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Senate Passes Four Bills During Wednesday Floor Session

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Four Bills During Wednesday Floor Session

The Senate passed four bills during Wednesday’s floor session.

Senate Bill 242 would limit the authority of counties and municipalities to prevent or limit an owner’s complete use of natural resources or real property for farm or agricultural operations.

Senate Bill 245 would revise wage payment and collection and modify information related to payroll cards.

Senate Bill 445 would modify the police and firemen pension for trustees.

Senate Bill 487 would combine the totals of the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund and Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund – Part B when determining surplus deposit eligibility. It also limits the amount of surplus deposited into the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund.

These bills now head to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 10, at 11 a.m.

Pensions will meet at 2 p.m. in 451M.

Finance will meet at 3 p.m. in 451M.

Judiciary will meet at 3 p.m. in 208W.

Senate Passes Bills to Scale Back Unemployment Benefits

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Bills to Scale Back Unemployment Benefits

The Senate passed two bills on Tuesday afternoon that would make major changes to the unemployment safety net in West Virginia.

Senate Bill 2, passed on a vote of 20-14, would reduce the eligibility for benefits from 26 to 12 weeks if the unemployment rate is below 5.5 percent. The rate would go up an additional week for each half-percent the unemployment rate goes up, capping at a maximum of 20 weeks.

Senate Bill 3, passed on a vote of 23-11, would require four specific job search activities per week for people receiving unemployment benefits. These activities range from registering at job placement offices, filling out applications for employers with openings, taking a civil service exam, or attending job fairs, among others. People failing to show proof of these activities could be ruled ineligible for benefits under the bill.

Senate Bill 3 would allow people to work a part time job, up to 30 hours a week, while receiving full unemployment. This is a a unique provision intended to help people continue looking for full-time work that is comparable to what they had previously.

Supporters of these bills on the floor said they will lower costs for businesses, making the state more competitive economically, while also providing specific responsibilities for the those seeking work.

Opponents of the bills on the floor contended the measures are punitive and do nothing to address what Workforce West Virginia officials testified in committee were the three most common barriers to employment in the state: access to childcare, transportation, and job readiness.

The bills now head to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Education will meet at 2:40 in 451M.

Government Organization will meet at 2:40 p.m. in 208W.

Finance will meet at 3:30 p.m. in 451M.

Judiciary will meet at 3:30 p.m. in 208W.

 

 

 

House Bill Updates Telepsychology Compact

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Bill Updates Telepsychology Compact

The House Convened for Day 28 of the Second Session of the 85th Legislature and passed two bills.

House Bill 4084 allows for advanced recycling to be used in the state for plastics.

House Bill 4369 updates the telepsychology compact to include graduate degree criteria for those participating in the psychology compact.

Six bills were on second reading. An amendment was offered and rejected on House Bill 4380.

Several bills were reported from committees including House Bill 4406 and House Bill 4535.

House Bill 4406 creates the West Virginia Military Hall of Fame in the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety within the Department of Homeland Security.

House Bill 4535 removes school attendance and satisfactory progress as a condition of receiving a driver’s license.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.

Committees – Today

The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 410.

The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 2:30 p.m. in Room 215E.

Committees –Wednesday, February 9, 2022

The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources will meet at 8 a.m. in Room 215E.

The Political Subdivisions Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 410.

The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. tomorrow.

The Workforce Development Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Committee on Fire Departments and EMS will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 434.

The Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 410.

The Finance Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.

The Education Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 434.

The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

Judiciary Advances Extended Supervision for Drug Offenders

Cheyenne DeBolt
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Judiciary Advances Extended Supervision for Drug Offenders

The Judiciary Committee met this afternoon and considered a couple of bills.

House Bill 2160 allows the DMV to issue certain identification documents to legal residents of the state who are homeless, residing at homeless shelters in the state, at no cost. The strike and insert amended bill advanced.

House Bill 2257 extends supervision for certain drug offenders. The bill establishes a supervised release penalty of up to 10 years for certain drug offenders, including fentanyl. It sets the terms and fees for supervised release. This only applies to secondary or subsequent offenses on manufacturing, possession, or distributing.

Opponents of the bill stressed the negative affect of extended supervision. After serving time, it is difficult for an individual to find a job and often find themselves at homeless shelters. A person would not be able to afford additional fees associated with an ankle monitor and extended supervision. Opponents also noted this adds additional barriers to those working on re-entry and getting their lives back together.

The bill was amended that a judge may terminate the supervised release and discharge the the defendant released at any time after 6 months of supervise released. The bill advances to the floor.

House Bill 4372 and House Bill 4329 were removed from the agenda at the start of the meeting.

Senate Passes Medical Monitoring Bill

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Medical Monitoring Bill

A bill to change the way damages are awarded in medical monitoring cases passed the Senate during Monday’s floor session.

Senate Bill 7 would require plaintiffs to prove their injury was caused by the defendant’s actions in medical monitoring cases and would only award damages after physical injury or disease is present.

Under current law, West Virginia is an outlier in allowing plaintiffs who believe they were exposed to a hazardous substance to collect cash awards for medical monitoring without a present physical injury.  Other states that allow plaintiffs to collect damages for medical monitoring have tight restrictions on how the funds can be used. Currently, plaintiffs in West Virginia can collect cash without such restrictions.

This bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration. A similar bill passed the Senate last year but failed in the House.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 8, at 11 a.m.

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

Judiciary will meet at 3 p.m. in 208W.

Finance will meet at 3 p.m. in 451M

Transportation and Infrastructure will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. in 451M

House Completes Action on Three Bills

Cheyenne DeBolt
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House Completes Action on Three Bills

The House convened this morning passing several bills, completing three.

Senate Bill 435 awards services weapon to a retiree from the Division of Protective Services provided the member retires honorably with at least 10 years of service or less than 10 years but is totally disabled as a result of service with the Division of Protective Services. The bill completed legislative action and heads to the Governor.

Senate Bill 437 authorizes the Commissioner of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation or his or her designee to request early discharge of a parolee. The bill completed legislative action and heads to the Governor.

House Bill 4003 establishes a clear legal right of the title of chemical compounds, elements, and substances derived from the treatment of acid mine drainage. The bill states mine drainage water treatment is necessary to reduce environmental harm. The bill clarifies that the entity treating the drainage has rights to the material. The bill advances to the Senate

House Bill 4111 reorganizes the statute by removing advanced practice registered nurses from the physician assistants practice act and moves them to the section of code relating to registered professional nurses. The bill states an advanced practice registered nurse may prescribe no more than a 3-day supply of a schedule II drug. The committee amends the bill so that both a PA and an APRN cannot prescribe Schedule I drug and may prescribe a 3-day supply of a schedule II drug. No other limitation may be placed on a PA’s or APRN’s prescribing abilities under this bill. The bill advances to the Senate.

The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2022.

Committees – Today

The Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410.

The Committee on Pensions and Retirement at 1 p.m. in Room 460.

The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Committee on Coalfield Communities will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 434.

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

The Finance Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 460.

The Education Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 434.

The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

Committees – Tuesday, February 8, 2022

The Sub-Committee on HB 4006 will meet at 9 a.m. in Room 410.

The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m.

The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 410.

Public Hearing on HB 4011– Establishing the Anti-Stereotyping Act– The Education Committee will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at 9 am in the House Chamber

 

Health Committee Advances Three Bills in Afternoon Meeting

Cheyenne DeBolt
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Health Committee Advances Three Bills in Afternoon Meeting

The Health and Human Resources Committee met this afternoon.

House Bill 4012 prohibits an entity from requiring the showing a COVID-19 vaccination card to enter hospital, state institution of higher education or a state or local government office, entity, department, or agency. The bill advances to Judiciary.

House Bill 4089 requires the coverage and reimbursement of blood pressure devices for people diagnosed with hypertension.

House Bill 4373 excludes fentanyl test strips from the definition of drug paraphernalia.

House Bill 2186 and House Bill 2083 have been removed from the agenda.

Senate Finance Advances Bill to Eliminate Soda Tax

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Finance Advances Bill to Eliminate Soda Tax

The Senate Finance Committee advanced legislation Thursday morning that would eliminate the state’s soda tax on July 1, 2024, while creating a new funding source for the state’s three medical schools.

Senate Bill 533 removes the one cent tax that has funded the WVU School of Medicine since the tax’s inception in 1951. In place of the tax, the legislation creates a funding stream for WVU, the Marshall School of Medicine and the West Virginia Osteopathic School of Medicine from the existing state Insurance Premium Tax.

As written in the legislation, under the new plan, WVU would receive $14 million, Marshall $5.5 million, and the Osteopathic School would receive $3.9 million.

The bill now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.

 

Senate Passes Bill to Modernize Agency Reports

Christopher Marshall
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Senate Passes Bill to Modernize Agency Reports

The Senate passed legislation to modernize committee reports during a brief floor session on Thursday.

House Bill 4067 would allow certain state agency reports to be submitted electronically rather than in hard copy form and would eliminate some reports altogether. The Senate made technical changes to the bill, so it will need to go back to the House of Delegates for final approval.

Due to an approaching winter storm, the Senate will not meet tomorrow.

The Senate is adjourned until Monday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m.

Health and Human Resources will meet at 1 p.m. in 451M.

Energy, Industry and Mining will meet at 1 p.m. in 208W.

Government Organization will meet at 2 p.m. in 208W.

Education will meet at 2 p.m. in 451M.

Judiciary will meet at 3 p.m. in 208W.

Finance will meet at 3 p.m. in 451M.

Illegal Voting Penalty Increased to Felony

Cheyenne DeBolt
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0
Illegal Voting Penalty Increased to Felony

Today, the House passed House Bill 4311, which sets felony penalties for voting more than once in an election, voting when knowingly not legal to do so, and rejecting votes or knowingly/willing accepting illegal votes.

Six bills are up for passage on Monday.

The following bills were passed out of committees:

House Bill 4380 increases the number of ten-passenger vehicles that may be used for any school-sponsored activity and clarifies that buses shall be used to transport eighteen or more passengers.

House Bill 2083 mandates that mail carriers check photo identification when delivering tobacco, tobacco-related products, alternative nicotine products, and vapor products.

House Bill 4366 allows employers to pay wages to employees by either direct deposit or payroll card.

Due to inclement weather, the House is adjourned until 11 a.m. on Monday, February 7, 2022.

Committees – Today

The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 215E.

The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410.

The Judiciary Committee will meet immediately after Energy in Room 410.

The Education Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 434.

Committees – Monday, February 7, 2022

The Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410.

The Committee on Pensions and Retirement at 1 p.m. in Room 460.

The Education Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 434.

The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.

 

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