The West Virginia House of Delegates advanced Senate Bills 607, 690 and honored former delegate and senator Tony Whitlow.
House Concurrent Resolution 13 honors Tony Whitlow. Whitlow served West Virginia in the House of Delegates in 1970, 1972, 1976, 1980, and 1982. Whitlow was elected to the West Virginia Senate from the tenth senatorial district in 1984 and reelected in 1988 and 1992.
Senate Bill 607 would authorize airport authorities under state law to use project delivery methods in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration. This bill would allow airports in West Virginia to plan and construct airport infrastructure projects funded through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program.
Senate Bill 690Â would expand the options the Division of Highways has for highway projects and modify the money limits for the Highway Design-Build program. In addition to the changes to the Highway Design-Build program, this bill would also allow the Commissioner of Highways to enter into agreements that include the Construction Manager/General Contractor contracting procedures.
In addition to the passage of bills, the House amended Senate Bill 137.
Senate Bill 137 was amended on second reading. S.B. 137 would change parole eligibility and sentencing for second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. This bill would require a person convicted of second-degree to serve 15 years before becoming parole eligible. Under current law, the minimum time served before parole eligibility is 10 years. This bill would require someone convicted of voluntary manslaughter to serve five years, rather than three, to become parole eligible.
This bill was amended by the Judiciary committee to set dates for the new parole eligibility to not infringe with ex post facto laws. This amendment also clarifies that victims and prosecutors can attend parole hearings either virtually or in-person.
Committee Meetings, Today, March 6
- Government Organization at 1 p.m. in Room 215E
- Education at 12:30 p.m. in Room 432M
Committee Meetings, Sunday, March 8
- Judiciary at 4 p.m. in Room 410M
Committee Meetings, Monday, March 9
- Finance at 9 a.m. in Room 460M
- Judiciary at 9 a.m. in Room 410M
- Rules at 10:45 in the Speaker’s Conference Room.
- Education at 12:30 p.m. in Room 432M
- Government Organization at 1 p.m. in Room 215E
- Health and Human Resources at 3:30 p.m. in Room 215E
- Energy and Public Works at 3 p.m. in Room 410M
The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Monday, March 9.
