The West Virginia House of Delegates convened at 11a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 16 in the House Chamber to consider legislation.
Bills on first reading included House Bill 2185, which works to legalize the removal of unattended animals left in enclosed motor vehicles. This bill was referred to the appropriate committee, as was House Bill 2307. This bill would create provisional licenses for cosmetologists and barbers within the state.
Bills on second reading that were advanced to committee without amendments include House Bill 2038, which would amend the process of deciding which state occupations are subject to regulation. House Bill 2128, which would allow for leaves of absence for state employees attending parent-teacher conferences, was also referred to committee.
House Bill 2028, on its second reading during this floor session, was advanced to committee with an amendment from Delegate Jason Harshbarger (R-Ritchie). This bill, if passed, would limit the supervision of how state lines are laid on the highway. Currently, when lines are laid on state highway roads, there must be a state engineer present for the entirety of the project to ensure quality and accuracy. This bill would reduce the time that a state engineer must be present from throughout the entirety of the project, to periodically throughout the project.
Two bills that were on their third reading passed the House unanimously today.
House Bill 2164, would establish that each party heard in a West Virginia lower court would have the right to be heard and receive a document based on merits of appeal.
Delegate John Shott (R-Mercer), the lead sponsor of the bill, said “This bill would codify what is already law, and clarifies our stance that this legislature agrees to full and meaningful appeals as a right.”
House Bill 2164 passed unanimously.
Another bill that passed the House of Delegates today was House Bill 2351, which would establish an objective guideline for forms and deadlines that PEIA, managed care organizations, and private commercial insurers would abide by when it comes to prior authorization.
The House will reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m. in the House Chamber.
Committees to meet before 11am tomorrow:
-The House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will meet at 1 p.m. today, Jan. 16, in 434-M.
-The House Committee on Finance will meet at 2 p.m. today, Jan. 16, in 460-M.
-The House Committee on Judiciary will meet at 2 p.m. today, Jan. 16, in 410-M.
-The House Committee on Education will meet at 2:30 p.m. today, Jan. 16, in 434-M.
-The House Committee on Finance will meet at 4:00 p.m. today, Jan. 16, in 460-M.
-The House Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 4:00 p.m. today, Jan. 16, in 215-E.
-The House Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development will meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Jan. 17, in 215-E.
-The House Committee on Banking and Insurance will meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Jan. 17, in 215-E.
