The Senate Committee on the Judiciary met Tuesday evening following the split Senate Floor Session to discuss six different House bills.
The Committee considered House Bill 2519, the Campus Self Defense Act (better known as Campus Carry), and adopted a strike and insert amendment to the bill. The proposed legislation would allow a person who holds a current and valid license to carry a concealed deadly weapon to carry such a weapon on the campus and in the buildings of a state institution of higher education. After a brief discussion over the bill, the motion to reported it to the Senate to be voted upon was defeated by a vote of 7 to 9.
The following bills were approved by the Committee and will be reported to the Senate:
House Bill 2694 would provide that if the state desires to have primary regulatory authority over the production of industrial hemp, the state may submit to the Secretary of Agriculture for approval through the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, and a plan under which the state will regulate the production of industrial hemp. The Committee adopted a strike and insert amendment for greater clarification of the bill.
House Bill 2934 would authorize the licensing of interactive wagering in West Virginia. The bill details the specific duties and powers the West Virginia Lottery Commission in oversight, with explicit provisions for rule-making authority, while requiring the Commission to levy and collect all fees, surcharges, civil penalties, and weekly tax on adjusted gross interactive wagering receipts and deposit them into the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Fund. A strike and insert amendment was adopted for technical cleanup.
House Bill 2486 would to remove barriers to employment for individuals with criminal records who seek licensure or certification in an occupation governed by this article, with certain exceptions. The Committee adopted a proposed strike and insert amendment for technical cleanup.
House Bill 3057 would continue the Adult Drug Court Participation Fund in the State Treasurer’s office.
House Bill 2503 would to amend certain procedures in child neglect or abuse cases. The bill would require a petition to include an accusatory statement, provide when a court may and may not appoint counsel, and it removes the provision permitting co-petitioners each to have counsel. A strike and insert amendment was adopted to rearrange the bill, and to greater clarify language within the proposed legislation.
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