The House Judiciary Committee met today to discuss House Bill 2704, House Bill 2781, and SB 330.
House Bill 2704 would prohibit persons convicted of sexual offenses against children with whom they hold positions of trust from holding certification or license valid in public schools. The bill was amended previously by the education committee to only revoke the license but would not add fines or imprisonment.
Heather Hutchins, a representative of the Department of Education, answered technical questions about the bill. She said there is no legal requirement that teachers at private schools be licensed through the super intendent. Delegate Lane (R-Kanawha) asked if someone is convicted of a sex crime if they would be allowed to return to teaching. Hutchins said explained there is no code stopping that and the current process puts more burden on the victim due to the investigative process to keep the sexual offender from teaching. The department of Education is only allowed to background check nationally upon licensing but after that only within the state criminal record checks. Their current investigation methods are much more resource intensive and difficult. Delegate Sobonya (R-Cabell) asked if the bill included sexting as one of the sexually offensive acts. Council said they would retrieve that information
Delegate Fast (R-Fayette) amended the committee substitute of the bill to include anyone employed by a contractor for one of the facilities. The amendment was reformed to have the bill apply to contractors only when children are present. The amendment was adopted.
The bill was appointed to a subcommittee to discuss the other punishments of the bill amended by the education committee and will report back to the committee once that has been addressed.
House Bill 2781 would require a person desiring to vote to present documentation identifying the voter to one of the poll clerks. The valid IDs would include a West Virginia driver’s license, passport, employee ID card produced by the state or institutions of the state, and military ID card. Those failing to provide those forms of identification would be able to vote under a provisional ballot. Those living in a residential care home would be exempt along with those who have a religious objection to photography. The bill would also repeal the automatic voter registration program. A fiscal note was requested in order to find out the cost of the free identification cards the DMV would be producing underneath the bill.
The committee was in recess until an hour after the floor session ends.
Upon coming back after the floor session, the bill was referred to a subcommittee in order to more thoroughly examine the bill.
Senate Bill 330 would relate to the WV Workplace Freedom Act. It makes some stylistic changes and makes some technical changes in a few areas. It removes a definition and provision and helps to clarify those portions of the code.
There was a strike and insert amendment presented by council that was adopted.
The bill was reported out of the committee to the full house with the recommendation that it pass.
