The West Virginia House of Delegates advanced several bills, including the following:
Senate Bill 155 would create an adjunct teaching permit. This permit would allow individuals to fill vacant teaching positions, offer new classes, or enhance a program. To qualify for an adjunct teaching permit, individuals must have four years of experience in the area they will teach or a college degree in that area. The individual will be required to submit a criminal background check. The adjunct permit is valid for 1 year and is renewable.
Senate Bill 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.
Senate Bill 1060 would establish a West Virginia certification for thoroughbred horses. To be a West Virginia certified thoroughbred, the horse must be registered with the West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeds Association, prior to its three year-old year finished six consecutive months of verifiable residence in the state. In addition to this, these horses will be subject to an affidavit, certification, or audit/inspection by the WV Thoroughbred Breeders Association, ineligible to participate in WV Accredited Stakes Races or WV Breeders Classics, and will be ineligible for the West Virginia Thoroughbred Fund.
In addition to the passage of bills, the House amended Senate Bill 467 and Senate Bill 712.
S.B. 467 would allow businesses to enforce Purple Heart parking spaces. This bill also establishes penalties for those who park in these spaces who do not have a Purple Heart medal.
On the floor, the Energy and Public Works Committee proposed an amendment that would make it so people could not be convicted of these penalties if they show a passenger in their car is a Purple Heart recipient. This amendment was adopted.
S.B. 712 would allow the Department of Highways to permit applicants to install cattle guards on public roads.
On the floor, the Energy and Public Works Committee proposed an amendment that would allow the DOH to require signage to notify others of the cattle guard, and the removal of the cattle guards can be ordered by the DOH.
Committee Meetings, Today, March 9
- Education at 1 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
Committee Meetings, Tomorrow, March 10
- Finance at 9 a.m. in Room 460M
- Judiciary at 9 a.m. in Room 410M
- Education at 1 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 in recess until 5 p.m. Monday, March 9.
