The Senate has passed 11 bills and two resolutions after reconvening at 6 p.m. this evening.
SB 286 would address factors to be considered in making a determination as to a grant of visitation to a grandparent.
SB 386 would authorize medical cannabis in West Virginia.
Senator Charles Trump, R-Morgan, made a strike-and-insert amendment to the bill on behalf of the Senate Judiciary Committee that would create a new article of the Code to make provisions for allowing marijuana to be prescribed for medicinal purposes.
Senator Ron Stollings, D-Boone, proposed an amendment the Judiciary’s amendment to add a section that would prohibit certain drug screening tests from including a report on the level of tetrahydrocannabinol in an individual’s system. The amendment was rejected.
Those in opposition said the drug testing measures would be investigated by the Senate Rules Committee next session, and the addition of the amendment could make it more difficult for the bill to pass through the House and be approved by the governor.
Senator Trump, R-Morgan, further amended the Judiciary amendment to make technical corrections.
The bill passed with a vote 28-6.
SB 656 would create the Student Data Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Act to allow ACT or the College Board to only receive payment or other consideration for certain information if they secure the affirmative written consent of the parent or student, given in response to clear and conspicuous notice, solely for providing the student access to employment, educational scholarships or financial aid and post-secondary educational opportunities.
SB 664 would remove the current $200,000 limitation on the amount collected by the county via the hotel occupancy tax that may be used for medical care and emergency services.
SB 667 would limit the authority of the Attorney General to disclose certain information provided by the Tax Commissioner unless it is subject to a protective order or agreement restricting the use of the disclosed information to the proceeding, arbitration or litigation.
SB 687 would make several modifications to law generally relating to coal mining, coal mine safety and environmental protection.
SB 688 would correct technical errors in current law related to solid waste management.
SB 689 would create a small claim payment system within the Division of Highways to investigate and pay limited types of claims for damage to vehicles caused by road conditions.
SB 690 would authorize the Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police to charge fees for certain use of the facilities under his or her direction.
SB 691 would define “off-highway vehicle” and “off-road vehicle,” as well as create a digital road map that may be searched by road and vehicle type.
SB 693 would create the West Virginia Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act to setting forth a procedure for disclosing digital assets and electronic communications after an individual has deceased.
SJR 4 would create the County Economic Development Amendment of 2017 to fund infrastructure capital improvements using property taxes.
Senator Charles Clements, R-Wetzel, said the amendment would “determine the future of northern and north-central West Virginia,” by supporting infrastructure projects in those areas to bring economic development and industries into the state that would otherwise opt for surrounding states.
SJR 6 would create the Roads to Prosperity Amendment of 2017 to provide for the improvement and construction of safe roads in the state.
“We’re going to build a lot of roads in West Virginia,” said Senator Mike Hall, R-Putnam.
Of those bills on third reading, SB 375 was not passed and was referred to the Senate Rules Committee. The bill would have changed the severance tax on limestone, sandstone and other mined stone products from a percentage of the sales price to a flat rate.
Senator Ronald Miller, D-Greenbrier, said the fixed rate of the bill could put small quarries in his district at a fiscal disadvantage in comparison to larger quarries.
The Senate advanced HB 2459 from second reading with amendments made by Senator Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, on behalf of the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee relating to corrections made and provisions added to the bill.
House Bills 2679, 2721, 2722 and 3106 were requested to lie over one day in second reading.
Committee Meetings Tomorrow
Banking and Insurance: 8:30 a.m. in 451M
Judiciary: 9 a.m. in 208W
Finance: 9:30 a.m. in 451M
Energy, Industry and Mining: 1 p.m. in 208W
Health and Human Resources: 1 p.m. in 451M
Government Organization: 2 p.m. in 208W
Education: 2 p.m. in 451M
Judiciary: 3 p.m. in 208W
The Senate is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.
