The Judiciary Committee met this morning, advancing a few bills.

House Bill 4560 affects 12 sections of the code. The bill provides for additional protections for auto dealers in their transactions with manufacturers. It requires dealer agreements to establish legal requirements. It modifies obligations under warranties. Manufacturers cannot use the relationship with a dealer to find out information on other manufacturers. Performances standards for dealerships must be specific to local market circumstances, geographic characteristics, and traffic patterns. This is so manufacturers cannot impose one size fits all performance standards on dealerships.

House Bill 4578 codifies the authorization of the superintendent of the State Police to oversee the administration and implementation of the State’s Handle with Care Program.

House Bill 4562 clarifies the process of the suspension and dismissal of school personnel by the board and the appeals process.

The Committee is in recess.

In the afternoon meeting, the Judiciary Committee will take up House Bill 4329, House Bill 4553, House Bill 4331, and House Joint Resolution 102.

House Education met this afternoon and advanced four bills.

House Bill 4357 establishes the West Virginia Technology Internship Program. The program’s purposes are to connect college/university students, recent graduates, and veterans with small businesses in high growth technology sector through internships, increase student understanding of employment opportunities in the state, encourage students to remain in the state after graduation, and assist technology-based businesses in developing internship programs and recruiting future employees. Students in this program would be learning and earning. The Program pays 50 percent of the student’s salary and then 50 percent would come from a grant. The bill advances to Finance.

House Bill 4565 exempts temporary state employees and employees of the HEPC from automatic enrollment into the state’s 457(b) plan. An amendment was offered and adopted. The bill advances to Finance.

House Bill 2084 expands tuition and fee waivers or adjustments for senior citizens by including in the statute that metro area, if taking non-credit courses, and by decreasing the eligibility age from 65 years to 60 years of age or older. The bill advances to Finance.

House Bill 4264 changes the name of Glenville State College to Glenville State University, as the institution has met all requirements to attain university status. The bill advances to the House floor.

In today’s meeting, House Judiciary authorized several rules for DHHR. The committee also advanced three bills.

House Bill 4004 would ban abortions after 15 weeks. It is similar to the bill that just passed in Mississippi and is in front of the Supreme Court. The only facility in WV provides abortions and has a self-imposed 16-week limit for abortions.

An amendment offered to include exception for rape or incest, and it was rejected. The bill advances to the floor.

House Bill 4005 prohibits the sale, transfer, and transportation of fetal body parts from an induced abortion. The bill advances to the floor.

House Bill 4280 increases the daily rate of compensation for people serving on petit juries to $80. The bill advances to the floor.

House Bill 4331 was on today’s agenda but will be taken up in tomorrow’s meeting.

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.