The Committee on the Judiciary met this afternoon to consider the following legislation.

House Bill 3302 recognizes an embryo or fetus as a distinct unborn victim for the offense of DUI causing death or severe bodily injury.

House Bill 2817 clarifies the definitions of alternative fuel and alternative fuel vehicles, limiting Public Service Commission jurisdiction over temporary charging locations with movable generators for technological demonstrations at fairs, festivals, and other special events.

House Bill 2605 enacts a Good Samaritan Law. The bill provides that an individual who voluntarily without payment assists at the scene of an accident, emergency, or disaster may not be liable for civil damages as the result of any act or omission in providing emergency care.

House Bill 3272 enacts laws authorizing the formation and operation of licensed and unlicensed private trust companies under West Virginia law.

House Bill 2540 establishes the “Travel Insurance Model Act.” This will allow travel agencies in the state to provide travel insurance.

House Bill 3122 permits certain types of rifles to use an encapsulated propellant charge that loads from the breech.

The Committee on Veterans and Homeland Security met this morning to consider legislation, including the following.

House Bill 3233 increases the officer uniform allowance for the National Guard. The bill also adds allowances for maternity and specialty uniform allowances.

House Bill 3254 establishes a State Military Funeral Honor Guard in honor of Hershel “Woody” Williams, known as the Hershel “Woody” Williams State Military Funeral Honor Guard to render professional military funeral honors.

House Bill 3152 makes the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory the entity responsible for the certification, standards, and administration of secondary chemical tests. The bill also makes the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory responsible for approval of the devices and methods of preliminary breath analysis.

Senate Bill 298 allows mutual aid agreements to be entered into by local emergency services or organizations for reciprocal aid in bordering counties of other states for day-to-day support for fire and emergency medical service calls.

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

House Bill 2075 requires regular updates to a patient’s medication regimen to be provided to the patient’s pharmacy. The bill also requires labeling to clearly state what the medication is being used for.

House Bill 2994 extends the time a glass prescription is valid from one year to three years. It also extends the prescription for contacts from one year to 18 months. The bill was rejected.

House Bill 3278 updates the practice of optometry. The bill allows optometrists to perform all procedures in which the optometric is certified.

House Bill 3199 clarifies that the termination of ectopic pregnancy does not have to be reported when abortion data is reported to the vital statistics registration.

House Bill 3306 moves the Office of Drug Control Policy under the direction of the Governor from DHHR.

House Bill 3092 requires local and county health departments to issue a mobile food establishment reciprocity permit to a mobile food service establishment that is operating within the State of West Virginia and holds a valid mobile food establishment permit from the vendor’s county of residence.

The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee met this morning to discuss the following legislation.

House Joint Resolution 1 was laid over to another meeting. The resolution would guarantee the right of the citizens of West Virginia to hunt and fish. The resolution provides that the Legislature and Division of Natural Resources pass and adopt statutes and regulations to promote wildlife conservation. The resolution provides that it does not erode laws concerning trespass or property rights.

House Bill 3122 permits certain types of rifles using an encapsulated propellant charge that loads from the breech.

House Joint Resolution 20 proposes an amendment to the WV Constitution to guarantee the right of farmers and ranchers to engage in natural, traditional, or modern farming or ranching practices in the state.

House Bill 2476 removes the authority of county farmland protection boards to acquire ownership of farm property or other properties for farm uses and protection.

The Judiciary Committee met this afternoon to consider the following legislation.

House Bill 2218 creates the Electronically Distracted Driving Act, expanding the prohibitions on distracted driving of motorists utilizing a wireless communication device and stand-alone electronic devices. The Committee Substitute adds exemptions including smart watches and audio recorders as they do not pertain to the context of the bill.

House Bill 2548 clarifies that the temporary identification cards issued upon release to an inmate are at no cost to the inmate and extend the validity of the temporary identification cards to 180 days.

House Bill 2621 requires the Insurance Commissioner to formulate testing and continuing education requirements for all applicants and license renewals for professional bondsmen in criminal cases.

House Bill 3149 would have adopted the Uniform Collaborative Law Act. The bill was tabled.

House Bill 2599 creates the utility pole rights-of-way and easement mapping initiative The bill requires pole owners to provide information to the Department of Economic Development to map the poles. The Department of Economic Development is to use the information to create maps with specific information about the poles.

House Bill 2970 provides additional reasons for a civil action to be filed to expunge criminal records.

House Bill 2605 enacts a Good Samaritan Law. The bill provides that persons who render assistance to a person in an accident, emergency, or disaster, without remuneration, are not liable for civil damages. The bill also states that persons trained in a qualified program of emergency response who render assistance to a person in an accident, emergency, or disaster, without remuneration, are not liable for civil damages.