The House convened for a long session on February 22, 2022.
Action on two resolutions, House Resolution 12 and House Concurrent Resolution 42, was postponed by one day.
Eleven bills and one resolution were up for debate today, all advanced to the Senate.
House Joint Resolution 102 proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify that rules and policies made by the State Board of Education are subject to legislative review, approval, amendment, or rejection. The people shall vote on the proposed amendment in the 2022 general election.
House Bill 4264 changes Glenville State College’s designation to “Glenville State University.” The school has met the requirements to be a university.
House Bill 2096 reinstates the film investment tax credit.
House Bill 4019 creates deadlines for public charter school contract execution and student enrollment application, lottery, and enrollment for schools intending to open in the school year beginning July 1, 2022.
House Bill 4262 removes the state licensure requirement for polygraph examiners. The federal licensure requirement remains in place.
The lengthy floor session can be contributed to several amendments being offered on Second Reading Bills. Amendments were offered on House Bill 4643, House Bill 4344, House Bill 4391, and House Bill 4797.
Five amendments were offered on House Bill 4643.
House Bill 4643 repeals certificate of need for birthing centers in the state.
The first taken up was an amendment offered by Delegates Steel, Bates, and Pack. The amendment would have provided immunity from liability in any civil action to a hospital, physician, or other providers who provided medical service to an individual because of birth complications at a birthing center. The amendment was rejected with a roll call vote of 41 in favor and 48 opposed.
Delegates Summers, Tully, Dean, and J. Jefferies offered four amendments to House Bill 4643. The amendments were offered at the same time and if any of the first amendments were adopted then the others would not be considered.
The first amendment was withdrawn due to a technical amendment. It was almost a full repeal of certificate of need.
The second amendment would have repealed certificate of need for hospice, nursing homes and intermediate care beds, birthing centers, home health care, and personal services. The amendment was rejected with a roll call vote of 38 in favor and 59 against.
The third amendment would have repealed certificate of need for birthing centers and hospitals on their own campus. This would allow hospitals to expand services on their campus without having to go through outside processes. The amendment was rejected with a roll call vote of 38 in favor and 59 opposed.
The fourth amendment would have repealed certificate of need for birthing centers and hospitals inpatient services, such as increasing ventilators and adding additional OR suites. The amendment was rejected on a roll call vote of 37 in favor and 60 opposed.
Since all amendments were rejected, House Bill 4643 stands to only eliminate certificate of need for birthing centers.
The proponents of repealing certificate of need stated that certificate of need creates barriers in health care. They feel that repealing will create more competition and provide patients with options in health care.
Opponents of repealing certificate of need fear repealing won’t create more competition, but a monopoly of one health care provider throughout the entire state.
Delegate Pushkin offered an amendment to House Bill 4391, which was rejected 29 to 66.
Delegate Zukoff amended House Bill 4344 to provide the deadline of January 1, 2023, for the centralized intake study. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Delegate Toney amend House Bill 4797 by adding the DOT shall create an Electric Vehicle Economic Plan to describe how NEVI funds will be used and it shall be resented to the interim Joint Committee on Government and Finance by July 1, 2022. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
Three bills were on first reading and advanced to second reading.
The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 23, 2022.
Committees – Today
The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3:45 p.m. in Room 215E.
The Judiciary Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. in Room 410.
Committees – Wednesday, February 23, 2022
The Judiciary Subcommittee on Originating Bill will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 410.
The Judiciary Committee will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 410.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m.
The Education Committee will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 434.
The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 3 p.m. in 215E.
