Today, the House adopted two resolutions, passed eight bills, amended one, and postponed action on three bills.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 16 urges the US Congress to enact reforms to federal permitting policies to accelerate the deployment of energy infrastructure.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 17 reaffirms the support of the WV Legislature for the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
Three of the eight bills were House Bills 4666, 4683, and 4793.
House Bill 4793 permits the manufacture of moonshine for personal or family use. The bill limits the amount manufacture of 25 gallons in a household with one person over 21 years of age and 50 gallons in a household with two or more persons over 21 years of age. After a bit of debate, the bill passed 49 to 48.
House Bill 4683 requires parents, custodians, and guardians to participate in the child’s out-of-home placement programs, such as family therapy as long it does not cause undue hardship on them and is in the best interest of the child.
House Bill 4666 increases penalties for human trafficking and restricts eligibility for parole. The bill sets the penalties as follows:
- Human trafficking of an adult
- Determinate sentence of 15 to 40 years
- Human Trafficking of a Child
- Determinate sentence of 25 to 100 years
- Use of adult for forced labor
- Determinate sentence of 15 to 40 years
- Use of a child for forced labor
- Determinate sentence of 25 to 100 years
- Use of adult or child for debt bondage
- Determinate sentence of 15 to 40 years
- Sexual Servitude of an adult
- Determinate sentence of at least 25 years
- Sexual Servitude of a Child
- Determinate sentence of at least 50 years
- Patronizing a victim of sexual servitude
- Determinate sentence of 25 to 100 years
- Patronizing a child victim of sexual servitude
- Determinate sentence of at least 50 years
If convicted of any of these offenses against an adult, the individual must serve at least 50 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole. If convicted of any of these offenses against a child, the individual is not eligible for parole.
House Bill 4756 creates the Alzheimer’s Plan Task Force. The amended bill requires the council to submit the State Alzheimer’s Plan to the Joint Committee on Health and the Governor within 24 months.
House Bills 4315, 4777, and 4860 were postponed one day.
The House is adjourned until tomorrow, January 25, 2023, at 11 a.m.
Committee Meetings, today Jan. 24
The Finance Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 460.
The Committee on Government Organization will meet at 2:30 p.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Education will meet at 2:45 p.m. om Room 434.
Committee Meetings, tomorrow Jan. 25
The Committee on Seniors, Children, and Family Issues will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Fire Department and EMS will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 434.
The Rules Committee will meet at 10:45 a.m. behind the House Chamber.
The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 410.
The Committee on Health and Human Resources will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 215E.
The Committee on Technology and Infrastructure will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 434.
