The Judiciary Committee unanimously rejected a bill that would have created a misdemeanor offense of disturbing the peace for barking or howling dogs.
House Bill 2894 would have created new code to provide that it is an unlawful disturbing of the peace, quiet and comfort of any neighborhood to keep, harbor or have custody of any dog that barks, howls, or makes noises by day or night which disturbs the peace and quiet of any person or family within the neighborhood.
The bill set forth penalties for each violation. For the first offense, a person could have been found guilty of a misdemeanor and faced a $1,000 fine and/or a jail sentence up to six months.
For a second offense, a person could have faced up to a $2,000 fine and a jail sentence up to a year. A person convicted of a second violation would also have risked seizure of animals that caused the disturbance.
The bill was unanimously rejected by the committee.
The committee advanced House Bill 2014, which relates to the West Virginia Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets Act. The purpose of this bill is to create the West Virginia Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets Act. The bill provides criminal, injunctive and civil protections against the misappropriation of intellectual property and trade secrets.
The bill will be reported to the House.
The committee also passed an originating bill which relates to requirements for making consumer loans in West Virginia. The purpose of this bill is to adjust limits on consumer loans in West Virginia where certain finance charges may be imposed and clarify that a person must first obtain a license from the Division of Financial Institutions before engaging in the business of consumer loans.
Current code provides that a person must first obtain a license from the Commissioner of Banking authorizing him or her to make regulated consumer loans before engaging in the business of making regulated consumer loans.
The bill will be reported to the House.
The committee committed to a study resolution House Bill 2321, which allows workers compensation benefits for first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The purpose of this bill is to allow workers compensation benefits for first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from an event that occurred during their employment.
The committee organized a work group to further investigate the bill.
The committee advanced House Bill 2931, which clarifies that the State Lottery Commission has no authority over non-lottery games. This bill exempts casino night fundraising events from licensure, and providing that casino night themed fundraisers are not subject to criminal penalty.
The bill will be reported to the House.
The committee also advanced House Bill 2895, which allows victims of certain crimes to get a restraining order. This bill allows victims of certain crimes from get a restraining order prohibiting convicted persons from contacting or living in proximity to the victim, upon a finding that this has caused or will cause the victim emotional distress.
The bill will be reported to the House.
The committee additionally advanced House Bill 2597, which creates a hunting permit to safely accommodate visually impaired hunters. This bill adds a new code section to create a new Class Six hunting permit to allow permittees to hunt with assistance from a person who does not have a visual impairment.
After lengthy debate, the committee advanced the bill to the House floor.
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