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Senate Passes Bill to Contract Retired Teachers

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Bill to Contract Retired Teachers

The Senate passed a bill on Monday that would allow county school boards to hire retired teachers for help with tutoring in critical areas of need.

Senate Bill 688 would allow county school boards to engage retired teachers as independent contractors to provide tutoring in reading and math. The retiree would not be eligible for state benefits, but also would not have their ongoing retirement benefits impacted.

Lawmakers hope that this bill will help students that need a boost in these critical areas of study.

The bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

UPDATE:

The Senate reconvened at 6 p.m. and completed the rest of the day’s calendar, which included second and first reading as well as receiving committee reports and reading bills a first time.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 28 at 11 a.m.

Morning Meetings for Feb. 28:

Government Organization at 9 a.m. in 208W

Education at 9 a.m. in 451M

Senate Passes Income Tax Cut Compromise

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Income Tax Cut Compromise

The Senate passed a compromise version of the long-discussed income tax cut bill during Saturday afternoon’s floor session.

House Bill 2526 would would initially cut the income tax by 21.25 percent, with a trigger for bigger reductions in the future. This bill is a compromise from the 15 percent cut the Senate backed initially and the 50 percent cut the Governor and House of Delegates preferred.

Provided the bill completes action, the tax cut could increase in future years due to a formula that would measure general revenue collections in a fiscal year minus severance collections compared to 2019 as a base year. If collections are ahead of the base year figure, additional income tax cuts would be triggered.

According to the legislation, reductions could not be greater than 10 percent of the tax at a time. This trigger system would take effect in 2024.

The compromise also includes a personal property tax credit for vehicles, which was a priority for the Senate during the negotiations. Additionally the legislation contains a 50 percent personal property tax break aimed at small businesses, which are defined in the bill. There is also a tax credit for disabled veterans on personal income taxes on a homes.

The Senate is adjourned until Monday, Feb. 27, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Judiciary at 3:30 in 208W

Monday Morning Meetings:

Outdoor Recreation at 9 a.m. in 208W

Health at 10 a.m. in 451M

House Advances Sixteen Bills to Senate in Saturday Session

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Advances Sixteen Bills to Senate in Saturday Session

During the House’s first Saturday Session, the House passed sixteen bills including House Bill 2567.

House Bill 2567 creates a misdemeanor criminal offense for trespassing into the dwelling of another person without another crime planned. The penalty for the misdemeanor is up to six months in jail and/or a fine of $1 to $500. The conviction of a second or subsequent offense would be a felony offense with a penalty of 1 to 5 years in prison and/or a fine of $1,000 to $5,000.

The bill also amends the code for trespassing in a dwelling or on the property of another person with a firearm or other dangerous weapon. The bill changes the offense to a felony with a penalty of one to ten years in prison and/or $5,000 to $10,000.

House Bill 3214 also passed today. It creates the “Road Optimization and Assessment Data (R.O.A.D.) Pilot Program to determine how to maintain roads and highways.

The DOH pilot program will use Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to access urban and rural paved roads in Monongalia and Preston Counties. The technologies will use GPS positioning and Geotagged positioning to indicate road geometry and curvature. A Laser measuring system with video will identify and measure cracks and payment distress including potholes, cracking, patching, cracking, shoulder issues, canopy brush, painted lines, and drainage issues. The data collected will create a baseline for road condition assessments.

The bill states the data capturing will take place at intervals for maintenance purposes. After year two, year four, and the termination of the pilot program, the DOH will report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on the Department of Transportation Accountability.

Five of the 25 bills on second reading were amended today. There were 34 bills on first reading. 

The House is in recess until 5 p.m.

Committee Meetings, Today

The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will hold a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. in the House Chamber on HB 3446 – Clarifying the powers and duties of the Public Service Commission as to electric generating facilities.

The Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. in the House Chamber on HB 3157 – Relating to clarifying the duties, functions, prohibitions, and restrictions applicable to the West Virginia Fusion Center.

The House reconvened at 5:45 p.m. to receive committee reports.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Monday, February 27.

 

Committee Meetings, Monday, Feb. 27

 

House Judiciary Wraps Up Afternoon Meeting

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Judiciary Wraps Up Afternoon Meeting

The Judiciary Committee met this morning and this afternoon to considered the following.

House Bill 3156 raises the compensation rates of panel attorneys. The bill also raises compensation rates for investigators.

House Bill 3146 creates the Model Public Meetings During Emergencies Act. The bill provides for virtual meetings.

House Bill 3270 amends the deliberate intent statute to limit noneconomic damages to $250,000. The bill removes occupational pneumoconiosis from compensable injuries under deliberate intent and requires the separation of non-meritorious claims to enhance speedy resolution and to cap attorney fees to the same amount allowable under the other portions of Chapter 23.

House Bill 3313 restrains county commissions from imposing rules and regulations on farmers beyond what is already prescribed through state statute.

House Bill 3500 permits regulated consumer lenders to permit employees to conduct certain business at locations other than the licensee’s designated office.

House Bill 3193 establishes requirements for an order for payment of medical monitoring expenses. The bill provides that an increased risk of disease is not a compensable basis for damages in any civil action. The bill provides that, where awarded, payment of medical monitoring expenses shall not be paid to a prevailing plaintiff until the procedure is completed. The bill requires that, where awarded, defendants pay medical monitoring expenses into a fund established by the court for that purpose. The bill provides for the return of any money remaining in the fund after medical monitoring is no longer required for the defendants. The bill was removed from the agenda to perfect amendments. It will be taken up another day. 

House Bill 3354 authorizes municipalities to combine operations with other municipalities and counties to provide governmental services.

House Bill 3405 changes the time period of a protective order extension to one year, reserving the judge’s ability to extend longer with an explanation of reasoning.

House Bill 2939 allows a municipality to file a lien for unpaid and delinquent refuse fees.

House Bill 3480 creates the WV Consumer Privacy Act of 2023. The bill prohibits credit reporting agencies from disclosing and/or selling personal financial information.

House Advances Bill to Increase Penalties for Human Trafficking

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Advances Bill to Increase Penalties for Human Trafficking

During this morning’s House floor session, fourteen bills were passed, including House Bill 2252.

The bill increases the penalties for human trafficking from indeterminate to determinate sentences, as follows:

  • Human Trafficking or aiding and abetting human trafficking of
    • An adult
      • Current: 3 to 15 years
      • In Bill: 15 to 40 years and fined up to $200,000.
    • A minor
      • Current: 5 to 20 years
      • In Bill: 25 to 100 years and fined up to $300,000
  • Forced labor of
    • An Adult
      • Current: 1 to 5 years
      • In Bill: 15 to 40 years and fined up to $100,000
    • A Minor
      • Current: 3 to 20 years
      • In Bill: 25 to 100 years and fined up to $300,000
  • Debt Bondage
    • An Adult
      • Current: 1 to 5 years
      • In Bill: 15 to 40 years and fined up to $100,000
    • A Minor
      • Current: 1 to 5 years
      • In Bill: 15 to 40 years and fined up to $200,00
  • Sexual Servitude
    • An Adult
      • Current: 3 to 25 years
      • In Bill: 25+ years and fined up to $200,000
    • A Minor
      • Current: 10 to 20 years
      • In Bill: 50+ years and fined up to $300,000
  • Patronizing a victim of sexual servitude  
    • An Adult
      • Current: 1 to 5 years
      • In Bill: 25 to 100 years and fined up to $100,000
    • A Minor
      • Current 3 to 15 years
      • In Bill: 50+ years and fined up to $300,000

***An individual who is convicted of any of these offenses will not be eligible for parole before serving half of the individual’s sentence. If the victim is a minor, the individual will not be eligible for parole at all.

Bills increasing the penalty for human trafficking have been a subject of discussion for the past few years in the legislature. Delegates stated children and immigrants are vulnerable due to language barriers, unstable homes, drug epidemic, and ease of access because of interstates passing through WV.

The bill passed unanimously and advances to the Senate for consideration.

The House is in recess until 6 p.m.

Committee Meetings, Today

The Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on Friday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. in the House Chamber on HB 3042 – Relating to forbidding excessive government limitations on exercise of religion.

The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will hold a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. in the House Chamber on HB 3446 – Clarifying the powers and duties of Public Service Commission as to electric generating facilities.

The Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. in the House Chamber on HB 3157 – Relating to clarifying the duties, functions, prohibitions and restrictions applicable to the West Virginia Fusion Center.

The House reconvened at 6 p.m. to finish the agenda with bills on second and first reading.

The House is adjourned until 9 a.m. on tomorrow, Feb. 25.

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow, Feb. 25

  • The Rules Committee will meet at 8:45 a.m. behind the Chamber.
  • The Finance Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.
  • The Government Organization Committee will meet immediately following floor session.
  • The Education Committee will meet immediately following floor session.

Senate Passes Veterans’ Home Loan Mortgage Program of 2023

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Veterans’ Home Loan Mortgage Program of 2023

The Senate passed a bill on Friday that would help veterans receive lower mortgage rates in West Virginia.

Senate Bill 616 would create the West Virginia Veterans’ Home Loan Mortgage Program Act of 2023. Veterans and members of the National Guard and Reserves who are first-time home buyers would be eligible for this program that would allow them to obtain home mortgage loans that are at least one percentage point lower than rates available in the marketplace or through other housing programs.

The program would be administered by the West Virginia Housing Development Fund.

The legislation would require the veteran to contribute a minimum $2,500 down payment toward the purchase. Under the bill, this amount may go toward paying any closing costs incurred by the veteran.

The legislation places no limit on the maximum income that may be earned by an eligible veteran.

The bill calls for the State Treasurer’s Office to transfer $8 million from its Unclaimed Property Trust Fund to provide start-up costs for the program.

The legislation now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 25, at 10 a.m.

House Energy and Manufacturing Advance Two Bills in Afternoon Meeting

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Energy and Manufacturing Advance Two Bills in Afternoon Meeting

The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing met this afternoon to consider the following.

House Bill 2814 creates the Clean Hydrogen Power Task Force in WV.

House Resolution 17 encourages the West Virginia Geologic and Economic Survey to work collectively with private industry and higher education institutions, with the support of the West Virginia Development Office, to evaluate policy options to encourage the capture and beneficial use of coal mine methane and report its findings to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by December 31, 2023.

House Advances Bill to Amend TIF Act

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Advances Bill to Amend TIF Act

During today’s House floor session, eleven resolutions were adopted, and eighteen bills passed.

House Bill 2538 requires the Bureau of Social Services to create a child welfare web-based communications system. The system would be used to connect foster parents with the bureau and the families they serve.

House Bill 3340 revises the WV Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Act. The bill authorizes the county commission to expand the TIF for up to 15 years due to the impact of the recession and COVID-19 for bonds issued before December 31, 2020.

House Bill 3547 increases the number of personal leave days that county board of education employees may use without regard to the cause for the absence from four to five.

House Bill 3548 provides for uniform procedures, agreement forms, and benefits to ensure a teacher’s exchange of his or her duty-free lunch or planning to perform duties at the school is a voluntary exchange. The bill prohibits direct, in-person contact by administrators to request, coerce, or order a teacher to exchange his or her recess to perform these duties.

The House is in recess until 6 p.m.

Committee Meetings, Today

The Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on Friday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. in the House Chamber on HB 3042 – Relating to forbidding excessive government limitations on the exercise of religion.

The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will hold a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. in the House Chamber on HB 3446 – Clarifying the powers and duties of the Public Service Commission as to electric generating facilities.

The House reconvened this evening to receive Senate messages. The body concurred with the Senate to complete legislative action on Senate Bill 128.

Senate Bill 128 clarifies the authority of the Governor and Legislature to proclaim and declare a state of emergency and preparedness.

The House also finished its agenda with second and first reading. On second, House Bill 3247 was amended.

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow, Feb. 24

  • The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.
  • The Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 460.
  • The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.

The Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. in the House Chamber on HB 3157 – Relating to clarifying the duties, functions, prohibitions and restrictions applicable to the West Virginia Fusion Center.

Senate Passes Bill to Reduce Copay Cap on Insulin and Devices

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Bill to Reduce Copay Cap on Insulin and Devices

The Senate passed a bill on Thursday that would reduce the copay cap on insulin and devices, while also permitting purchase of testing equipment without prescription.

Senate Bill 577 caps the cost of a 30-day supply of insulin at $35, and $100 for devices. The devices covered at the $100 threshold include a blood glucose test strip, glucose monitor, lancet, lancing device, or insulin syringe; but not insulin pumps. The cost sharing maximums are aggregate, regardless of quantity or type. Under the bill, a prescription would not be required to obtain a blood-testing kit for ketones under the bill.

The legislation covers only private insurance. PEIA’s copays are very close to those in the bill. Medicare and Medicaid are not covered.

This bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until Friday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Health at 1 p.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 2:30 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3:15 in 451M

Morning Meetings for Feb. 24:

Agriculture and Natural Resources at 9 a.m. in 208W

Finance at 10 a.m. in 451M

Judiciary at 10 a.m. in 208W

House Gov Org Advances Five Bills in Evening Meeting

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Gov Org Advances Five Bills in Evening Meeting

The Committee on Government Organization met this evening to consider the following.

House Bill 3424 funds the West Virginia State Athletic Commission by implementing a 3% gate fee for all ticket and pay-per-view sales, live streaming rights, video rights, sold for such contests, and any rebroadcast rights from sanctioned events and requiring licensed promoters to provide the commission with a report showing the gross proceeds from all ticket and pay-per-view sales live streaming right, video rights, sold for such contests and any rebroadcast rights.

House Bill 3490 amends the State Code regarding the consolidation of local governments. The bill defines the powers and privileges of a consolidated local government. The percentage vote required to approve metro government in municipal and countywide elections from 55 percent to a majority in counties with populations below 20,000.

House Bill 2305 exempts foreign market vehicles manufactured 25 or more years ago from certain title requirements and allows registration upon application and payment of an additional $25 fee.

House Bill 2860 ensures the safe disposal of AFFF fire-fighting foam.

House Bill 2782 requires that municipal elections be held concurrently with regularly scheduled primary or general elections.

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