The Senate passed two rules bills and a bill to make it a crime to obstruct social services workers during Wednesday morning’s floor session.
Senate Bill 281 authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to establish legislative rules.
Senate Bill 309 is a rules bundle authorizing the Department of Transportation to establish legislative rules.
Senate Bill 55 would establish a new felony criminal offense for knowingly, willfully, and forcibly obstructing or hindering a home incarceration supervisor or a social services worker while they are lawfully performing their duties, if such obstruction or hindrance causes the death of that supervisor or worker.
A home incarceration supervisor is defined in the bill as someone employed to oversee individuals in a home incarceration program. A social services worker is defined as an employee of a governmental or private entity providing services like investigating abuse or neglect, working with delinquent youth, or offering mental health and educational assistance through fieldwork and home visits.
The legislation amends existing law to include these individuals alongside other protected professions like law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel. If convicted, the offender faces imprisonment in a state correctional facility for a term of 20 years to life, with a mandatory minimum of 20 years before being eligible for parole.
These bills now head to the House of Delegates for consideration.
Also on Wednesday, Senator Woelfel (D – Cabell, 5), attempted to amend Senate Bill 388, which would require public elementary or secondary schools to make the Aitken Bible available to certain classroom.
His amendment would have also made the Catholic American Bible available in the same scenarios. Woelfel argued the inclusion of the Catholic bible would add balance to the bill and make it constitutional. Opponents of the amendment argued the Aitken Bible was being included for reasons of historical reference rather than religion.
The amendment failed. The bill will be on passage stage in the Senate tomorrow.
The body also introduced Senate Bills 635-653.
The Senate has adjourned until tomorrow, Jan. 29, at 11 a.m.
Afternoon Meetings:
School Choice at 1 p.m. in 451M
Banking and Insurance at 2 p.m. in 451M
Agriculture at 2 p.m. in 208W
Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M
Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W
Morning Meetings for Jan. 29:
Education at 9:30 a.m. in 451M
Government Organization at 9:30 a.m. in 208W
