The Senate passed three bills during its morning session on Tuesday: House bills 2008 and 2009, both reorganizing the executive branch; and House Bill 2013, transferring certain state employees to classified exempt service.
House Bill 2008 would return the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Commerce as a division. Under the legislation, the current cabinet-level position of secretary of the Department of Economic Development would become an executive director position beneath the Department of Commerce Cabinet Secretary.
Last week the Senate Government Organization committee removed a change made by the House of Delegates transferring law enforcement officers within the Division of Natural Resources within the Department of Commerce to the Department of Homeland Security.
House Bill 2009 would eliminate the Department of Arts, Culture and History and transfer its divisions, boards and agencies to the Department of Tourism.
Both 2008 and 2009 would prohibit new hires or those promoted within the reorganized departments of Commerce and Tourism from being covered by classified civil service protections beginning July 1, 2025.
Another related bill passed Tuesday, House Bill 2013, would exempt future state employees and current state employees who transfer or are promoted within the Bureau of Senior Services, the Department of Administration, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Revenue,and the Department of Veterans’ Assistance from the classified civil service system and state employee grievance procedures beginning July 1, 2025.
All three of theses bills were introduced on behalf of the Governor. They now head back to the House of Delegates for final approval.
UPDATE:
The Senate reconvened around 7:30 p.m. to complete the day’s calendar.
The body completed legislative action on four bills and passed 11 others that will need to go back to the House of Delegates for final approval.
The bills that completed action tonight include:
House Bill 2711 repeals the common law rule against perpetuities by prospectively extending its application to all trusts to 1,000 years and to modernize West Virginia trust law.
House Bill 2761 increases the jurisdiction limits of magistrate courts for claims less than or equal to $20,000.00 and to clarifies that corporate parties may appear pro-se by an agent or by an attorney provided the corporate party is attempting to vindicate its claims rather than those of a third party.
House Bill 2897 permits the Legislative Auditor to conduct periodic performance and financial audits of the West Virginia Department of Education.
House Bill 3157 modifies the shortened process for certain road condition claims to expedite the process; and for the Division of Highways to establish a line item in its budget for the expedited payment of certain stipulated road condition claims.
These bills now head to the Governor’s desk to await his signature.
The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, April 9, at 11 a.m.
Morning Meetings for April 9:
Judiciary at 9:30 a.m. in 208W
Finance at 9:30 a.m. in 451M
