The House Judiciary Committee and its subcommittees heard about several bills this morning.
House Bill 4606 would allow judicial officers, when determining bail, to use residency status. In the bill, this is described as including, but not limited to, if they are a resident of the state, they have ties to the community, or if they are a flight risk.
House Bill 4552 would clarify what correctional officers of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation can do in their facilities.
House Bill 4570 would allow whoever is serving the eviction notice to post it on the front door, secure it, and take a photograph of it to show that it was posted
House Bill 4625 would change the definitions of excise tax on property transfers to add and clarify exemptions.
Courts
House Bill 4603 would create a diversion process to allow parents who are having their children removed from their home to be placed with a family member under guardianship. This process is only available to select child abuse and neglect cases. Cases that are not available to this process include, but are not limited to, those where a parent has subjected a child to abandonment, torture, and chronic abuse.
House Bill 4755 would create enhanced sentencing for offenders of aggravated vehicular homicide, driving under the influence causing serious bodily injury, and third offense driving under the influence. This sentencing applies to offenders who have been previously convicted.
House Bill 4893 would increase the penalties for contempt of court in a magistrates’ court.
Homeland Security
House Bill 4522 would ban foreign spending on state ballot issues.
House Bill 4345 would establish a protocol for preserving records and evidence in missing persons cases that are unresolved after one year by making them digital and being housed at the West Virginia Fusion Center.
Legal Services
House Bill 4601 would expand the West Virginia State Police Unit for Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations. This bill would increase the number of members in the unit and would have offices located within the Department of Human Services offices.
House Bill 4053 would establish the blue envelope program. The Blue Envelope program would assist communication between law enforcement officers and individuals with autism, dementia, or intellectual and developmental disabilities during a motor vehicle-related interaction.
This envelope would include documentation such as, but not limited to, a driver’s essential documents, a driver’s license, vehicle registration, and an emergency contact card.
House Bill 4600 would require absentee ballots mailed in to be received by 8:00 p.m. on the day of the election to be counted.
