The Senate concurred with House amendments and passed Senate Bill 389 today during the floor session. The bill will change the time period for renewal from the fiscal year to the calendar year; to allow renewal notification by electronic means; to clarify that nonrenewed licenses must be reinstated; to allow biennial renewal periods; and to permit the Board to promulgate legislative rules and emergency rules related to renewal and reinstatement.
THe Senate made amendments to House amendments and passed Senate Bill 6 would control the increase in the cost of liability insurance and to maintain access to affordable health care services for West Virginians.
Senate Bill 421 was reconsidered, amended and passed. It would clarify when punitive damages may be awarded in civil actions, and to limit the amount of punitive damages that may be awarded to comport with the due process rights of defendants. The amendment changed the cap on damages from three times the compensatory damages to four times or $500,000, whichever is greater.
The Senate also passed three additional bills. SB 42 would allow restaurants, private clubs and wineries to sell alcoholic beverages at 10 a.m. on Sundays. SB 294 would eliminates councils, committees and boards that are unnecessary, inactive or redundant, including the Council for Community and Economic Development; the Statewide Mutual Aid Committee; the Principals Standards Advisory Council; and the West Virginia Health Insurance Plan Board. SB 412 would establish reasonable time limits for the filing of complaints with the Real Estate Commission for potential disciplinary action against a licensee alleged to have engaged in unprofessional conduct.
Seven bills were advanced to third reading.
The Senate is adjurned untill 11 A.M. tomorrow.
THe following committees will meet tomorrow:
Health 1 P.M. in 451M
Education at 2 P.M. in 451M
Govornment Organizations at 2 P.M. in 208W
Finance at 3 P.M. in 451M
Judiciary at 3:45 P.M. in 208W
the following committees will meet tomorrow:
Labor at 10 A.M. in 208W
