After reconvening at 5 p.m., the Senate introduced 52 new bills, including Senate Bill 725, which relates to beverage sales in schools, and Senate Bill 733, which would create the Electronic Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Act.
A total of 775 bills have been introduced in the Senate this session. Today was the last for introducing bills with the exception of supplementary and originating bills.
The Senate is adjourned until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.
The House briefly reconvened this evening to receive committee reports and introduce bills, as today is the final day to introduce bills in both chambers, excluding budget or supplementary appropriation bills. The House introduced 56 more bills this evening. Among the bills introduced were House Bill 4651, which would consolidate all gaming-related functions within the Department of Revenue into a single gaming commission and House Bill 4682 which would increase the fine for littering from $50 to $100.
Also meeting tomorrow are:
Government Organization – 9:30 a.m. – 460M
Government Organization – 2:30 p.m. – 460M
The House will reconvene at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.
Members of the Senate honored the Special Olympics West Virginia Team for their outstanding achievements in the World Special Olympics in China.
Three bills on third reading were passed today. These bills include Senate Bill 9, which would require the State Board of Education to provide an orientation program in firearms and firearms safety in the public schools, Senate Bill 193, which would allow consumer lenders to sell home and automobile membership plans to their customers, and Senate Bill 290, which would create a felony offense of unauthorized practice of certain health care professions. These bills will now be considered in the House. In addition, 10 bills were advanced to third reading.
The Senate also introduced 40 bills, including Senate Bill 693, which would would permit senior citizens to have a lifetime hunting, fishing and trapping license, and Senate Bill 700, which would require coal prospectors to record and report certain geological information.
Today is the last day for bills to be introduced in the Senate.
The following committees will meet today, February 18:
Natural Resources – 1:00 p.m. – 208W
Pensions – 1:00 p.m. – 451M
Government Organization – 2:00 p.m. – 451M
Judiciary – 3:00 p.m. – 208W
Finance – 3:00 p.m. – 451M
The following committees will meet tomorrow, February 19:
Economic Development – 9:00 a.m. – 451M
Judiciary – 10:15 a.m. – 208W
Transportation and Infrastructure – 10:00 a.m. – 451M
Education – 2:00 p.m. – 451M
The Senate is in recess until 5:00 p.m. this evening.
Today is the last day to introduce bills in the House of Delegates. By Sunday, February 24 all bills are due out of committees in their house of origin in order to ensure three full days for readings. Wednesday, February 27 marks the last day to consider bills on third reading in their house of origin, excluding budget bills or supplementary appropriation bills.
There were three bills on third reading in the House today. Committee Substitute for House Bill 4157, Committee Substitute for House Bill 4331 and House Bill 4512 were passed out of the House and will go to the Senate for its consideration.
House Bill 4411 was on second reading in the House today and would exempt land-based finfish aquaculture facilities from certain sludge management requirements. Six bills were on first reading on the House Special Calendar today.
The following committees will meet today:
Judiciary Subcommittee A – 1:00 p.m. – 432M
Judiciary Subcommittee B – 1:00 p.m. – 410M
Judiciary Subcommittee C – 1:00 p.m. – 252M
Finance Subcommittee on the Court of Claims – 1:15 p.m. – 460M
Finance Committee – 1:30 p.m. – 460M
Government Organization Committee – 1:30 p.m. – 215E
Education Subcommittee E – 2:00 p.m. – 432M
Judiciary Committee – 2:00 p.m. – 410M
Health and Human Resources – 4:00 p.m. – 215E
The following committees will meet tomorrow, February 19:
Health Subcommittee – 8:30 a.m. – 215E
Finance Committee – 9:15 a.m. – 460M
Judiciary Committee – 9:00 a.m. – 410M
Education Committee – 2:00 p.m. – 432M
The House will recess until 5:00 p.m. this evening.
Michael Bush, a sophomore from West Virginia Wesleyan College, represented the West Virginia Legislature’s Frasure-Singleton Internship and addressed the Senate to commend and thank the Senators, Internship Committee members and staff for their hard work and dedication to make the internship program a success. Michael and participating Frasure-Singleton interns received a standing ovation by members of the Senate.
Eleven bills were advanced to second reading. One of these bills, Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 145, would a person to use reasonable force in defense of self, real and personal property.
The Senate also introduced eight bills, including Senate Bill 676, which would limit certain park and recreation owners’ liabilities.
The following committees will meet Monday, February 18:
Natural Resources – 1:00 p.m. – 208W
Pensions – 1:15 p.m. – 451M
Government Organization – 2:00 p.m. – 451M
Judiciary – 3:00 p.m. – 208W
The Senate adjourned until 11 a.m. on Monday, February 18.
Another bill completed legislative action today. Senate Bill 257 is now awaiting the Governor’s signature and will repeal outdated penitentiary code provisions. Committee Substitute for House Bill 4389, House Bill 4464, House Bill 4465 and House Bill 4513 were passed out of the House today and will go on to the Senate for its consideration.
There were two bills on second reading and two bills on first reading on the House Special Calendar today.
There were 13 new bills introduced in the House today. House Bill 4580 would designate December 7, “Pearl Harbor Day,” as a legal state holiday.
The following committees will meet Monday, February 18::
Judiciary – 9:00 a.m. – 410M
Judiciary Subcommittee A – 1:00 p.m. – TBA
Judiciary Subcommittee B – 1:00 p.m. – 410M
Judiciary Subcommittee C – 1:00 p.m. – TBA
Government Organization – 1:30 p.m. – 215E
Health and Human Resources – 4:00 p.m. – 215E
The House will reconvene at 11:00 a.m.on Monday, February 18.
Two bills eliminating some outdated provisions in the State Code, Senate Bill 258 and Senate Bill 262, completed legislative action today and now await the Governor’s signature.
Committee Substitute for House Bill 4150 also passed out of the House today. The bill, which now goes to the Senate for approval, would require that United States and West Virginia flags purchased with state funds be made in the United States.
Six bills were on second reading and two bills were on first reading on the House Special Calendar today.
The following committees will meet today:
Education – 2:00 p.m. – 434M
Judiciary – 2:00 p.m. – 410M
Senior Citizens Issues – 4:00 p.m. – 215E
The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Banking and Insurance – 8:30 a.m. – 252
Committee on Pensions and Retirement – 8:30 a.m. – 215E
Education – 9:00 a.m. – 434M
Finance – 9:30 a.m. – 460M
Judiciary – 9:30 a.m. – 410M
Roads and Transportation – 12:30 p.m. – 215 E
The House will reconvene at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, February 15.
Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 9, Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 193, and Senate Bill 290 advanced to second reading in the Senate today.
The Senate also introduced 12 bills, including Senate Bill 664, which would exempt family court judges and magistrates from concealed weapon licensing requirements, and Senate Bill 668, which would require DUI offenders to perform community service.
The following committees will meet today:
Health & Human Resources – 1:00 p.m. – 451M
Education – 2:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. – 451M
Finance – 3:00 p.m. – 451M
Judiciary – 3:00 p.m. – 208W
The following committees will meet tomorrow, February 15:
Transportation and Infrastructure – 10:00 a.m. – 451M
The Senate adjourned until 11 a.m. on Friday, February 15.
As of 4 p.m., Wednesday February 13, the 36th day of the 78th Legislature, 662 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Of these, a total of 5 have passed this week and will go to the House for its consideration. The bills that have passed this week include:
Senate Bill 242 would allow drivers who have less than 14 points on their licenses and complete a defensive drinking course to deduct three points from their license.
Senate Bill 298 would expand the definitions of imminent danger and the physical well being of a child in regards to child abuse. This bill would add parents or guardians who habitually abuse drugs and alcohol to a list of situations that endanger a child’s welfare.
Senate Bill 481 would authorize physician assistants with proper mental health certifications to conduct examinations arranged by a community mental health center designated by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources in regards to a patient’s mental health hygiene.
Senate Bill 512 would change the number of members on the Records Management and Preservation Board for county government entities from nine to 11 members.
Senate Bill 627 would specify any terrorist threat as a felony regardless of whether a person actually intended to commit a terrorist act.
Senate Bill 588 would forbid soil or waste earth and rock covering a mineral deposit to be placed permanently in or within 100 feet of any stream. This would not apply to the placement of coal processing waste.
Senate Bill 589 would require towing services, their vehicles and operators to be subject to Public Safety Commission safety rules. Towing businesses would also be required to record the starting and ending time; the rate charged to each customer; the name, trade name, address and telephone number of the towing service; the name and address of the owner of the towed vehicle; and the vehicle information on each invoice.
Senate Bill 592 would provide a one-time supplement of 4 percent of a person’s monthly annuity benefit for annuitants within the Deputy Sheriff Retirement System who have been retired three to five consecutive years. In the event of an annuitant’s death, surviving beneficiaries considered eligible based on the retirement date of the deceased may claim the supplement.
Senate Bill 595 would establish goals and objectives for public and higher education in 2020 titled Vision 2020. This bill would clarify elements of the accountability system for public higher education and create a committee to study capital projects and maintenance needs of buildings involved with higher education.
Senate Bill 608 would add sexual orientation to the categories covered by the Human Rights Act. Age and sexual orientation would also be added to categories protected by the Fair Housing Act.
Senate Bill 609 would allow for the creation of the West Virginia Innovation and Development Act. It would allow the Economic Development Authority (WVEDA) to give $2 million dollars annually to invest in seed and venture capital and other equity investments to provide support to entrepreneurs. Also, the WVEDA would be allowed to award another $5 million dollars in credits annually for investments in qualified investment companies.
Senate Bill 610 would allow schools to be open on Saturday and remove the provision stating that special classes held on Saturdays must be voluntary.
Senate Bill 612 would increase the number of people on the West Virginia Racing Commission from three to five and require that less than four members be of the same political party. This bill would also require that one member be from the West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association and another member be a representative of the National Horsemen’s Benevolence & Protective Association.
Senate Bill 613 would require the design, construction and use of domestic and commercial liquefied petroleum gas-consuming equipment to be certified. This bill would also require all equipment involved in the delivery of liquefied petroleum gas to function according to the instructions designated for that piece of equipment by its manufacturer. Equipment alteration or repair would be prohibited unless completed according to the manufacturer’s prescribed procedures. This bill would also protect persons involved, but not participating, in the act of selling, supplying, handling or transporting liquefied petroleum gas from civil liability.
Senate Bill 615 would allow a licensed optometrist to prescribe vision correction devices that also dispense drugs that would ordinarily be applied externally to the eye or taken orally.
Senate Bill 625 would authorize the State Board of Education to set amounts for and collect review fees from publishers wishing to have their instructional and educational materials adopted for use in West Virginia.
Senate Bill 631 would include antique and classic trucks in the classification of antique and classic motor vehicles.
Senate Bill 632 would encourage restaurants to provide nutritional information on their menus, including signboards that drive-through customers order from. Participating restaurants would be given permission to display a universal logo that would reflect the availability of caloric information.
Senate Bill 637 would require the West Virginia State Board of Education to develop a CPR and First Aid curriculum that would be taught in the required health courses of all secondary schools.
Senate Bill 645 would exempt city and county hospitals from the requirement to file or publish reports, which is an audit requirement for local government offices.
Senate Bill 647 would give sheriffs and their designees the right to view the information contained in the State Board of Pharmacy’s database, which contains privileged information regarding patient health records.
Senate Bill 656 would allow persons to obtain a single license for hunting, fishing and trapping as of July 1, 2010. This bill would also require that the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources receive 1 percent of the General Revenue Fund each year.
