The House of Delegates convened today and passed three bills.
SB 113 would authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to issue a legislative rule relating to Awarding of Matching Grants for Local Litter Control Programs. The bill passed 98-0 and will now go to the Senate for more consideration.
SB 362 would permit the redirection of the deposit of revenues collected from certain surcharges and assessments on workers’ compensation insurance policies and derived from net terminal income funds by the Governor through executive order to the General Revenue Fund. The bill passed 72-27 and will now go to the Senate for more consideration.
SB 419 would authorize the creation of special revenue accounts in the State Treasury for the deposit of Division of Labor fees. The bill passed the House 94-5 and will now go to the Senate for more consideration.
HB 2933 was tabled.
There were 16 bills on second reading, of those:
SB 437 discontinue the West Virginia Racing Commission special account known as the West Virginia Greyhound Breeding Development Fund and to transfer all moneys in the West Virginia Greyhound Breeding Development Fund to the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund for appropriation by the Legislature.
Committee Meetings Today
Health and Human Resources: 2:30 p.m. in 215E
Finance: 3 p.m. in 460M
Judiciary: 4:30 p.m. in 410M
Committee Meetings Tomorrow
Gov. Org.: 9 a.m. in 215E
Finance: 9 p.m. in 460M
Judiciary: 9:30 a.m. in 410M
Education: 9:30 a.m. in 434M
Veterans Affairs: immediately after floor session in 215E
There will be a Public Hearing on SB 212 in the House Chamber tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.
The House is recessed until 5 p.m.
Update:
The House received the messages and committee report. The message from the Senate about their passage of SB 386, the authorization of medical marijuana in West Virginia, was received.
Delegate Mike Folk (R-Berkeley) motioned that the committee references be dispensed with and the bill be taken up for first reading. There was lengthy discussion on the motion.
Delegate Charlotte Lane (R-Kanawha) stood in support of this motion. She said, “This is our only chance” to see medical marijuana to be legalized for those who are suffering.
Delegate Mike Caputo (D-Marion) said, “We’ve been running away from this issue for way too long.” He said it’s time to show the people of West Virginia they are cared about.
Delegate Isaac Sponaugle (D-Pendleton) said, “It’s been vetted in Senate Judiciary and Health.” He reminded the body if they voted no, this would be the second time it would be on record for their constituents to see.
Delegate Cindy Frich (R-Monongalia) stood in opposition of the motion, insisting that it go through the committee process. She said, at this point we should be focused on the budget, not medical marijuana.
Delegate Jordan Hill (R-Nicholas) supported the bill, saying “I’m voting for this motion for the seniors suffering, the children in the hospital, and the vets who need it.” He said, this bill “gives us the chance to represent our constituents.”
Delegate Joe Ellington (R-Mercer) said he didn’t support the motion because it should go through the committee process and that he would run it in committee.
Delegate Tom Fast (R-Fayette) said people need to realized it does more than just legalize medical marijuana. It sets up commissions, rule making, dispensaries, and criminal penalties.
Delegate Larry Rowe (D-Kanawha) stood and reminded people this isn’t just a procedural issue, as he recited House rules 73 and 74. He said, “The rules of the House are not as limited as they seem.”
Judiciary Chair John Shott (R-Mercer) stood against the motion. He recalled how California’s medical use evolved into total legalization. He compared growers in this bill with pill mills. He also said the bill could be in conflict with federal law.
Majority Leader Daryl Cowles (R-Morgan) listed the reasons why we should go through the committee process. They included, talking to experts in the field, such as law enforcement and doctors. He said, this bill needed to be properly vetted through the committee process.
Delegate Pat McGeehan (R-Hancock) said “we know it was double referenced to kill the bill.” He said he wished people would be more honest about procedures and realize that this is an important issue in the state.
Minority Leader Tim Miley (D-Harrison) said, “This issue hasn’t been prioritized.” The Senate prioritized it, the constituents think it’s a priority, and that it’s time for the House to make it a priority.
Folk closed debate saying that a person should have a certification for medical use. He pointed out how this could help our veterans. He said, “This is a good bill; it’s been vetted in the Senate.” The bill wouldn’t be made effective until July 2018.
The motion was adopted 54-40 and the bill was read for a first time.
The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.
