The Senate Finance Committee has approved five bills to be reported to the floor with the recommendation that they pass.
SB 565 would authorize the City of South Charleston to levy a special district excise tax for the benefit of the South Charleston Park Place Economic Opportunity Development District.
Rick Atkinson, city manager of South Charleston, explained particular projects the city would plan to use the new tax revenues for.
SB 362 would permit the redirection of the deposit of revenues collected from certain surcharges and assessments on workers’ compensation insurance policies and derived from net terminal income funds by the Governor through executive order to the General Revenue Fund.
SB 461 would exempt the West Virginia State Police from state purchasing requirements.
Senator Robert Plymale, D-Wayne, proposed an amendment to have the legislative auditor report on the progress or regress of the bill’s purchasing provisions after 1 and 2 years of enactment.
SB 486 would change the rate of tax on eligible acute care hospitals for fiscal year 2018.
Joe Letnaunchyn, president and CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association, spoke before the committee in support of the bill.
SB 547 would modify fees to be paid to the Secretary of State, making fees for Limited Liability Companies to be consistent with Corporations, adding a voluntary fee for businesses to expedite services to be provided by the Secretary of State, providing the Secretary of State may change fees by legislative rule, and removing statutory caps imposed on retaining funds of the office.
Steve Connolly, Deputy Secretary of State and Chief Legal Counsel, was available to answer questions from the committee.
The committee also laid over one bill that would eliminate taxation on annuity considerations collected and received by a life insurer.
The bill, SB 464, will be laid over for one day until the Treasurer’s Office can present on its provisions.
Senator Mike Hall, R-Putnam, Chair, appointed Senators Douglas Facemire, D-Braxton, Greg Boso, R-Nicholas, and Dave Sypolt, R-Preston, to a subcommittee that will report on a meeting with the Court of Claims.
The committee will meet again 3 p.m. today in 451M.
