Blog – Page 94

Several Bills Advance from House Technology and Infrastructure Committee

House Committee

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March 3, 2021

Several Bills Advance from House Technology and Infrastructure Committee

The House Committee on Technology and Infrastructure met today and discussed several bills.

House Bill 2726 allows for the lease of air space above public roads and highways owned or controlled by a political subdivision of the state and the safe operation of unmanned aircraft. The bill was laid over.

House Bill 2632 authorizes the Division of Highways commissioner to realign spending as needed within the State Road Fund to allow the division to operate more efficiently. The bill also removes outdated terms. The bill advances to the Finance Committee.

House Bill 2668 removes the requirement that the Division of Highways Commissioner set standards and regulated studded tires, as it is regulated at the national level. The bill advances to the Committee on Government Organization.

House Bill 2719 allows the DMV to use electronic means to provide notice to licensees and vehicle owners. The bill advances to the Committee on Government Organization.

House Bill 2721 allows the Department of Education to share information relating to school attendance electronically to the DMV to prevent the student from having to acquire a paper form from the student attendance director to present to the DMV for driver licensing purposes. The bill advances to the Committee on Government Organization.

House Bill 2742 allows for the authorization of an online driver’s license or ID renewal when the applicant needs to update the address. The bill advances to the Committee on Government Organization.

House Bill 2763 provides for the reporting of cyber incidents, which must be reported annually to the Joint Committee of the Legislature. The bill, as amended, advances to the Committee on Government Organization.

House Bill 2786 changes the name and function of the Chief Technology Officer within the WV Office of Technology to the Chief Information Officer. The bill advances to the Committee on Government Organization.

House Bill 2150 requires activation of school zone flashing whenever students are present at school for activities outside of regular school hours of operation. The bill was postponed indefinitely.

House Expands Alcohol Licensing

House Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt

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March 3, 2021

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Today, the House met and passed five bills, including House Bill 2025, House Bill 2002 and House Bill 2791.

House Bill 2025 provides liquor, wine and beer licensees with some new concepts developed during the State of Emergency utilizing new technology to provide more freedom to operate safely and responsibly. The bill allows for alcohol sales to begin at 6 am and the ability to offer sealed liquor drinks. The bill creates several new licensees including, permits for in-vehicle delivery. outdoor dining and outdoor street dining when authorized by a municipality for beer, wine and liquor, license for a private caterer to provide alcohol at a venue that is not license, private club license, private bar license, tennis club licenses, wedding venue or barn venue license and multi-vendor fair and festival license. The bill reclassifies hard cider as a wine, establishing a hard cider tax rate, and creates a new fund for the Agriculture Department to facilitate fruit production for use in hard cider.

House Bill 2002 sets the framework to support, encourage and expedite broadband expansion in West Virginia. It codifies the Office of Broadband, which was created last year by the Governor. The Office will establish a mapping of the broadband throughout the state. The bill also allows political subdivisions to expand broadband. The bill also requires companies receiving federal or state funding for broadband expansion to report to the legislature.

House Bill 2791 requires county boards of education to permit students who are homeschooled or attending private schools to enroll at the county vocational school. The bill states no additional fees may be charged to the student other than those charged to the traditional student.

House Bill 2013 was on second reading and advanced with the right to amend on third reading.

Committees

Today

The Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse will meet at 2 pm in Room 215E.
The Committee on Political Subdivisions will meet at 2 pm in the House Chamber.
The Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will meet at 3 pm in Room 215E.
The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 3 pm in the House Chamber.

Tomorrow

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 9 am in Room 215E.
The Finance Committee will meet at 9 am in the House Chamber.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 am in Room 410E.
The Education Committee will meet at 1 pm in the House Chamber.
The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 pm in Room 215E.
The Committee on Energy and Manufacturing will meet at 3 pm in the House Chamber.

Senate Passes Three Bills

Senate Floor Session

Christopher Marshall

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March 3, 2021

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

Senate bill 387 would extend the sunset provision of the pilot program that drug screens applicants for cash assistance until December 31, 2022. It would also give The Secretary of DHHR discretion as to how long it lasts after that date.

Senate bill 102 would give disabled veterans who earned the Purple Heart free parking at any metered spaces within a municipality in West Virginia.

Senate bill 356 would allow the written part of the driver’s license examination to be given in school driver education courses.

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

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, March 4, at 11 a.m.

The afternoon’s committee schedule is below. For streaming, visit our Legislature Live page.

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

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

Finance will meet at 3 p.m. today and at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow in 451M.

House Bill 2746 Advances from Education Committee

House Committee

Cheyenne DeBolt

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March 2, 2021

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House Bill 2746 Advances from Education Committee

Today, the House Education Committee met and discussed two bills.

A committee originating bill would change the percentage of funding for vocational schools authorized by the School Building Authority.

House Bill 2746 creates the behavioral health workforce education initiative of the Higher Education Policy Commission. The bill requires a study of the behavioral health workforce by analyzing the geographic and demographic availability of WV behavioral health professionals. This bill advances to the House.

House Advances Amended Senate Bill 11

House Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt

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March 2, 2021

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Today, the House passed Senate Bill 11 and House Joint Resolution 2.

Senate Bill 11 declares the work stoppage or strike by public employees to be unlawful.

House Joint Resolution 2 clarifies that there is no judicial review of impeachment proceedings in the House of Delegates or the Senate.

The House also agreed with the Senate on House Bill 2262, completing the legislation, and advancing it to the Governor.

Senate Bill 358 was advanced and will be on first reading tomorrow. Senate Bill 358 would allow ATMs to be in areas where racetrack video lottery machines are located.

Five bills were on second reading with House Bill 2002, House Bill 2024, and House Bill 2025 amended.

Committees

Today

The Committee on Judiciary will meet at 2 pm in Room 215E.
The Committee on Education will meet at 2 pm in the House Chamber.
The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 4 pm in Room 215E.

Tomorrow

The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources will meet at 8 am in Room 215E.
The Banking and Insurance Committee will meet at 9 am in the House Chamber.
The Committee on Fire Departments and EMS will meet at 9 am in Room 215E.
The Committee on Pensions and Retirement will meet at 10 am in Room 410E.
The Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development will meet at 10 am in Room 215E.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 am in Room 410E.
The Committee on Seniors Children and Families will meet at 1 pm in Room 215E.
The Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse will meet at 2 pm in Room 215E.
The Committee on Political Subdivisions will meet at 2 pm in the House Chamber.
The Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will meet at 3 pm in 215E.
The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 3 pm in the House Chamber.

Senate Sends Seven Bills to House

Senate Floor Session

Christopher Marshall

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March 2, 2021

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The Senate passed seven bills during its Tuesday morning floor session.

Senate Bill 5 would encourage the efficient settlement of legal claims arising out of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.

Senate Bill 359 would inform landowners when fencing that may contain livestock is damaged due to accident.

Senate Bill 248 would require the DHHR to collaborate with the Workforce Development Board and the West Virginia Division of Personnel for purposes of job placement.

Senate Bill 392 would add the potential penalty of incarceration to any conviction for the impersonation of a law-enforcement officer.

These bills, along with the three other measures that passed today, now move to the House for consideration.

The Senate has adjourned until tomorrow, March 3 at 11 a.m.

Stream all meetings on our Legislative Live page:

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

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

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

Workforce will meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow in 208W

House Bill 2013 Advances

House Committee

Cheyenne DeBolt

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March 1, 2021

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Today, the Finance Committee met to consider House Bill 2013. The bill would create the Hope Scholarship Program. House Bill 2013 was recommitted on February 19^th due to the need for a new fiscal note.

The estimated cost to the State under the Public-School Support Plan to establish the Hope Scholarship Program is $126,557,939. The cost would be split between fiscal year 2022-23 and fiscal year 2027-28, with the initial year of implementation having more restricted eligibility and later years opening the program up to all existing private and home school students.

The bill was amended to cap the state aid per pupil at $3,000 instead of the initial $4,600.

Engrossed Committee Substitute, as amended, was adopted by the committee. The committee advanced House Bill 2013 to the House Floor.

Senate Passes Charter School Expansion

Senate Floor Session

Christopher Marshall

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March 1, 2021

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Both bodies of the Legislature have now approved charter school expansion after the Senate passed House Bill 2012 on a 19-14 vote late Monday morning.

The legislation now goes back to the House, where delegates can concur with the Senate’s minor changes or amend the bill back to its original form.

House Bill 2012 would increase the number of charter schools that could be approved in a three-year period in West Virginia from three to 10. It also lays the groundwork for virtual charter schools in the future. Under this legislation, charter schools would be part of the state’s public education system and would be given greater flexibility with the understanding they could lose their ability to operate if they fail.

Under current law, only county school boards may authorize a charter school in West Virginia. This bill would give the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board authorization powers as well.

This bill would also give applicants with a rejected charter proposal 30 days after the rejection date to appeal to the state Board of Education.

The Senate has adjourned until tomorrow, March 2, at 11 a.m.

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

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

Stream all meetings live on our Legislature Live page.

House Gov. Org. Committee Advances Three Bills

House Committee

Cheyenne DeBolt

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March 1, 2021

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House Gov. Org. Committee Advances Three Bills

The House Government Organization Committee met today and discussed three bills.

House Bill 2699 would authorize Workforce West Virginia to hire additional at-will employees. The bill moves to the Finance Committee.

House Bill 2621 would mandate certain certifications and training for specific members of fire departments. It would allow for specialized personnel who are not firefighters to be members of a department. The bill moves to the House Floor.

Senate Bill 270 would provide for the collection of the hotel occupancy tax by marketplace facilitators, for example, individual persons or state parks. The bill moves to the House Floor.

House Bill 2267 Advances to Senate

House Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt

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March 1, 2021

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Today, the House passed House Bill 2267 and House Bill 2616.

House Bill 2267 authorizes the County Boards of Education to establish recruitment and training programs for prospective bus operators at county expense.

House Bill 2616 eliminates the submission of a report to the Governor and the Legislature. It requires that the information be available on the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification’s website when needed.

House Joint Resolution 2 on third reading and Senate Bill 272, House Bill 2363, and House Bill 2628 on second reading were moved to the House Calendar.

Committees

Today

The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 pm in Room 215E.
The Judiciary Committee will meet at 2 pm in Room 215E.
The Finance Committee will meet at 4 pm in the House Chamber.

Tomorrow

The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 9 am in Room 215E.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 am in 410E.
The Education Committee will meet at 1 pm in the House Chamber.