fields. The northern panhandle, famous for its steel industry, has representatives who have actually worked in the steel mills.
Closer to Kanawha County, which is mostly comprised of businesses and the chemical industry, there are more lawyers, business professionals, engineers and technicians. Most of the medical professionals in the Legislature also come from the more metropolitan areas, where there are more people and more hospitals.
Educators are the only group that do not come from just one area of the state; however, as education is necessary and a major concern everywhere, this might not seem so unusual.
Of the 34 people in the Senate, a little more than one third work in some form of business. Six members are in the education field, while five Senators, or roughly 15 percent, are attorneys. The remaining 10 Senators work in a variety of fields, including insurance, healthcare, real estate development and mortuary science.
The top two professions for Delegates are business and law. Twentyseven percent of the members of the House of Delegates are in the business field, while 18 percent are attorneys. Educators are the next largest group, with 17 Delegates making up this profession. Seven people work in insurance, and another seven are in healthcare, which includes two doctors, two nurses, two pharmacists and one senior citizens’ daytime care organizer.
There are also five miners, a housewife, a Certified Public Accountant, two railroad workers, a school bus driver and a handful of farmers in the House, just to name a few.
All of the members of the Legislature have at least a high school diploma, but most have at least one college degree or have graduated from a vocational school. Several Senators and Delegates have two or three degrees from different universities. Most also received at least one degree from a West Virginia institution of higher education, although several have degrees from an outof-state college or university, and some have even graduated from Ivy League schools.
West Virginia Legislators mostly attended West Virginia University, Marshall University, Fairmont State College and Shepherd College. They attended one of these schools for a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctoral or law degree.
Based on percentage, about the same number of Senators and Delegates attended WVU – about 41 percent of the Senators and 43 percent of the Delegates attended WVU. However, while 24 percent of the Senators attended Marshall, only about 15 percent of the Delegates attended that same university.
Nearly every Legislator is married, and most have children. Several have grandchildren, and a few even have great-grandchildren.
All of these people represent the many different faces of West Virginia. Their backgrounds are as diverse as the areas they represent, and reflect the needs, issues and ideas of their communities. Legislators are the voices of the people, but they are also people themselves.
West Virginia Legislature Reflects Diverse Citizenry
In the House
As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 12, 2003, the 36th day of the 2003 Regular Legislative Session, 985 bills have been introduced in the House of Delegates. Of those, the following16 bills were passed by the House this week, including five Sunset Bills and will now go to the Senate for its consideration.
House Bill 2008 would provide good-faith background checks for law-enforcement personnel. This bill would provide employer immunity from civil liability for disclosing accurate and truthful information about former employees. Any information forwarded or provided to another employer, about a former law-enforcement employee, would be considered to be provided in good faith.
House Bill 2190 would permit certain farm vehicles to use the highways between sunset and sunrise. These vehicles cannot travel further than 25 miles between land tracts.
House Bill 2239 would require foreign collection agencies to obtain a certificate of authority from the Secretary of State. This bill would remove the term “licensee” from the definitions and replaced the term’s usage with “certificate of registration”, and would require that along with a business franchise registration, a collection agency must also acquire a certificate of registration from the Secretary of State’s office.
House Bill 2266 would include the State Fire Marshal and full-time fire marshals within the definition of criminal justice enforcement personnel for the purpose of authorizing the State Fire Marshal and full-time fire marshals to cooperate with and assist other law-enforcement agencies.
House Bill 2268 would name teachers and substitute teachers as professional educators and would address the critical
need and shortage thereof. This bill proposes changes in the Underwood Smith Teacher Scholarship to help address areas of critical need and shortage. The Underwood Smith program is designed to entice outstanding high school students to pursue teaching careers in the state.
House Bill 2281 would raise the allowable earnings limit of higher education faculty who retired under the severance plan. This bill would increase the amount of money that an employee, who is granted retirement and separation incentives provided under a higher education severance plan, may earn through contract employment with an institution of higher learning.
House Bill 2383 would require the state Department of Education to submit a comprehensive teacher certification plan to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability (LOCEA) for adopting prior to July 1, 2003. If the plan is not adopted by LOCEA, beginning January 1, 2005, each county would be responsible for certifying any teacher employed in that county and for determining the standards and qualifications necessary for certification.
House Bill 2669 relates to hazardous waste management. The bill sunsets the annual certification payment for facilities that manage hazardous waste based on the fiscal year for the next three years and terminates the hazardous waste management annual certification fee and the Hazardous Waste Management Fee Fund on June 30, 2006.
House Bill 2705 relates to the supervision of adult offenders and authorizes a compact for the supervision of adult offenders. It would have the state of West Virginia become a member of a new interstate compact, the Interstate Compact for the Supervision of Adult Offenders, which is being proposed to update and replace a previous interstate compact, the Interstate Compact For the Supervision of Parolees and Probationers, originally adopted in 1937.
House Bill 2763 would allow auxiliary roof mounted lighting only when it comes as original equipment and for use only when the vehicle is off-road. These lights must be off and covered while the vehicle is on the highway.
House Bill 2802 would provide for a legal description in deeds creating an easement or right-of-way. The bill would require the description to be either in metes and bounds or by reference to an attached plat, by specification of the centerline of the easement or right-of-way, by station and offset, or by a plat or drawing which may not require a survey.
Sunset bills passed by the House
House Bill 2864 would continue the Office of Explosives and Blasting until July 1, 2004.
House Bill 2879 would continue the West Virginia Commission on Holocaust Education until July 1, 2009.
House Bill 2888 would continue the Board of Osteopathy July 1, 2006.
House Bill 2889 would continue the Board of Examiners of Psychologists until July 1, 2012.
House Bill 2916 would continue the State Geological and Economic Survey until July 1, 2007.
A sampling of bills introduced in the House
House Bill 2958 would require credit card issuers to provide adequate disclosure to consumers when soliciting credit card applications
House Bill 2893 would clarify that magistrates shall accept payment of fines and costs on a payment plan from an offender.
House Bill 2959 would prohibit health care providers from accepting gifts worth more than $25 from a pharmaceutical company.
House Bill 2960 would change the name of Fairmont State College to Fairmont State University.
House Bill 2920 would increase certain benefits to dependents of a state trooper killed in the line of duty.
House Bill 2917 would require the DMV to design and issue special registration plates for use by Democratic Executive Committee Members.
In the Senate
As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 12, 2003, the 36th day of the 2003 Regular Legislative Session, 508 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Of those, 17 bills were passed and will go on to the House for its consideration, including three sunset bills.
Senate Bill 170 would require informed consent for abortion, as well as other provisions. The bill would require a minimum 24-hour-waiting period during which time the physician performing the abortion would have to inform the woman of certain aspects of the procedure. The doctor would have to tell the woman the risks involved with having the abortion, the risks if she decided not to have the abortion, and the gestational age of the fetus. The bill would allow for an exception to be made in an emergency when the woman’s life is in danger.
Senate Bill 204 relates to involuntary commitment generally. This bill would remove wording that would prevent an incarcerated individual from being subject to mental hygiene proceedings, such as a psychiatric evaluation.
Senate Bill 206 would authorize aides to supervise students who are undergoing in-school suspension. The bill also would provide for limitations such as allowing an aide to only pass out or take up class work but not actually teach the students in the class.
Senate Bill 336 would require health care professionals to use a standardized form for credentialing, recredentialing or updating information.
Senate Bill 342 would limit the time a driver’s license may be issued to certain non-citizens. Anyone who is not a US citizen would only have a driver’s license for the amount of time he or she is in the country, although it cannot exceed five years. The license would be renewed at the discretion of the Commissioner of the
Senate Bill 356 relates to insurance company holding systems and the Federal GrammLeach-Bliley Act. The bill would allow insurance companies to acquire or be acquired by depository institutions and would amend the period of time within which an action may be taken by the Insurance Commissioner upon a statement filed by a person who wants to get control of an insurance company. The bill also would authorize the Commissioner to share certain confidential information about the company with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or other appropriate federal banking agency.
Senate Bill 358 relates to the redomestication of domestic insurance companies. A domestic insurer can, upon the approval of the Insurance Commissioner, transfer its domicile to any other state in which it is admitted. When such a transfer occurs, the company would cease to be a domestic insurer and become a foreign insurer. The commissioner could only approve the transfer if he or she determines that it is in the best interests of the policyholders of the state.
Senate Bill 375 would allow the transfer of a contractor’s license to a new business associate if the license holder is the principal owner, partner or officer of the company.
Senate Bill 381 would add professional surveyors to professional limited liability companies.
Senate Bill 388 would modify the requirements for the titling and registration of imported vehicles. An automobile would have to meet Federal Safety and Emissions Standards and the owner of the vehicle would have to be able to prove that the vehicle meets those standards before it could be sold.
Senate Bill 390 would remove the requirement that a person’s social security number appear on a commercial driver’s license (CDL). The license would still have to include the driver’s name, eye and hair color, weight, gender, date of birth, address, signature and color photo.
Senate Bill 414 would authorize the Real Estate Commission to enter into license reciprocity agreements with other states.
Senate Bill 424 would authorize the Commissioner of Corrections to consent to the transfer of convicted offenders under Federal treaty. It also would require that the inmate be informed of his or her rights in words he or she can understand.
Senate Bill 447 would allow reciprocal agreements with Ohio regarding hunting and fishing. The measure would allow agreements established by he DNR whereby the residents of West Virginia and Ohio may hunt waterfowl and fish in and along tributaries on both sides of the Ohio River without additional licensing.
Sunset Bills passed by the Senate
Senate Bill 469 would continue the Contractor Licensing Board until July 1, 2006.
Senate Bill 470 would continue the Board of Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety until July 1, 2005.
Senate Bill 471 would continue the Board of Pharmacy until July 1, 2008.
A sampling of bills introduced in the Senate
Senate Bill 466 would authorize expeditions for hunting black bear with dogs.
Senate Bill 486 would require Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to notify the Insurer’s Board or Audit Committee of an adverse financial condition.
Senate Bill 491 would authorize the Bureau for Child Support Enforcement to reduce monthly support payments when overpaid.
Senate Bill 489 would authorize the Parkways Authority to provide wireless communication coverage.
Senate Bill 465 would allow certain retail markup on cigarettes and beer.
Senate Bill 457 would allow counties adopting flood plain ordinance to designate an enforcement agency.
Senate Bill 459 would prohibit the renaming or rededication of certain monuments and memorials.
Senate Bill 453 would establish the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team.
Senate Bill 479 would prohibit municipalities from closing a Fire Department without State Fire Marshal approval.
Senate Bill 468 would repeal the requirement that the Tax Commissioner report annually the amount of fuel tax collected.
Senate Bill 458 would require hospitals to implement a plan eliminating or reducing medication-related errors.
Senate Bill 492 would exempt tax for materials and services used in coal preparation plants.
Senate Bill 478 would enact the Tax Free Family Meal Act of 2003.
Civic Education Key to Public Participation
Civic education is essential to upholding the principles of democracy in America. A democratic society must rely on people’s knowledge, skill and interpretation of the law in order to govern themselves efficiently. The primary opportunity for most American citizens to acquire the knowledge and dispositions essential for informed, effective citizenship is during their school years. Civic education, therefore, is vital to the preservation and improvement of American constitutional democracy.
More than ever, children need to become informed about how a democracy operates and what it takes to preserve a democratic government. In a time when outside influences threaten to disassemble American ideals, it is imperative that civic education is stressed as a necessary tool for informing Americans of the values and principles of a free society.
The West Virginia Legislature realizes the importance of civic education and offers a variety of programs and publications to promote it. The Page Program, Children’s Day, a Children’s Website and “How a Bill Becomes Law,” which is a publication that teaches the process of law making, all provide assistance when trying to gain a better understanding of how state government operates.
The Page Program offers West Virginia youth the opportunity to help aid in the legislative process. They perform a variety of tasks including observing the floor sessions of both House and Senate. They do work for both Delegates and Senators, which includes delivering documents and running errands. This program offers children a chance to witness legislation and the process by which the Legislative Branch works.
The Legislature also has a Children’s Day on February 19th that promotes civic education. Children are encouraged to visit the Capitol Complex, meet with their representatives and witness the lawmaking process. This allows children to gain a better understanding of what goes on inside of the Capitol
and how laws are made. Students are encouraged to visit the Legislature while in session, whether it be as part of Children’s Day or through school field trips and family visits.
The children’s website offered by the Legislature is a very informative site that provides detailed information in regard to lawmaking. The site offers a variety of exercises including historical trivia and State Capitol facts. The site also provides information about the three branches of government as well as a “did you know section.” To access the website go to www. legis.state.wv.us.
The Legislature also publishes a brochure titled, “How a Bill Becomes Law,”as part of the WV Legislature’s Kids Club. This is a informative publication on the steps a bill goes through before it becomes law. It is important that children learn this process because laws are ideas that can help to make a positive change in people’s lives. The brochure offers comprehensive pictures and detailed information that explains the process, so children can easily learn the path a bill takes to becoming law.
The teaching of civic education is very important. Young people need to become informed on how a democratic society operates and maintains itself in order to improve the process. Children must be guided by those values and principles of a democratic society and act upon them to preserve the democratic way of life in our communities and nation.
In the House
As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 5, 2003, the 29th day of the 2003 Regular Legislative Session, 879 bills have been introduced in the House of Delegates. Of those, the following 16 were passed by the House this week, including nine Sunset Bills, and will now go to the Senate for its consideration:
House Bill 2155 would cap tuition increases at public colleges, community colleges and universities. An increase in any year would not exceed 3 percent unless the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) is satisfied by a particular institution’s necessity, in which case the HEPC could authorize an institution to increase tuition a maximum of 5 percent. This cap would not apply to tuition rates for non-resident or medical students.
House Bill 2301 would provide, through a maintenance bond, funding for necessary care of animals seized because of allegations of neglect. This bill would require that magistrate courts, upon finding probable cause, award custody of the animal to any humane officer for further disposition. The owner of the animal would be required to post a bond with the court within five days following the court’s finding of probable cause.
House Bill 2512 relates to competitive bidding and notice requirements for the development of natural resources in which the Public Land Corporation has an interest. This bill would impose additional public notice requirements and require a public hearing before the Public Land Corporation enters into a lease or contract for the mining or drilling of minerals, gas or oil.
House Bill 2693 would provide the West Virginia State Police with the ability to define and draw DNA samples from convicted
felons for the purpose of maintaining a DNA database. This bill would allow the State Police to require any person convicted of a felony offense after July 1, 2003 to provide a DNA sample to be used for DNA analysis.
House Bill 2694 would protect the beekeeping industry by authorizing the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture to seize, destroy, treat, return or stop the delivery of all appliances, bees, bee equipment, products or hives transported into or within West Virginia that are found to be infected with honey bee pests.
House Bill 2704 would have West Virginia become a member of the Interstate Compact for Juveniles for the supervision and return of juvenile offenders or runaways. This new compact would not become effective until it has been adopted by 35 states.
House Bill 2781 relates to the transfer, retirement or disposal of State Police canines. This bill would authorize the Superintendent to transfer the ownership of State Police dogs who are determined to no longer be of use to the State Police. The dog could be transferred to the animal’s handler; to the care and custody of an animal shelter, humane society or society for the prevention of cruelty to animals; or, to another person who wishes to have the animal as a pet.
Sunset bills passed by the House
House Bill 2750 would continue the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification until July 1, 2007.
House Bill 2751 would continue the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources until July 1, 2004. House Bill 2752 would continue the Bureau of Senior Services until July 1, 2009.
House Bill 2778 would continue the West Virginia State Police until July 1, 2004.
House Bill 2779 would continue the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Program until July 1, 2006.
House Bill 2803 would continue the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists until July 1, 2008.
House Bill 2829 would continue the Division of Culture and History until July 1, 2005.
House Bill 2830 would continue the Division of Natural Resources until July 1, 2004.
House Bill 2831 would continue the Records Management and Preservation Board until July 1, 2004.
A sampling of bills introduced in the House
House Bill 2826 would reduce the allowable blood alcohol content for driving under the influence from 0.10 to 0.08 of one percent of body weight.
House Bill 2832 would prohibit cloning of human beings and embryos. Anyone who violates these provisions would be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, would be fined $5,000 to $10,000, and/or imprisoned for one to three years.
House Bill 2858 would secure the right of blind and visually impaired people to vote under the same conditions of privacy and independence as sighted people. This would be made possible by electronic voting technology and systems in accordance with certification criteria for equal access by visual and nonvisual means. The Secretary of State would be responsible for implementation of this procedure.
House Bill 2850 would provide protection for school employees who are being harassed. Persons who violate this proposal would be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, would be incarcerated in jail for 90 days-toone year, fined $2,000 to $5,000 or both. A second or subsequent conviction occurring within five years of a prior conviction would be a felony punishable by a one year to five year incarceration, a fine of $3,000 to $10,000 or both. This bill also allows restraining orders to be issued.
House Bill 2820 would provide for the adequate staffing of nursing homes and training of nursing home staff. This bill outlines specific ratios of staff to residents during all shifts of long term care facilities. These ratios would consist of minimum standards only and nursing homes would be permitted to employ additional staff as needed. This bill also would require a commission to assess the staffing ratios and standards outlined in this legislation. In addition, this bill would require nursing homes to post current staffing information, provide enhanced training requirements for nurse aides and provide a grant program for projects targeted at reducing employee turnover in nursing homes.
House Bill 2821 would provide an environment in hospitals where quality care can be provided to patients. The bill accomplishes this by allowing most employees involved in direct patient care activities or clinical services to refuse to work overtime, except in certain emergent situations.
House Bill 2804 would allow a municipal police officer to issue citations for misdemeanor offenses committed in his or her presence. This bill would allow municipal police to stop and cite reckless drivers outside the city limits when the officer is driving to or from magistrate or circuit court.
House Bill 2836 would require ATVs used off of private property to be registered with the Division of Motor Vehicles and to be subject to an annual registration fee of $10.
In the Senate
As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 5, 2003, the 29th day of the 2003 Regular Legislative Session, 460 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Of those, the following 11 were passed by the Senate this week and will now go to the House of Delegates for its consideration:
Senate Bill 100 would exempt barbers, beauticians and manicurists from continuing education classes. The measure would provide that continuing education classes would not be required for a renewal of licensure.
Senate Bill 162 would expunge certain motor vehicle license information for 19- year-olds. This legislation would wipe clean information regarding any license suspension or revocation related to nonattendance at school for persons 19 years of age or older.
Senate Bill 181 relates to compulsory school attendance and home school instruction. This measure would change the requirements for qualifying for the home school exemption, including: requiring that the child’s age and grade level be included with the notice of intent; adding a new assessment option that would explicitly allow home schooled students to participate in the public school testing program; under the alternative academic assessment option, requiring that criteria for acceptable progress be mutually agreed upon by the parent and county superintendent; and, for all assessment options, if a child does not make acceptable progress for two consecutive years, then the home instructor would be required to submit additional evidence that appropriate instruction is being provided, to name a few of the provisions.
Senate Bill 182 would meet federal standards for certain child passenger seats and safety devices. This bill would allow drivers transporting children who are at least four years old and weighing at least 40 pounds to be secured in a safety belt. Current law requires that a child between the ages of three and eight be secured by a safety belt but does not list a weight requirement.
Senate Bill 210 would permit retired State Police to carry concealed weapons for life. The bill states that after five years, the retired or medically discharged member must pay the costs of the bond for his or her permit. Current law permits retired members of the State Police to carry a concealed weapon for five years. This legislation would retain current language that would permit the Superintendent to suspend this privilege without recourse and also automatically revoke the privilege should the former State Police officer be convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving the use of a firearm.
Senate Bill 337 would simplify the process for adoption of children from foreign countries. The measure would provide a procedure for recognition of a foreign adoption decree by the filing of a petition, which would include copies of a home study and the foreign adoption decree. The court would be required to review the petition and supporting documentation and then enter an order recognizing the foreign adoption order. This order would then have the same force and effect as an adoption order entered in West Virginia.
Sunset bills passed by the Senate
Senate Bill 415 would continue the Environmental Quality Board until July 1, 2003.
Senate Bill 416 would continue the Massage Therapy Licensure Board until July 1, 2015.
Senate Bill 417 would continue the Commission for the Deaf and Hard-of Hearing until July 1, 2005.
Senate Bill 418 would continue the Investment Management Board until July 1, 2005.
Senate Bill 419 would continue the Governor’s Office of Fiscal Risk Analysis until July 1, 2004.
A sampling of bills introduced in the Senate
Senate Bill 409 would create an efficient and expeditious procedure for finalizing wrongful death settlements. The measure also would establish a procedure for resolving conflicting claims as to the appropriate distribution of wrongful death settlement proceeds among potential statutory beneficiaries.
Senate Bill 444 would establish the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System Act. The bill would provide the administration of this retirement system by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board.
Senate Bill 436 would direct the Public Service Commission (PSC) to implement the West Virginia 211 Information and Referral System for human and social services. This legislation would be in accordance with the recommendations of the PSC’s appointed task force as reported to the Legislature in 2002.
Senate Bill 452 would remove the requirement that substitute teachers work a certain amount for full-time employment, hiring and seniority. This measure would remove the requirement that substitute teachers work at least 133 days in a school year to count that employment toward seniority for full-time employment hiring purposes.
Senate Bill 431 would reduce the excise tax on gasoline and special fuel. The proposed legislation would reduce the excise tax by five cents ($0.05).
Senate Bill 401 would exempt veterans’ organizations from the consumers sales and service tax. The measure would allow this exemption for organizations where at least 85 percent of its members are past or present members of the United States armed forces and at least 98 percent of all members of the organization are past or present members of the United States armed forces, cadets (including only students in college or university ROTC programs or at armed services academies) or spouses, widows or widowers. The bill also states that no part of the net earnings is to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
Internship Program Offers Knowledge, Experience
Real-world experience is one of the hallmarks of learning. Recognizing this, the West Virginia Legislature created the Legislative Internship Program to give college and university students a chance to experience the inner workings of the State’s lawmaking process. The West Virginia Legislative Internship Program offers 70 internship positions in four separate programs. These programs allow interested students to gain valuable information about legislative functions and agency roles in state government.
The Rollins/Burk internships, named after the late Delegates Walter Rollins and Robert Burk, Jr., are available to students seeking a graduate degree in any major at an accredited in-state college or university. Rollins Scholars help individual Delegates or Senators prepare for floor sessions by researching issues and laws. Burk interns assist standing committee chairs and members of leadership by preparing bill abstracts and monitoring the legislative committee process. The Rollins/Burk programs offer a total of six internship positions.
Herndon Fellows, named after the late Senator Judith Herndon, gain direct experience of the legislative process by pairing with a Delegate or Senator. While attending the 60-day session, students work with their assigned legislator to draft legislation, research current law and understand the relationship between the executive and legislative branches. The Fellowship offers 10 positions to undergraduates of all majors who have completed at least 60 undergraduate hours.
For aspiring journalists the Legislative Public Information internship offers a variety of opportunities to work for members of both the House and the Senate. Interns work daily to update the Legislature’s web page with information about actions on both the House and Senate floors, write articles and summaries for the weekly publication Wrap-Up, and get a taste of the public relations aspect of public service by answering constituent requests and developing cutlines for in
house photographs. The internship offers four positions for graduates or undergraduates majoring in accredited journalism programs at the state universities.
Interns in the Frasure-Singleton program, named after the late West Virginia University Dean Emeritus Carl Frasure and the late Delegate Julius Singleton, spend a week at the Capitol and assist an individual Delegate or Senator. During that week interns shadow their assigned legislator and observe various aspects of the lawmaking process. Interns attend floor sessions, committee meetings and other legislative functions. The program offers 50 internships for sophomores and juniors of all majors who have completed at least one course of study in government.
All internships require that applicants be enrolled at a West Virginia college or university and that they be in good academic standing with that institution. While living in or commuting to Charleston, participants receive full-time credit hours, as well as a tuition waiver for their institution and a monthly stipend for housing.
Through the Legislative Internship Program, students gain a better understanding of West Virginia’s legislative process. It is the Legislature’s hope that these students will use that knowledge to promote to the public a better understanding of State government, the Legislature and the lawmaking process. For more information about the program, contact the Legislature toll-free at 1-877-56-LEGIS, or visit the Legislature’s Web site at www.legis.state.wv.us.