The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved four bills to be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that they pass.
SB 224 would repeal the requirement for an employer’s bond for wages and benefits for certain designated employers and related requirements.
Senators differed over whether the passage of the bill would help small construction and mineral industry businesses to start up without having to establish a wage bond or if it would simply deprive workers of better wage security.
None of the states bordering West Virginia require wage bonds from employers in construction and mineral industries.
David Mullins from the Division of Labor was present to answer questions from the committee. He said the Division currently holds 4,435 wage bonds to protect those workers should their companies go bankrupt.
SB 429 would allow the Division of Corrections to monitor inmate electronic communications.
SB 436 would allow investigators from the Attorney General’s office to carry firearms in the course of their official duties under certain circumstances.
SB 445 would amend the definition of an “abused child” to include a child conceived as a result of an act of sexual assault.
The committee will meet again tomorrow at 3 p.m.
