Page 309 – Wrap Up

Senate Honors War Veterans, Passes Six Bills

Senate Floor Session

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February 21, 2011

The Senate celebrated veterans from across the state today. With the passage of Senate Resolution 33, today will be recognized as Veteran’s Visibility Day.

Six bills were also passed, along with the introduction of 44 bills. Today marked the last day to introduce bills on the floor.

Senate Bill 334 was passed in committee substitute form. This bill would create a criminal offense for having any involvement with animal fighting ventures. The bill was reported to the House for further consideration.

A bill that would incorporate federal health insurance reforms into the insurance codes was also passed. The committee substitute for Senate Bill 407 would add two federal health insurance programs into the code.

Senate Bill 390 would provide for web-enabled mobile devices to fall under the crime of invasion of privacy on computers. This bill would make it a crime for an individual to invade a personal, web-enabled mobile device.

Additionally, Senate Bill 253, Senate Bill 335 and Senate Bill 507 were passed in the Senate and communicated to the House for review.

The following committees will meet today:
Pensions– 2 p.m.- 208W
Finance– 3 p.m.- 451M
Judiciary– 3 p.m.- 208W

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Economic Development– 9 a.m.- 451M
Government Organization– 10 a.m.- 208W
Transportation and Infrastructure– 10 a.m.- 451M
Health and Human Resources– 1 p.m.- 451M
Banking and Insurance– 2 p.m.- 208W

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m.

House Honors Jefferson County

House Floor Session

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February 21, 2011

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Today, the House met in a late morning session and passed a resolution designating February 21, 2011 as “Jefferson County Day” at the Legislature. The House also honored those serving our country by recognizing our veterans.

Additionally, the House passed four bills including House Bill 2542, which would clarify certain provisions related to access to cemeteries and grave sites located on private land by authorizing agents of family members or decedents to access private cemeteries or grave sites.

Today is the 41st day of the Legislature and marks the last day to introduce bills in both the House and Senate.

The following committees will be meeting this afternoon:
Education – 2 p.m. – 434M
Education Subcommittee D – 1 p.m. – 434M
Finance – 2:30 p.m. – 460M
Judiciary – 1 p.m. – 410M
Judiciary Subcommittee A – 5 p.m. – 410M
Government Organization – 2 p.m. – 215E
Health and Human Resources– 4 p.m. – 215E

The following committees will meet Tuesday morning:
Education – 9 a.m. – 434M
Finance – 9:15 a.m. – 460M

The House will reconvene on Tuesday at 11 a.m.

House Passes Federal Funding Bill

House Floor Session

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February 18, 2011
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The House adopted three resolutions and passed eight bills in a brief late morning chamber session.

Senate Bill 254, which would supplement and amend by increasing existing items of appropriation in the aforesaid accounts for the designated spending units for expenditure during the fiscal year 2011, was passed. By completing legislation, this bill will now move on to await the Governor’s signature before becoming law.

Additionally, the House adopted three resolutions, including House Concurrent Resolution 87, which would name the “James Paul Harrison WWII Memorial Bridge.”

The following committees will meet Monday:
Judiciary Subcommittee A – 9:30 a.m. – 410M
Health and Human Resources – 4:00 p.m. – 215E

The House will reconvene Monday at 11 a.m.

Senate Stands to Honor Beloved Co-Worker

Senate Floor Session

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February 18, 2011

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The Senate stood to recognize the passing of a devoted friend and co-worker. Catherine L. Larck was an employee of the West Virginia Senate from 2003 to 2007. To honor Catherine, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 30 memorializing her.

The Senate also introduced 19 bills and moved six along to third reading for the next floor session. Among those bills sent to third reading, Senate Bill 390 would add web-enabled mobile devices to the crime of invasion of privacy.

This bill would provide for the invasion of privacy on personal computers. The bill will be read a third time during the next floor session.

A bill that would incorporate federal health insurance reforms into the insurance code was furthered today. Senate Bill 407 would provide for the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 to be included into the insurance code. This bill will also be read for a third time.

Additionally, Senate Bill 253, Senate Bill 334, Senate Bill 335 and Senate Bill 507 were moved to third reading for Monday morning.

The following committee will meet Monday:
Pensions– 2 p.m.- 208W

The Senate will reconvene Monday at 11 a.m.

Senate Honors Higher Education, Passes 7 Bills

Senate Floor Session

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February 17, 2011

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Today in the Senate higher education institutions throughout West Virginia were recognized for their outstanding work across the state.

Having the opportunity to receive a quality education is something every person is entitled to. Higher education institutes throughout the state have been extremely proficient in allowing citizens of West Virginia to have the chance to further their education and prepare themselves for future careers.

Along with this recognition, the Senate passed 7 bills. The committee substitute for Senate Bill 227 was passed today. This bill relates to Creative Communities Development Pilot Program. This bill would provide a matching grant to be developed to help this program continue to move forward.

Senate Bill 382 would specify additional activities in which members of the National Guard or armed forces reserves are entitled to a leave of absence. This bill was passed in committee substitute form and was sent to the House for further consideration.

A bill that would provide for alternative means that the initial purchaser of a junked vehicle has to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles. Senate Bill 304 would provide for these means to also follow in compliance with the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System.

Senate Bill 234, Senate Bill 235, Senate Bill 357 and Senate Bill 358 were also passed and sent to the House for review.

The following committees will meet today:
Health and Human Resources– 1 p.m- 451M
Education– 2 p.m.- 451M
Finance– 3 p.m.- 451M
Judiciary– 3 p.m.- 208W

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Economic Development– 9 a.m.- 451M
Transportation and Infrastructure– 10 a.m.- 451M

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Choir Serenades a Packed House

House Floor Session

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February 17, 2011

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The House chamber was filled with delegates, constituents and guests this morning as they were greeted by the talented students of the Princeton High School Choir.

In attendance was the West Virginia Federation of Democratic Women, the Senior Forum Class of 2011 from Marion County and representatives for Higher Education Day. Each group received a Citation, recognizing their achievements.

During session, the House introduced 17 bills and passed three. Additionally, seven bills were read for a second time and six bills were on first reading–all were advanced.

Among bills passed was House Bill 2555, which would create a misdemeanor offense for an individual to operate a motor vehicle while writing, sending or reading a text message by means of a communication device.

The following committees will meet this afternoon:
Finance – 1:30 p.m. – 460M
Judiciary – 1:15 p.m. – 410M
Education – 1:30 p.m. – 434M

The following committees will meet Friday morning:
Finance – 9:30 a.m. – 460M
Judiciary – 9 a.m. – 410M
Government Organization – 10 a.m. – 215E

The House will reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Vol. XXII Issue 5

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February 16, 2011

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House Passes Bill Providing Definition of ‘Low Income’ for Property Tax Relief

House Floor Session

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February 16, 2011

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This morning, the House passed eight bills after reading them for a third time. One of those bills was House Bill 2949, which would provide definitions of “low income” for purposes of property tax relief programs.

House Bill 2555, House Bill 2882 and House Bill 2962 were read for a second time, engrossed and advanced to third reading on tomorrow’s calendar.

Additionally, seven bills were read for a first time and advanced to second reading on tomorrow’s calendar. One of those bills was House Bill 2885, which would allow a guardian or conservator to be employed or in an employment contract with a behavioral health provider.

Also, the House presented a citation to Shepherd University’s football team for winning the West Virginia Conference Championship and winning their NCAA Division 2 Regional Championship.

The House also adopted four resolutions, including House Concurrent Resolution 79, which designates the “PFC Abraham G. Sams Memorial Bridge.”

The following committees will meet today:
Energy, Industry and Labor, Economic Development and Small Business – 12:30 p.m. – 460M
Political Subdivisions – 1 p.m. – 215E
Constitutional Revisions – 2 p.m. – 410M

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Judiciary Subcommittee B – 9 a.m. – 410M
Education Subcommittee D – 9:30 a.m. – 434M
Finance – 1:30 p.m. – 460M

The House will reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Senate Passes Unemployment Compensation Bill

Senate Floor Session

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February 16, 2011

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Eight bills were passed and one resolution adopted during a brief late morning session in Senate chambers.

Of the eight bills, Senate Bill 219 would authorize the loan of funds from the Rainy Day Fund to the Unemployment Compensation Fund whe funds are necessary to ensure that the Unemployment Compensation Fund contains at least $20 million to pay all unemployment claims. The bill would also require that loans from such funds would be repaid in full without interest from money in the Unemployment Compensation Fun in excess of $20 million.

In addition, Senate Resolution 27 was adopted, recognizing the Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America.

15 bills were also introduced. A sampling includes Senate Bill 522, which would require parents objecting to immunizations provide written a statement in lieu of certificates of proof, Senate Bill 524, Relating to operation of diesel equipment in underground coal mines, Senate Bill 527, relating to having nursing homes on grounds of critical access hospitals.

The following committees will meet today:
Education – 2 p.m. – 451M
Judiciary – 3 p.m. – 208W

Government Organization – 2 p.m. – 208W
Natural Resources – 1 p.m. – 208W
Finance – 3 p.m. – 451M

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Judiciary – 10 a.m. – 208W
Health and Human Resources – 1 p.m. – 451M
Finance – 3 p.m. – 451M

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m.

In the House

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February 16, 2011

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As of 4 p.m., on Wednesday, February 16th, 2011, the 36th day of the 80th Legislature’s 1st Regular Session, 1,163 bills have been introduced and 62 have passed. Of those, 17 passed this week and have been sent to the Senate for further consideration. The bills passed by the House this week include:

House Bill 2161 would create the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs, establish the powers and duties of the office, provide for an executive director, staff and office, require annual reports to the Governor and the Joint Committee on Government and Finance and create a Minority Affairs Fund.

House Bill 2164 would remove provisions for increasing counties’ local share responsibility for funding basic foundation education formula when property assessments are not at least 54 percent of market value as indicated by assessment ratio study. It would also revise definitions and make legislative findings with respect to the effect of under assessed property values on school funding and the obligations of assessors and Tax Commissioner.

House Bill 2248 would expand the list of federal law-enforcement officers who are extended the authority of state and local law-enforcement officers to enforce the laws of this state.

House Bill 2347 would increase the effective period for domestic violence protective orders in cases not involving aggravating factors from 90 days or six months to six months or one year and increase the effective period for a domestic violence protective order in cases where aggravating factors are proven from one year to two years.

House Bill 2533 would require the identities of signatories to a certificate for a person seeking ballot access to be made public and verified.

House Bill 2693 would require insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorder and would ensure any limitations to coverage does not conflict with other applicable law.

House Bill 2695 would clarify the Educational Broadcasting Authority’s power to engage in fundraising activities with certain private nonprofit corporations, to clarify the organizational structure of the authority, to exempt the names of private donors from disclosure, to delete outdated language and to make technical corrections.

House Bill 2709 would allow county school boards to enter into energy-saving contracts and allow these contracts to extend 15 years.

House Bill 2922 would establish the felony offense of causing serious bodily injury to another person by a person who is driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances and other drugs.

House Bill 2935 would repeal an outdated article of election code relating to voting systems no longer approved for use.

House Bill 2949 would simplify and consolidate senior citizen property tax relief programs, and make those programs available only to eligible “low income” homeowners.

House Bill 2989 would create a process by which the West Virginia Racing Commission may grant stay requests pending an appeals of orders by stewards or judges, permit the appointment of hearing examiners who must be licensed to practice law in the state. The bill would also provide that if the Racing Commission modifies or rejects a hearing examiner’s recommended decision, its order doing so must provide findings of fact, conclusions of law and set forth with specificity the reasons for the modification or rejection.

House Bill 2990 would change the renewal of Racing Commission-issued occupational permits from December 31 of each year to a schedule determined according to the applicant’s date of birth.

House Bill 3021 would add two new members to the Comprehensive Behavioral Health Commission. Also, the bill would require yearly reports to the Governor and Legislature and extends the life of the commission by another four years to 2015.