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Senate Passes Third Grade Success Act

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Third Grade Success Act

The Senate passed the “Third Grade Success Act” Tuesday, legislation aimed at pushing for early childhood intervention in schools to ensure literacy.

Senate Bill 274 enacts several changes to how literacy is taught from kindergarten through third grade, which is considered a crucial period for lifetime reading skills.

A key component of the legislation is to increase individual intervention by bringing more aides and reading coaches into the classroom. These aides won’t simply be performing basic tasks. They will be trained in reading intervention and qualified to help with the instruction. The legislation also aims to reduce class sizes and redefine the acceptable ratio of instructors to students in a classroom.

Lawmakers are very hopeful this legislation will improve reading skills outcomes for students because it is based around the science of reading, which focuses on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

The bill would also establish professional development for educators, including assistant teachers and aides, that would help them use approved benchmark assessments conducted three times a year to identify student deficiencies in reading. The bill would also provide training to help early educators identify the characteristics of dyslexia, which is often hard to detect and under reported.

This legislation would take effect July 1, 2023, for kindergarten and on July 1 of the following two years for second and third grades, respectively.

According to the bill, effective July 1, 2026, students who have not corrected reading deficiencies by the end of third grade could be retained upon recommendation from their teacher and student assistance team.

The bill represents a collaboration between the Department of Education, the Legislature, and the Governor.

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

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 15, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Energy at 1 p.m. in 208W

Health at 1 p.m. in 451M

Judic Sub C at 2 p.m. in 215M

Finance Sub A at 2 p.m. in 208W Finance Sub B at 2 p.m. in 451M

Finance Sub C at 2:15 p.m. in 219M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Morning meetings for Feb. 15:

Agriculture and Natural Resources at 10 a.m. in 208W

House Education Advances Creation of State Tech Transfer Commission

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Education Advances Creation of State Tech Transfer Commission

The Committee on Education met this afternoon, and the following bills advanced.

House Bill 3293 establishes requirements for the state educational agency and local educational agencies to support students in the public school system who exhibit indicators of risk for, or who have been diagnosed with, dyslexia and dyscalculia.

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

House Bill 3273 establishes the State Tech Transfer Commission, which would utilize and monetize intellectual property by state institutions of higher education. The commission would have five members appointed by the Governor, the Chancellor of the HEPC, and the Executive Director of the Jobs and Investment Trust, and non-voting legislative members appointed by the House Speaker and the Senate President. The Commission will hire an executive director and staff.

Senate Passes Bill to Protect Students

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Bill to Protect Students

The Senate passed a bill on Monday that would make it a felony for a school employee or volunteer to engage in sexual contact with a student.

Senate Bill 187 would create  a new felony for any public or private school teacher, principal, counselor, coach, other employee, or volunteer to engage in sexual intercourse, sexual intrusion, or sexual contact with any student regardless of the student’s age. Student consent, or occurrence of the act off of school property or outside of a school function would not qualify as defenses.

The crime would carry a penalty of 1-5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Conviction would also mandate forfeiture of any teaching or other qualifying certificate. This is in addition to any other charges that are brought from the case.

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

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow. Feb. 13, at 11 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Agriculture at 2 p.m. in 208W

Banking and Insurance at 2 p.m. in 451M

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M.

Morning Meetings for Feb. 14:

Government Organization at 9 a.m. in 208W

Education at 9 a.m. in 451M

House Passes Bill to Create West Virginia-Ireland Trade Commission

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Passes Bill to Create West Virginia-Ireland Trade Commission

During the House Floor Session today, six bills were passed including the following.

House Bill 3306 moves the Office of Drug Control Policy under the direction of the Governor. The director of this office currently reports to the State Health Officer. Under this bill, the director reports directly to the Governor and works in cooperation with the State Health Officer, the Bureau for Public Health, and the Bureau for Behavioral Health.

House Bill 3307 establishes the West Virginia-Ireland Trade Commission. The Commission shall include nine members; two senators, two delegates, and five members appointed by the Governor. Legislative members shall serve two years terms and Governor appointments shall serve four-year teams. The purpose of the commission is to advance bilateral trade and investment between West Virginia and Ireland, initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to West Virginia and Ireland, promote business and academic exchanges between West Virginia and Ireland, and encourage mutual investment in the instruction, and Ireland.

Eighteen bills were on second reading. Action on two of those billswas delayed one day.

House Bill 2006 was amended to clear up some technical errors. The bill, on third reading tomorrow, reorganizes the DHHR into three separate departments.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on tomorrow, Feb. 14.

Committee Meetings, Today

  • The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.
  • The Education Committee will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 432.
  • The Finance Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.
  • The Judiciary Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 410.

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow, Feb. 14

  • The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 215E.
  • The Committee on Pensions and Retirement will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 460.
  • 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 Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410.
  • 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 Education Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 432.

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

House Passes Supplement Appropriation for Economic and Broadband Development in WV

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Passes Supplement Appropriation for Economic and Broadband Development in WV

The House convened early this morning. Five bills were passed including the following.

House Bill 2218, the Distracted Driving Act, expands prohibitions on distracted driving of motorists utilizing a wireless communication device or stand-alone electronic device.

The debate on House Bill 2882 was lengthy. The supplemental appropriation bill adds a new item of appropriation and increases funding from the surplus balances to the Economic Development Department for the Department’s Project Fund and Broadband Development Fund.

The proponents of the bill stated the funding will be used to build and diversify the state’s economy. The funding would bring more manufacturing jobs to the Northern Panhandle. Another proponent stated that this funding would help redevelop and reinvigorate West Virginia.

The opponents stated they believe the Economic Development Department had been allocated sufficient funding already. Concerns about the unknowns of the project were also expressed during debating.

The bill passed 69 in favor and 25 against. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

House Bill 3130 creates the West Virginia Coalfields Energy Research and Economic Development Authority.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 13.

Committee Meetings, Today

Committee Meetings, Monday, Feb. 13

Senate Passes Cassie Marie Johnson Memorial Act

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Cassie Marie Johnson Memorial Act

The Senate passed the Patrol Officer Cassie Marie Johnson Memorial Act on Friday, legislation that would add a 15-year to life sentence with mercy for anyone who causes the death of a police officer, security officer, firefighter, or EMS worker, regardless of the offender’s intent.

Under the bill, the offender would not be eligible for parole for at least the full 15-year sentence.

Officer Johnson, 28, was murdered in Dec. 2020 after responding to a parking complaint on Garrison Avenue in Charleston.

Many of her Charleston Police Officer colleagues are well as her family were present in the chamber today to see this bill pass unanimously in her honor.

The Senate has adjourned until Monday, Feb. 13, at 11 a.m.

Severance Tax Bill Advances from House Technology and Infrastructure

Cheyenne DeBolt
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Severance Tax Bill Advances from House Technology and Infrastructure

The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure met this evening. The following bills advanced.

House Bill 3133 creates a credit against the severance tax to encourage private companies to make infrastructure improvements to highways, roads, and bridges in this state. The bill limits the total amount of road and highway infrastructure improvement credits that can be certified by the Secretary of Transportation. The bill seeks to encourage greater capital investment in coal production and processing facilities.

House Bill 2801 establishes social media privacy for current and prospective students or employees of higher education institutions operating in the state of West Virginia. The bill prohibits any higher education institution from disclosing their username on social media or changing their privacy settings.

House Bill 3071 requires the approval of the Legislature and the Governor before additional bonds may be issued by the Parkways Authority as revenue bonds. The bill also requires tolls to be removed six months following the removal of obstacles for the revenue bonds.

House HHR Committee Advances Six Bills

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House HHR Committee Advances Six Bills

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

House Bill 2186 ensures that a smoke evacuation system is in place to protect medical personnel during any medical treatment where there could be surgical smoke.

House Bill 2592 establishes a nurse staffing and safe harbor peer review process and creates protections for nurse licensure under the safe harbor.

House Bill 2993 licenses rural emergency hospitals.

House Bill 3166 permits a hospital to hold a patient experiencing a psychiatric emergency for up to 72 hours.

House Bill 3200 permits DHHR to transfer comprehensive community mental health centers and comprehensive intellectual disability facilities to regional mental health centers or regional intellectual disability facilities.

House Bill 3317 removes specific continuing education requirements.

House Passes Bill to Increase Adoption Tax Credit

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Passes Bill to Increase Adoption Tax Credit

Twelve bills were up for discussion today in the House of Delegates.

House Bill 2002 increases the adoption tax credit and establishes eligibility of adopted children of WV residents for early intervention services. The bill establishes the WV Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program.

House Bill 2548 clarifies that temporary identification cars are to be issued at no cost to released inmates and extends the validity of the ID to 180 days.

House Bill 2967 expedites the processing of professional or trade license applications for service members, veterans, and their spouses.

House Bill 2036 removes the limit on the number of certified BUILD WV districts that may be certified in the state. The bill gives the Secretary of the Department of Economic Development, the Secretary of the Department of Tourism, and the Secretary of the Department of Commerce the discretion on the number of BUILD WV districts.

Action on House Bill 3130 was postponed one day.

Amendments to House Bill 2882 led to a lengthy debate. The bill is a supplementary appropriation that adds a new item of appropriation from the State Fund, General Revenue unappropriated surplus for the fiscal year 2023. Two amendments were offered and rejected.

The House is adjourned until 9 a.m. on tomorrow, Feb. 10.

Committee Meetings, Today

Committee Meetings, tomorrow, Feb. 9

Senate Passes Bill to Require Holocaust, Financial Literacy Curriculum

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Bill to Require Holocaust, Financial Literacy Curriculum

The Senate passed a bill Thursday morning that would require public schools in West Virginia to teach about the Holocaust and other genocides, as well as financial literacy.

If Senate Bill 216 becomes law, West Virginia would join 24 other states that require Holocaust education in public schools.

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

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 10, at 9 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Health at 1 p.m. in 451M

Energy at 1 p.m. in 208W

Judic Sub A at 2 p.m. in 208W

Judic Sub B at 2 p.m. in 451M

Judic Sub C at 2 p.m. in 219M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

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