Today, the House amended two bills and postponed action on three.

House Bills 89 and 3215 were amended.

House Bill 89 requires hospitals to have on-call, available healthcare providers to conduct sexual assault forensic examinations and to collect sexual assault forensic examination kits. The bill requires that the health care providers shall be trained and properly qualified by the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Commission. The Health and Human Resources committee added a definition for hospitals and included that an expert could be available through telehealth.

House Bill 3215 provides flexibility in timelines to allow planning commissions to promptly address applications. The bill addresses difficulties with finding qualified members for public boards and modifies the frequency of planning commission meetings. The bill addresses the jurisdiction of the planning commission and provides for flexibility in qualifications for county boards of zoning appeals and modifies the frequency of board of zoning appeals meetings. The first amendment changes the word “encourage” to “Guidelines for” to clarify that guidelines will be in place. The second amendment changes wording back to its introduced version.

Action was delayed on House Bill 2498, House Bill 3340, and House Bill 3408.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 20.

Committee Meetings, Monday, Feb. 20

• The Judiciary Committee will meet at 10:15 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.
• The Government Organization Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Education Committee will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 432.

The Judiciary Committee will host a public hearing Monday, February 20, 2023 at 9 a.m. on HB 3270– To amend the deliberate intent statute to limit noneconomic damages to $250,000.

During today’s House floor session sixteen bills were passed including the following.

House Bill 2515 requires the Bureau for Family Assistance with the HEPC and Workforce WV create an inventory of occupation and educational resources for persons wanting to reenter the workforce, obtain a degree, or secure workforce training. The agencies should maintain the list of available resources and assistance from federal, federal-state, and state programs.

House Bill 2820 extends athletic programs to participants in the Hope Scholarship Program and in Microschools and Learning Pods.

House Bill 3190 amends the definition for a minor to a person less than or supposed to be less than 18 years of age. It states any person over 18 years of age who solicits, entices, seduces, or lures or attempt to solicit, entice, seduce or lure a known or believe minor at least four years younger than the adult to engage in illegal acts is guilty of a felony and shall be fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned for two to ten years. It also states that if the individual engages in any act that in which he or she is in the physical presence of the minor with the intent to engage in sexual activity or conduct with the minor is guilty of a felony and shall be fined up to $25,000 and imprisoned for five to thirty years.

Action was postponed on House Bill 3215. The bill relates to land use planning. The bill provides flexibility in timelines to allow planning commissions to promptly address applications and addresses difficulties with finding qualified members for public boards. The bill modifies the frequency of planning commission meetings and clarifies contents of subdivision and land development ordinances.

The House is adjourned until 9 a.m. on tomorrow, Feb. 17.

Committee Meetings, Today

• The Committee on Senior, Children and Family Issues will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 410.
• The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 432.
• The Committee on Economic Development will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Education Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 432.
• The Finance Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 460.

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow, Feb. 17

• The Rules Committee will meet at 8:45 a.m. behind the Chamber.
• The Education Committee will meet 30 min after the floor session.

The Judiciary Committee will host a public hearing Monday, February 20, 2023 at 9 a.m. in the House Chamber on HB 3270 – To amend the deliberate intent statute to limit noneconomic damages to $250,000.

Today, the House passed 11 bills, amended one, and completed legislative action on two.

Senate Bill 239 requires the Commissioner of the Bureau for Behavioral Health to engage behavior health providers, substance use disorder providers, municipal leaders, and county government leaders to study a breakdown of homeless demographic information throughout West Virginia. The study should be reported to the Senate President, House Speaker, and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by July 1, 2024.

House Bill 2821 authorizes a decreasing modification reducing federal adjusted gross income for state personnel income tax purposes in the amount of certain WV gaming and gambling losses, not to exceed the amount of WV gaming and gambling winnings, for that year. The bill requires detailed records substantiating losses.

House Bill 2896 continues the process of West Virginia becoming an Agreement State with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The bill transfers the authority and responsibility over sources of low-level radiation to the DEP and establishes a more comprehensive regulatory system to protect the public and the environment in a single state agency.

House Bill 3318 was amended. The bill ensures residents receive support from their local area when seeking work opportunities.

House Bills 2800 and 3061 completed legislative action and headed to the Governor.

House Bill 2800 provides the HEPC and the CCTCE authority to create legislative rules for performance-Based Funding Formula, Capital Project Management, Tuition and Fee Policy, Higher Education Grant Program/Workforce Development Initiative Grant Programs, Annual Reauthorization of Degree-Granting Institutions, and Human Resources Administration.

House Bill 3061 expands the authority of the Foster Care Ombudsman. The bill prohibits the ombudsman or staff from being compelled to identify individuals providing information as part of an investigation. All memoranda, work notes, and case files are confidential and cannot be subpoenaed, and are not admissible in court.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on tomorrow, Feb. 16.

Committee Meetings, Today

• The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460
• The Judiciary Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 410.
• The Education Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 432.
• The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 215E.

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow, Feb. 16

• The Committee on Workforce Development will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 215E.
• The Committee on Senior, Children, and Family Issues will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 460.
• The Committee on Jails and Prisons will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 410.
• The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.
• The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 432.
• The Committee on Economic Development will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Education Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 432.
• The Finance Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 460.

It’s Day 35 of the Session and the last day to introduce a bill in the House. During House Rules, House Bill 2075 was moved to the inactive House Calendar, and House Resolution 12 was advanced to the House floor. Fifteen bills were passed during today’s floor session including the following.

House Bill 2005 establishes a four-year dual enrollment pilot program to be administered by the HECP and the CCTCE in partnership with the State Board of Education. The program will offer individualized pathways for careers in direct care health professions, information technology, STEM, education, advanced manufacturing, welding and fabrication, construction, agriculture and any other program that meets workforce need in the state as determined by the Department of Commerce.

House Bill 2006 reorganizes the DHHR into three departments: the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Health Facilities effective January 1, 2024. The agencies and boards within each department will be organized as follows:

• Department of Human Services:
  • Bureau of Social Services
  • Bureau for Medical Services
  • Bureau for Child Support Enforcement
  • Bureau for Family Assistance
  • Bureau for Behavior Health
  • Office of Drug Control Policy
• Department of Health
  • Bureau for Public Health
  • Office of Emergency Medical Services
  • Office of Chief Medical Examiner
  • Office of Threat Preparedness
  • Office of the Inspector General
    • Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification
    • Board of Review
    • Foster Care Ombudsman
    • Olmstead Office
    • Investigation and Fraud Management
    • Quality Control
    • Mental Health Care Ombudsman
    • Long-Term Care Ombudsman
    • Human Rights Commission
    • WV Clearance for Access: Registry and Employment Screening
  • Health Care Authority
• Department of Health Facilities
  • Hopemont Hospital
  • Jackie Withrow Hospital
  • John Manchin, Sr. Health Care Center
  • Lakin Hospital
  • Mildred Mitchel-Bateman Hospital
  • Welch Community Hospital
  • William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital

Any bureau, office, board, commission, or other state entity not specifically organized above shall be organized by the secretaries of the three agencies.

Each department will have a secretary appointed by the Governor by December 1, 2023. The three secretaries will work together through the Office of the Chief Operating Officer. The COO will act as a liaison to ensure the three departments are in communication with one another. The three departments will also share administrative services, which will be through the Office of the COO. The first COO will be appointed by the Governor. On January 1, 2026, and thereafter, the COO will be appointed by the Secretary of Human Services.

The bill also makes changes to the State Health Officer qualifications and Inspector General duties. The bill advances to the Senate for consideration.  

Action was suspended for one day on two of the 13 bills on second reading.

Senate Bill 188 creates the Grid Stabilization and Security Act of 2023, which identifies economically viable sites for natural gas electric generation projects. The bill establishes criteria for identifying economically viable sites and requires the Secretary of the DEP to notify the DEP and the PSC of the sites for the generation facility. The bill sets the application process through the PSC.

House Bill 3318 ensures residents receive support from their local area when seeking work opportunities.  

Rules were suspended while receiving committee reports and 14 bills were read for the first time in addition to the four already on first reading.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on tomorrow, Feb. 15.

Committee Meetings, Today

• The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 432.
• The Sub-Committee on Tourism will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.
• The Health and Human Resources Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
• The Committee on Prevention and Treatment Substance Abuse will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 410.
• The Education Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 432.
• The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 4:30 p.m. in Room 410.

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow, Feb. 15

• The Committee on VFDs and EMS will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 460.
• The Political Subdivisions Committee will meet at 9:15 in Room 410.
• The Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 215E.
• The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.
• The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460
• The Judiciary Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. in Room 410.
• The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Judiciary Committee will host a public hearing tomorrow, February 15, 2023 at 9 a.m. in the House Chamber on S.B. 10 – Campus Self-Defense Act.