The House of Delegates reconvened this evening after a recess to amend and pass Senate Bill 373, the Water Resources Protection and Management Act. This bill would change the definition of a large quantity user to a person who uses at least 300,000 gallons of water in 30 day period. It would require large quantity users to report water withdrawals annually and any agency that contributes to the funding of the steam gage network to notify the Public Service Commission and the USGS if they cannot maintain its level of funding. Drilling contractors and well owners would have to report the depth to groundwater of drilled wells. The Department of Environmental Protection would report annually to the Comission on the implementation of the State Water Resources Management Plan and survey results.
Senate Bill 373 would also require the registration of existing aboveground storage tanks and directs the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection to regulate both new and existing aboveground storage tanks. The bill will be sent back to the Senate for the concurrence of the amendments.
An additional five bills were passed, four of which have completed legislative action and are awaiting the Governor’s signature. Senate Bill 378 would add garbage trucks and other sanitation vehicles to the list of authorized emergency vehicles and require them to use flashing lights or other visual signals to indicate the presence of workers. House Bill 4067 would authorize the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety to promulgate legislative rules.
Other bills which completed legislative action were House Bills 4304 and 4618. House Bill 4304 would provide rules for motor vehicles passing bicycles on roadways. House Bill 4618 would establishes the Transformative System of Support for Early Literacy to ensure all students read proficiently by the end of the 3rd grade.
The House concurred with the Senate amendment of House Bill 4175 and passed it with another amendment. This bill would create the West Virginia Small Business Emergency Act, providing financial assistance to small businesses in locations that have declared a state of emergency. It will be sent back to the Senate for concurrence and completion.
The House is adjourned until 12:00 p.m. tomorrow
