The Senate Committee on Government Organization has put three bills on layover until a future meeting and has approved one bill to be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass.
The passed bill, SB 280, would move the association of the Civil Air Patrol from the Aeronautics Commission and realign it under the Military Forces of the state, because one of the Civil Air Patrol’s primary missions is the provision of emergency services, including aerial and ground search and rescue operations, homeland security operations and disaster relief operations.
The Senate Committees on Military and Judiciary have already approved the bill for passage.
The three bills put on layover are SB 350, SB 253 and SB 441.
SB 350 would allow certain licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist applicants to be issued a temporary permit for six months so the applicant can practice during the application and testing process.
According to counsel, the bill was created to help solve the state’s “shortage” of licensed counselors and therapists.
Those who came to voice their support for the bill included Marshall University Counseling Board Chairwoman Lori Ellison, NECCO Executive Director Amy Rickman and Executive Director of the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling Roxanne Clay.
The bill was put on layover for counsel to solve issues with the language of the bill and give time for senators to draft amendments.
SB 253 would clarify the English language requirement used when evaluating an individual applicant for medical licensing in the state.
SB 441 would establish the municipal home rule pilot program as a permanent program, allow all municipalities to participate in the program, and allow municipalities who institute a sales and use tax pursuant to the program to administer and collect the tax through their own municipal collector’s offices.
Both SB 253 and SB 441 were not able to be discussed within the timeframe of the meeting.
