The House Judiciary Committee met this morning.
Senate Bill 84 would prohibit law enforcement from installing a surveillance camera on private land without obtaining the property owner’s consent or a search warrant. This bill does not prohibit law enforcement from placing surveillance cameras where they are lawful right to be and facing a location on any land that is open to public view. This bill was reported to the floor.
House Bill 4604 would increase the compensation of all panel attorneys and guardians ad litem. Panel attorneys would be compensated at a rate of at least $100 per hour of work. Guardians ad litem would receive compensation of at least $40 per hour of work. The bill also creates an assistant guardian ad litem position. This bill was reported to the floor
House Bill 4962 would create legal procedures and penalties for drug-related nuisances. Some of these nuisances include, but are not limited to, increased fear of residents to walk through or in public areas, housing code violations for their property, and health code violations at their property. This bill was reported to the floor.
House Bill 5067 would clarify that law-enforcement agencies can enter into agreements with the Department of Homeland Security to seek certain grant funds. This bill was reported to the floor.
House Bill 5471 would provide pay increases to members of the judiciary, including, but not limited to, the West Virginia Supreme Court, circuit court judges, and family court judges, and would clarify retirement contributions. This bill was advanced to markup and passage, and then advanced to Finance.
House Bill 5086 would establish a peer support team program that supports certain licensed professions, such as first responders, medical providers, and social workers. If these professionals talk to their peer support team, the communications between them are protected and cannot be revealed in testimony.
House Bill 5162 would give the sheriff authority to suspend sales on certain properties that meet specific criteria. This bill also clarifies that when a government entity acquires property through a tax deed, any state-imposed taxes and fees are extinguished. This bill was advanced to markup and discussion.
House Bill 5227 would allow the Secretary of State to charge a fee of $5 plus any amount charged by a financial institution for any returned or dishonored check, money order, or draft.
House Bill 5554 would allow higher donations to be made to a political party’s headquarters. This bill would raise the amount of contributions to be received from $10,000 to $50,000
House Bill 5652 would allow a county commission to vote to designate specific campgrounds or sites that are being used as a hotel for the purpose of collecting the Hotel Occupancy Tax.
