Blog – Page 96

First House Joint Resolution Advances from House

House Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt

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February 23, 2021

First House Joint Resolution Advances from House

Today, the House passed the first House Joint Resolution to the Senate.

House Joint Resolution 1 will put a proposed amendment to the state constitution on the ballot during the 2022 general election. The amendment would clarify that the State Board of Education and its rules are subject to legislative oversight.

House Bill 2260 would remove the requirement that Health and Human Resource contracts with child-placing agencies be submitted to the Purchasing Division. Instead, the agency would develop requirements for performance-based contracts, which would be used for child placement.

Two bills were read a second time and two bills were read for the first time, including Senate Bill 11 which passed the Senate yesterday.

The House is adjourned until 11 am tomorrow, February 24, 2021.

Committees

Today

The Finance Committee will meet at 4 pm in the House Chamber.
The Judiciary Committee will meet at 4 pm in Room 215E.

Tomorrow

The Committee on Agriculture and Natural resources will meet at 8 am in 215E.
The Fire and EMS Committee will meet at 9 am in Room 215E.
The Banking and Insurance Committee will meet at 9 am in the House Chamber.
The Committee on Seniors, Children, and Family Issues will meet at 1 pm in Room 215E.
The Workforce Committee will meet at 1 pm in the House Chamber.
The Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse will meet at 2 pm in Room 215E.
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.

CPS and Foster Care Workload Study Bill Advances

House Committee

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February 23, 2021

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CPS and Foster Care Workload Study Bill Advances

Today, the House Health and Human Resources Committee advanced House Bill 2620.

House Bill 2620 provides a departmental study of the child protective services and foster care workforce. The study’s focus would be the workload of workers. It would determine if child population and poverty should be used in the allocation of workers. It would also survey the salaries and benefits of workers in neighboring states. The agency stated they would use a third-party consultant to complete the workload study. The consultant would speak to current and past workers. The bill states the findings shall be reported by July 1, 2022.

Best Interest of the Child Protection Act of 2021 Advances

House Committee

Cheyenne DeBolt

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February 22, 2021

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Best Interest of the Child Protection Act of 2021 Advances

The House Judiciary Committee moves two bills to the House.

House Bill 2363, the Best Interest of the Child Protection Act of 2021, establishes co-equal shared legal and physical custody of a child. The presumed best interest of a child is co-equal custody, or 50/50 custody unless one parent identifies as neglectful, abusive, or a danger to the child. The goal is to maintain relationships with parents and siblings, including half-siblings, through the co-equal share legal and physical custody of children.

House Bill 2160 requires the Division of Motor Vehicles to provide certain identification documents to homeless individuals, residing at homeless shelters within this state, at no cost. The identification documents include a photo ID card or a replacement driver’s license, as these documents are needed to gain employment. The bill does require an affidavit to be signed by an employee of the homeless shelter, as the shelter would be listed as the place of residence.

Senate Passes E-Commerce Modernization Bill

Senate Floor Session

Christopher Marshall

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February 22, 2021

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Senate Passes E-Commerce Modernization Bill

The Senate passed an e-commerce modernization bill Monday that would require government entities in the state to accept all payments electronically.

Senate Bill 280 would allow West Virginia residents and businesses to pay taxes and fees for government services online in all 55 counties. The legislation would require all county and local governments, as well as state government, to begin accepting payments electronically on a platform set up by the state treasurer’s office.

The bill would guarantee by March 1, 2023, West Virginia citizens and businesses could pay any tax, fee, fine or other payment to the state or any political subdivision online.

Also on Monday, a bill that would create a WVU Rifle Team Check-Off Program on hunting and fishing license purchases passed, as did a bill that would spell out in state code that work stoppages or strikes by public employees are illegal.

These measures move to the House of Delegates for consideration.

The Senate has adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 23 at 11 a.m.

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

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

The committee on the Military will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. in 208W

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

Live streaming of meetings is available on our Legislature Live page.

Bus Operator in Residence Bill Moves to House Floor

House Committee

Cheyenne DeBolt

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February 22, 2021

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Bus Operator in Residence Bill Moves to House Floor

House Education Committee moved House Bills 2267 and 2529 during today’s afternoon meeting.

House Bill 2267 creates the Bus Operator in Residence program to assist school districts with substitute bus operator pools. The program would pay the resident 60 percent of the base salary of a regularly employed bus operator with zero years of experience. The candidate must work a minimum as a substitute bus operator for the district where the program is completed. If hired as a full-time bus operator, the participant must work for 6 months.

House Bill 2529 prevents state higher education institutions from discriminating against graduates of private, nonpublic, or home schools by requiring them to submit to alternative testing as a precondition for acceptance into the institution, provided that they have acceptable scores on the ACT, the SAT or other test recognized by the institution.

House Government Organization Moves HB 2290

House Committee

Cheyenne DeBolt

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February 22, 2021

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House Government Organization Moves HB 2290

House Government Organization met today and moved two bills.

House Bill 2265 provides legislative rule-making authority to the Board of Pharmacy relating to collaborative Pharmacy practice.

House Bill 2290 provides for fair pay and maximizes the employment of disabled persons. It creates a WV “Employment First” policy to encourage agencies to employ disabled persons. It also establishes a task force to initiate these policies.

Bill Setting Lottery Forgery Penalties Moves to Senate

House Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt

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February 22, 2021

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Bill Setting Lottery Forgery Penalties Moves to Senate

Today, the House of Delegates passed two bills on to the Senate.

House Bill 2008 changes requirements for licensing elevator mechanics, HVAC, electricians, and plumbers.

House Bill 2235 set penalties for violating the State Lottery Act, relating to forgery and counterfeiting of lottery tickets. It was amended on third reading to lessen the penalty to a misdemeanor and set the penalty to no more than one year.

Three bills were on second reading today, no amendments were offered.

Committees

Today

The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 1 pm today in Room 215E.

The Education Committee will meet at 2 pm today in the House Chamber.

The Finance Committee will meet at 4 pm today in the House Chamber.

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 4pm today in 215E.

Tomorrow

The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet tomorrow at 9 am in Room 215E.

The Committee on Energy and manufacturing will meet tomorrow at 9 am in the House Chamber.

The Judiciary Committee will meet at 1pm today in 215E.

Senate Passes Covid-19 Jobs Protection Act, Worker Classification Act

Senate Floor Session

Christopher Marshall

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February 19, 2021

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Senate Passes Covid-19 Jobs Protection Act, Worker Classification Act

The Senate passed a bill creating the Covid-19 Jobs Protection Act, as well as a measure relating to the West Virginia Employment Law Worker Classification Act, during Friday’s floor session.

Senate Bill 277, the Covid-19 Jobs Protection Act, provides immunity from civil liability for damages for an injury resulting from exposure to COVID-19 on the premises owned or managed by another person, so long as that person was acting in compliance or consistent with applicable federal or state regulations, an Executive Order of the Governor, or other such guidance.

Immunity does not apply to willful or wanton misconduct, reckless or intentional infliction of harm, or gross negligence. The legislation is retroactive to the date on which the state of emergency was declared in West Virginia.

Senate Bill 272, which relates to the West Virginia Employment Law Worker Classification Act, is intended to simplify criteria used to define independent contractors, and to impose objective standards on the differences between independent contractors and employees

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

Senate Bills 361-371 were introduced today.

The Senate is adjourned until Monday, Feb. 22 at 11 a.m.

House Bill 2013 Recommitted to Committee on Finance

House Floor Session

Cheyenne DeBolt

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February 19, 2021

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House Bill 2013 Recommitted to Committee on Finance

Today, House Bill 2013, which passed the House yesterday, was reconsidered and recommitted to the Committee on Finance. It has been recommitted to consider the new fiscal note.

Five Bills were passed on to the Senate.

House Bill 2003 would clarify the authority and obligations of the Governor and Legislature in declaring states of preparedness and emergencies.

House Bill 2009 would limit the use of wages and agency shop fees by employers and labor organizations for political activities. It would prohibit employers from intimidating employees to make political contributions or engage in political activity. It would, also, prohibit employers from withholding or diverting employee’s pay for political activities, unless given written authorization.

House Bill 2014 specifies that the Legislature is to appropriate federal funds by the state constitution. It limits the gubernatorial authority to spend federal funds without the appropriation of the Legislature.

House Bill 2325 would remove the requirement for barbers and cosmetologists to complete continuing education to renew their licenses. Currently, barbers and cosmetologists are required to complete two hours of continuing education until they have 10 years of experience. After 10 years of experience, they are required to complete two hours every other year. The bill would also prevent the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists from regulating the use of beauty products that are commonly available as retail, consumer products.

House Bill 2366 would require agencies proposing rules that would adjust fees or other special revenues to provide a fiscal note to the committee.

Of the two bills on second reading today, House Bill 2008 was amended.

The House is adjourned until 11 am Monday, February 22, 2021.

Committee Meetings

Today

The Finance Committee will meet at 1:30 pm in the House Chamber.
The Education Committee will meet at 2 pm in the House Chamber.

Monday, February 22, 2021

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

House Judiciary Moves a Bill to Create New Theft Crime

House Committee

Cheyenne DeBolt

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February 19, 2021

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House Judiciary Moves a Bill to Create New Theft Crime

This morning, the House Judiciary Committee advanced two bills to the House Floor.

House Bill 2165 would create the crime of theft of rental, leased, leased-purchased, and loaned property. If a person fails to return the property or make arrangements acceptable to the owner within 72 hours of receiving proper notice, then the individual could be subject to fines or jail time, if convicted. The bill creates misdemeanor and felony offenses.

House Bill 2372 would allow for candidates to file pre-candidacy papers the day after a general election. Currently, successful candidates cannot file pre-candidacy papers until their term has begun, while unsuccessful candidates can file pre-candidacy papers the day after a general election. This bill is to clean up current code language to state anyone can file pre-candidacy papers the day after a general election.

House Bill 2257 was discussed during the meeting. The bill would add to the current code to requires extended supervision for certain drug offenders. The extended supervision would be required to take place after the regular sentence. A judge can decide to sentence the individual to extended supervision from one to 10 years for possession or possession with intent to distribute or manufacture certain schedule I or II drugs. The bill has been postponed until the Judiciary Meeting on Tuesday, February 23.