The Judiciary Committee met this afternoon and considered the following.

House Bill 3042 forbids excessive government limitations on the exercise of religion and creates the Equal Protection for Religion Act.

House Bill 3018 establishes the age of consent for marriage as 18. This prevents anyone under 18 from obtaining a marriage license in West Virginia. The bill removes the ability of an underage person to obtain consent to marry through their parents, legal guardian, or by petition to the circuit court. The bill was amended to clarify that this bill does not nullify marriages prior to its passage, nor does it nullify an otherwise legal marriage in another jurisdiction.

House Bill Originating relates to the Safe Haven Baby Box. Currently, a baby can be dropped off at a hospital or fire station if it is staffed 24/7. This bill allows for a box with an alarm to be placed in these fire stations. If the alarm sounds, firefighters would be required to retrieve the baby and take the baby to the hospital.

House Bill 3363 recognizes the law-enforcement powers of correctional officers employed by the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation to bring state code into compliance with the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) provision.

House Bill 3271 requires audio recordings in bathrooms of self-contained bathrooms in special education classrooms.

The House Judiciary Committee met this evening and considered the following.

House Bill 3232 regulates fantasy gaming competitions and implementation of sports wagering by allowing the West Virginia State Gaming Control Board to accredit independent evaluators to audit and opine on the sports betting content directly or indirectly affiliated with mobile sports wagering licensees.

House Bill 2122 requires the child to have contact with a parent, guardian, legal custodian, or other legally recognized equivalent by phone call or video conference. The bill permits a law-enforcement officer to ask questions reasonably believed to be necessary to protect life or property without requiring contact with counsel, parents, guardians, or other recognized persons. The bill does require questions of a child to be limited to obtaining such information reasonably believed to be necessary to protect life or property.

A bill originating in committee recognizes, enforces, and registers Canadian Domestic Violence Protective Orders in West Virginia.

House Bill 3445 creates earned compliance credits for individuals on probation and parole for certain behaviors and actions to incentivize rehabilitation efforts. The bill authorizes supervising officers to recommend rescinding of credit to the court in certain circumstances. The bill requires the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Division of Probation Services to provide annual reports to the Legislature.

House Bill 3114 denies severance pay to probationary employees of the Department of Transportation who are terminated for failing or refusing to submit to a drug screen

The House Health and Human Resources Committee met this afternoon to consider the following.

House Bill 2025 expands the type of professionals who may diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder.

House Bill 3501 creates a special revenue fund known as the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Instruction Fund to provide funding for CPR instruction to high school students.

House Bill 3247 creates the Abuse and Neglect Oversight Act. The bill states that DHHR shall institute a three-tier staff reimbursement model. The system will offer higher subsidy payments to programs that demonstrate that they meet higher standards of car. The Bureau of Medical Services will develop a new policy framework for Intensively Supported Settings to be evaluated on an annual basis. Oversight for this shall be provided by OFLAC.

The Committee on Pensions and Retirement met this morning. The following bills advance.

Senate Bill 449 adds WV Natural Resource Police Officers Retirement System to the state government Retirement Systems. The bill also amends code relating to charter schools and TERS.

Senate Bill 450 requires a medical exam by a board-approved physician for disability awards and benefits for the West Virginia Public Employees Retirement System, the Deputy Sheriffs’ Retirement System, the Municipal Police and Firefighters Retirement System, the State Police Retirement System, the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System, the Teachers Retirement System, and the Natural Resources Police Officers Retirement System.

Senate Bill 451 adds electing charter schools to the retirement contributions section and provisions of delinquent contribution. The bill provides for the transfer of assets from PERS to TERS.

Senate Bill 475 provides for the oversight board discretion in the method of medical examinations of a member applying for disability benefits,

Senate Bill 452 adds 911 personnel and county firefighter to those who can contribute and receive benefits from the EMS Retirement System

Senate Bill 458 sets the rate of interest on delinquent retirement contribution submissions. The bill also prohibits an employer from unilaterally terminating its participation without legislative action.

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

House Bill 3189 creates the PFAS Protection Act. The bill requires the DEP to identify and address PFAS sources impacting public water by July 1, 2024. The bill also requires that facilities that have used PFA chemicals recently report their use to the DEP. It’s required that permits be updated to monitor PFAS chemical facilities to report their use. The bill also requires the DEP to propose rules to adopt water quality criteria for certain PFAS chemicals after they are finalized by the USEPA.

House Bill 3493 prohibits a governmental entity of China or a company or other entity that is headquartered in or controlled by the government of China from owning land in West Virginia.

House Bill 3448 allows the Supreme Court Division of Probation Services to conduct field training for probation officers and grants a field training officer the same powers as a probation officer while performing his or her duties.

House Bill 2189 creates the Protection of Property from Warrantless Searches Act.

House Bill 3265 allows a sheriff to bill another law enforcement agency for services.

House Bill 2252 enhances criminal penalties for human trafficking. The bill sets determinate sentencing. For human trafficking of an adult, it would be 15 to 40 years; and for the trafficking of a minor, 25 to 100 years. The bill removes parole eligibility for anyone guilty of trafficking a minor. The bill was amended to include fines in addition to sentencing.

House Bill 3188 establishes an alert system for missing cognitively impaired persons.

House Bill 3006 adds the criminal offense of damaging, destroying, or stealing any amount of copper, with felony penalties. The bill also provides for forfeiture of items of personal property that are used, have been used, or are intended for use, used in the perpetration of theft or damage to infrastructure. The bill was amended to increase fines.

The Committee on Government Organization met this afternoon, advancing the following.

House Bill 3484 expands the employment and training requirements for individuals to receive SNAP benefits.

House Bill 3303 clarifies and expands the powers and duties of the director of the Coalfield Community Development Office and provides funding to the office through federal grants and portions of West Virginia’s severance tax collections.

House Bill 3438 establishes an auto-renewal licensing program that is eligible for discounts on licensing fees.

House Bill 3459 allows for a best-value procurement evaluation for prequalified bidders.

House Bill 2760 permits firefighters to drive ambulances at the scene of an emergency when both EMTs are needed to administer patient care.

House Concurrent Resolution 19 declares the “pepperoni roll” to be the official state food of West Virginia.

House Bill 3398 establishes the WV Memorial to Fallen Heroes of the Global War on Terrorism. The bill allocates funding and creates a commission to construct the monument which will be placed on the Capitol grounds.