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Two DMV Bills Advance to Senate

Cheyenne DeBolt
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Two DMV Bills Advance to Senate

Today, the House passed two bills.

House Bill 2530 extends the expiration of temporary registration plates from 60 days to 90 days.

House Bill 2533 allows for a permanent windshield placard to be valid for the duration of the applicant’s life, instead of them having to renew regularly. Temporary placards are still only valid for 6 months.

There were four bills on second reading.

Senate Bill 128 was advanced to third with the right to amend. The bill clarifies the authority of the Governor and the Legislature to proclaim or declare states of emergency. It creates two classes of states of preparedness and establishes the criteria.

House Bill 2310 authorizes the DMV to develop an “Antique Fleet” program so that multiple antique vehicles may utilize a single registration plate.

House Bill 2564 repeals obsolete code relating to a former DUI license revocation process.

House Bill 2602 adds special teaching assistance to the class titles of service personnel of the state minimum pay scale and class titles. The classifications were inadvertently omitted in the HB 4829 passed in 2022.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow, January 24, 2023.

Committee Meetings, Today

  • The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460.
  • The Education Committee will meet a 1 p.m. in Room 434.
  • The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215.
  • The Judiciary Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in 410.

Committee Meetings, tomorrow, Jan. 24

  • The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 215E.
  • The Committee on Banking and Insurance will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.
  • The Committee on Substance Abuse will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 434.
  • The Committee on Pensions and Retirement will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 460.
  • The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 434.
  • The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410.
  • 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.

House Passes “Marshall University 75 Memorial Day” Bill

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Passes “Marshall University 75 Memorial Day” Bill

Today, the House passed House Bill 2412.

House Bill 2412 memorialized November 14 every year as the “Marshall University 75 Memorial Day” to honor the 73 individuals who died in the 1970 plane crash.

On November 14, 1970, a plane carrying most of the Marshall football time, coaches, boosters, two flight attendants, and two pilots crashed in Wayne County, WV. The plane was returning home from a Marshall football game in North Carolina. It is the “worst single air tragedy in NCAA sports history.” During this time, the community, state, and nation came together.

Every year, Marshall University holds a memorial ceremony at the Memorial Fountain on the Student Center’s Plaza. At this ceremony, the 75 lost are remembered and the Memorial Fountain is shut off.

Delegate Sean Hornbuckle is the lead sponsor of the bill and read the 75 names, then a moment of silence was observed for those individuals.

House Bill 2017 was on its third reading but has been sent to the Judiciary Committee for further review.

Two bills were on second reading today.

House Bill 2530 extends the expiration of temporary registration plates from sixty days to ninety days.

House Bill 2533 allows for a permanent windshield placard to be valid for the duration of the applicant’s life.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Monday, January 23, 2023.

Committee Meetings, Monday Jan. 23

The Education Committee will meet a 1 p.m. in Room 434.

The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215.

The Judiciary Committee will meet 3 p.m. in 410.

Senate Completes Action on Two DNR Bills

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Completes Action on Two DNR Bills

The Senate concurred in House amendments, completing action on two Division of Natural Resources bills, during Friday morning’s floor session. The bills are the first to be sent to the Governor in the 2023 regular session.

Senate Bill 161 would allow the DNR within the Department of Commerce to sell, lease, or dispose of property under its control. Legislative approval would need to be sought if the property is in a state park or state forest. The land in question would have to be deemed obsolete or unused by DNR.

Senate Bill 162 would allow the DNR to lease state-owned pore spaces beneath state forests, wildlife management areas and other lands under DNR’s jurisdiction for use in carbon sequestration projects, where carbon dioxide emissions are pumped underground. The bill prohibits  the DNR from leasing pore spaces beneath state parks.

The tandem bills are tools the state hopes can attract companies wishing to construct carbon capture and sequestration projects in conjunction with the state’s efforts to attract a regional hydrogen hub.

The Senate is adjourned until Monday, Jan. 23, at 11 a.m.

House Judiciary Advances Abuse and Neglect Penalty Increases Bill

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Judiciary Advances Abuse and Neglect Penalty Increases Bill

The Judiciary Committee met this morning and advanced House Bill 2113.

House Bill 2113 increases the criminal penalties imposed on a parent, guardian, or custodian for child abuse resulting in injury and child abuse or neglect creating a risk of injury. This bill does not change fines; it changes criminal sentencing penalties.

The changes are as follows:

  • Abuse causing the child bodily injury
    • The current penalty is 1 to 5 years
    • Bill changes the penalty to 2 to 10 years
  • Abuse with serious bodily injury
    • The current penalty is 2 to 10 years
    • Bill changes the penalty to 5 to 15 years
  • Abuse with a substantial risk of death or serious bodily harm
    • The current penalty is 1 to 5 years
    • Bill changes the penalty to 2 to 10 years
  • Abuse with a substantial risk of bodily harm
    • Misdemeanor with fine
    • Bill does not change this penalty.
  • A second offense of child abuse bodily injury (the misdemeanor)
    • The current penalty is a misdemeanor
    • Bill changes the penalty to a felony with 1 to 5 years.  
  • Second felony conviction
    • Bill changes the penalty to twice the term and the fine authorized
  • Neglect causing child bodily injury
    • The current penalty is 1 to 3 years
    • Bill does not change this penalty.
  • Neglect causing serious bodily injury
    • The current penalty is 1 to 10 years
    • Bill does not change this penalty.
  • Gross neglect with a substantial risk of death or serious bodily harm
    • The current penalty is 1 to 5 years
    • Bill changes the penalty to 1 to 10 years
  • Neglect with risk of bodily injury
    • Misdemeanor with fine
    • Bill does not change this penalty.
  • A second offense of neglect with risk of bodily injury (the misdemeanor)
    • The current penalty is a misdemeanor
    • Bill changes the penalty to a felony with 1 to 5 years
  • Second felony conviction
    • Bill changes the penalty to twice the term and the fine authorized

An additional change is that the provisions MAY not apply if neglect is due primarily due to a lack of financial means.

Five Bills Advance from House Health

Cheyenne DeBolt
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Five Bills Advance from House Health

The Health and Human Resources met this afternoon, advancing several bills.

House Bill 2754 adds pharmacy technicians to the list of individuals authorized to perform immunizations. It also reduces the age of the recipient.

House Bill 2756 adds the reporting of medical marijuana to the controlled substance monitoring database.

House Bill 2757 expands eligibility for the WV Invests grant program to include a hospital-based allied health program.

House Bill 2759 updates the health care provider tax.

House Bill 2007 prohibits physicians from performing irreversible gender reassignment procedures on minors.

Senate Passes Bill to Make School Laws Uniform

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Bill to Make School Laws Uniform

The Senate met briefly on Thursday morning, pass Senate Bill 74, which would provide for substantial deference to State Superintendent’s interpretations of school laws.

Senator Charles Trump (R-Morgan) argued that the bill would create uniformity, citing that in theory, their could be 55 different interpretations of the same school law in West Virginia.

Senator Mike Caputo (D-Marion) disagreed, saying this law would tip the scales in favor of school administrators in instances where employees have a grievance.

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

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Jan. 20, at 9 a.m.

Afternoon Meetings:

Judic A at 2 p.m. in 208W

Judic B at 2 p.m. in 451M

Judic C at 2 p.m. in 219M

Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W

Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M

Four DEP Rule Bills Advance from House Energy

Cheyenne DeBolt
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Four DEP Rule Bills Advance from House Energy

The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing met this afternoon and considered four “rules” bills, advancing all to Judiciary.

House Bill 2644 authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to create a legislative rule relating to rules for quarrying and reclamation.

House Bill 2645 authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to create a legislative rule relating to a recycling assistance grant program.

House Bill 2646 authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to create a legislative rule relating to the Reclamation of Abandoned and Dilapidated Properties Grant Program.

House Bill 2647 authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to create a legislative rule relating to the reclamation of solar and wind electricity generating facilities.

House Passes Two DNR Bills Back to Senate

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Passes Two DNR Bills Back to Senate

Today, the House convened at 11 a.m. and passed five bills.

Senate Bill 161 authorizes the director of DNR with the written approval of the Secretary of Commerce to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of property under the director’s control

Senate Bill 162 authorizes the director of DNR to lease state-owned pore space underlying state forests, natural and scenic areas, management areas, and other lands for carbon sequestration. The bill prohibits the leasing of pore space under state parks. It establishes a competitive bidding process.

House Bill 2018 ensures that managed care case coordinators are able to participate in multidisciplinary team meetings.

House Bill 2029 requires the full involvement of law enforcement in the person-to-person presentation of an eviction notice.

House Bill 2506 establishes a national title clearinghouse for using the DMV title system.

Action on House Bill 2017 was delayed one day. House Bill 2017 requires the sheriff, instead of CPS personnel, to serve child abuse and neglect petitions without additional compensation. An amendment is pending on House Bill 2017, which clarifies which type of petition the bill is referring to.

House Bill 2412 advanced to third reading with the right to amend. House Bill 2412 would designate November 14 as an official day of remembrance for the 75 souls lost in the 1970 Marshall University Plane Crash.

Two bills were on first reading. House Bill 2530 extends the expiration of temporary registration plates from 60 days to 90 days. House Bill 2533 allows for a permanent windshield placard to be valid for the duration of the applicant’s life, not requiring renewal.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow, January 20, 2023.

Committee Meetings, Today

Committee Meetings, Tomorrow Jan. 20

 

House Workforce Development Advances Two Bills

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Workforce Development Advances Two Bills

The Committee on Workforce Development met this morning and advanced two bills.

House Bill 2005 establishes a dual enrollment pilot program to be administered by the HEPC and the CCTC in conjunction with the State BOE.

Some counties already have dual enrollment but not all. Some dual enrollment is limited to students who are already planning on going to college. This program would provide the opportunity to students who may want to go to college but not be certain about funding for postsecondary education. This program can be done virtually if enough students are not enrolled to do the course in person.

The bill was amended to ensure this program doesn’t only apply to public school students, but also homeschool, charter, micro-school, learning pod, and private school students.

House Bill 2515 provides single parents resources as they attempt to reenter the workforce, obtain a degree, or secure workforce training.

Senate Judiciary Advances Campus Carry

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Judiciary Advances Campus Carry

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Senate Bill 10, the Campus Self-Defense Act, to the full state Senate with recommendation for passage on Wednesday afternoon.

The bill would lift prohibitions on colleges and university students from carrying a concealed handgun on campus provided they have a current and valid concealed carry permit beginning July 1, 2024. The bill prohibits the Higher Education Policy Commission, the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia, or college/university governing boards from restricting concealed carry on campuses.

Open carry is forbidden in the bill, and while the state as a whole allows constitutional carry – concealed carry without a permit – that is not allowed in this bill.

The legislation contains 12 exceptions where institutions may continue to ban concealed carry. The exceptions include: an organized event at a stadium or arena with a capacity of more than 1,000 spectators; at a campus daycare; a K-12 school-sponsored functions occurring on campus; patient-care areas; and residence halls, except in common areas.

Regarding residence halls, the institution must provide secure storage for weapons, either in in-room safes or a secure storage location, or both.

Rob Alsop, WVU vice president for Strategic Initiatives, took questions on the bill.

The bill allows institutions to charge students a “reasonable fee” to provide safes or storage units. Alsop said WVU would levy a fee based on the actual cost of the safes, factored over their lifespans.

Alsop noted that the changes won’t take effect immediately, and he’s thankful that institutions have 18 months to plan and prepare.

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