The House of Delegate convened at 9 a.m. today. The Rules Committee moved SB 25, SB 219, SB 412, and SB 687 to the House Calendar. SB 76 was moved to the foot of the agenda. SB 239 was moved to the Special Calendar and to the foot of 3rd reading.
Fifteen resolutions were adopted, of those were HR 13, HCR 18, and HCR 19.
HR 13 urges the United States Congress to keep America’s promise to our retired coal miners and widows and to pass the Miners Protection Act as soon as possible and provide the full measure of benefits these retirees were promised and have earned. The resolution was adopted on a of 99-0 vote.
HR 18 memorializes the life of the Honorable Otis Anderson Leggett, dedicated husband, father, grandfather, educator, administrator, statesman and public servant. The resolution was adopted
HR 19 recognizes and honors the heroic efforts of West Virginia first responders during the state’s unprecedented and historic flooding of June 2016. The resolution was adopted.
The House concurred with the Senate on HB 2839, which would update the schedules for legislative review of state departments and regulatory boards, and to outline the procedures and scope of reviews of departments, regulatory boards, agencies and programs.
On 3rd Reading today, there were several bills and SJR 6.
SJR 6 would prose an amendment to the WV Constitution to authorize the Legislature to issue and sell state bonds not exceeding $1.6 billion to be used for improvement and construction of state roads. The resolution was adopted on a vote of 90-8.
SB 27 would permit certain microprocessed foods to be sold at farmer’s markets. It requires special labels state it was made in a WV Kitchen. There are regulations for being able to sell these foods and how to handle them. The bill passed 95-3.
SB 40 would require protocols for responding to after-school injuries or emergencies to be included in school crisis response plans. It will be made effective August 1, 2017. The bill was passed 98-0.
SB 202 would limit pawnbrokers from purchasing or receiving gift cards as a pawn.
According to Judiciary Chairman John Shott (R-Mercer), cards being pawned are often the resulted of organized shoplifting, where people steal and return the items for in store credit in the form of a gift card and then they pawn the gift card to get cash. This bill limits the amount of a pawned gift card to be $100 or less. The bill passed 69-28.
SB 220 would create a new felony offense for a drug delivery or dispensing that results in the death of another person and providing a felony criminal penalty. The bill creates to offenses; one for intent and one for failure to render assistance.
Delegate Rodney Miller (D-Boone) said he supports the bill because people have been partying and watched their “friends” over dose and die without doing anything to help.
Delegate Mike Pushkin (D-Kanawha) said he doesn’t think this is a great bill; it’s a sad bill. He said it doesn’t make him feel good voting for or against it. He said he doesn’t believe it will deter addicts from using and he believes it will just cause more addicts to be locked up, instead of receiving rehabilitation.
The bill passed the House 95-3.
SB 288 would change the penalties for child abuse or neglect resulting in death. Currently, the penalties are 10 to 40 years. This bill would increase them to 15 years to life, which the requirement of 15 years served. The bill passed 99-0.
SB 388 would allow those who are 21 with a concealed carry permit to have a firearm on school property in parking lots, driveways, and other vehicle areas. The bill passed 94-5.
SB 433 would permit counties to increase the excise tax from $1.10 to $1.65 on the privilege of transferring real property. The bill passed the House 63-37.
Committee Meetings Today
Rules: 1:45 p.m. behind the House Chamber
The House is in recess until 2 p.m.
Update:
The Rules Committee moved SB 687 back to the Special Calendar.
SB 444 would establish a new special revenue fund to collect and remit moneys to the Court Advanced Technology Subscription Fund in the State Treasury for the use of certain advanced technology provided by the judiciary. The bill passed the House 96-2.
SB 533 would provide that no wine or liquor excise tax will be collected on purchases of wine or intoxicating liquors in the original sealed package for resale, if the final purchase of the wine or intoxicating liquor is subject to the excise tax. The bill passed 95-1.
SB 535 would reorganize the Division of Tourism. The bill would rename the Division of Tourism as the new West Virginia Tourism Office. It would transfer certain powers and duties of the Tourism Commission to the Office. The bill would restructure the Tourism Advertising Partnership Program as a cooperative advertising program administered by the new West Virginia Tourism Office and give the Executive Director all authority for expenditures of funds in the Tourism Promotion Fund. The bill passed 96-4.
SB 547 would modify fees to be paid to the Secretary of State, making fees for Limited Liability Companies to be consistent with Corporations, adding a voluntary fee for businesses to expedite services to be provided by the Secretary of State, providing the Secretary of State may change fees by legislative rule, and removing statutory caps imposed on retaining funds of the office. It would increase the fee to incorporate to $100 and change the election cycle subscription service from $6,000 to $3,000. The bill passed 87-13.
SB 637 would permit certain private club licensees that operate tourist destination and resort facilities to obtain one private resort license for the sale of alcoholic liquors throughout the licensed premises whether inside a building or outside in public view, and further to permit 17-year-old patrons to enter the licensed premises unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian at private resorts, subject to certain conditions, and certain private clubs with designated non-alcohol areas. The bill passed the House 97-3.
SB 687 would provide that moneys be paid from special reclamation water trust fund to assure a reliable source of capital and operating expenses for the treatment of discharges from forfeited sites. It would modify notification requirements for pre-blast surveys for surface mining operations and certain other blasting activities, as well as minimum bond requirements related to certain reclamation work. It would provide for changes to the method of plugging abandoned gas wells where a coal operator intends to mine through the well. The bill would authorize the elimination of the Board of Miner Training, Education and Certification, the Mine Inspectors’ Examining Board, and the Mine Safety Technology Task Force, and transfers the duties from those boards and task force to the Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety. The bill passed in the House.
SB 691 would define off-highway vehicle and off-road vehicle, and to create a digital road map that may be searched by road and vehicle type. The bill passed 100-0.
SB 239 would protect an employee’s wages or salaries from being withheld or diverted for political activities without the express, written authorization of the employee. The bill would make clear that it is unlawful for any person to coerce or intimidate any employee into making a political contribution or engaging in political activities. The bill would make it an unfair labor practice for any labor organization to use agency shop fees paid for by nonmembers for contributions or expenditures to influence an election without the authorization of the individual.
Shot said if the employer deducts an unauthorized deduction from the wages, the employee can sue for twice the deduction and authorizes fees.
Delegate Chad Lovejoy (D-Cabell) said he’s worried about the unintended consequences of this bill. He said it affects charities even though it isn’t intended.
The bill passed the House 51-49.
The House is in recess until 6:30 p.m.
Update:
The House reconvened at 6:30 p.m. to accept messages from the Senate.
The House voted to override the Governor’s veto on SB 330.
House concurs with Senate on HB 3048 and SB 28.
SB 76 would create the West Virginia Second Chance for Employment Act. The bill would expand eligibility for criminal expungement to persons convicted of certain nonviolent felonies. It was amended so that you can apply to get a felony reduced to a misdemeanor if you cannot get it expunged. The bill passed and is now sent to the Senate for further consideration.
The House is adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Judiciary will meet at 9 a.m. in 410M
Rules will meet at 9:45 a.m.
