The Senate has completed legislation on four bills that will now be sent to the governor for approval or rejection.
SB 173 would create an autocycle exemption from motorcycle examination, licensing and endorsement requirements.
SB 230 would require all law-enforcement agencies in this state to certify qualified law-enforcement officers, retired law-enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys and assistant prosecuting attorneys to carry concealed firearms nationwide as provided by the federal Law-Enforcement Officers Safety Act.
SB 522 would define audit procedures between pharmacy benefits managers and pharmacies.
SB 575 would limit nuisance actions against shooting ranges for noises.
Of the bills up for completion, the Senate rejected the House amendments for Senate Bills 172, 204, 224 and 554, and sent one amended bill to the House for concurrence.
The one bill sent back for concurrence for an amended title, SB 125, would authorize the Health Care Authority to promulgate a legislative rule relating to the Hospital Assistance Grant Program.
The Senate also passed 19 bills to be sent to the House for consideration.
SB 304 would appropriate $2,700,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Division of Health within the Department of Health and Human Resources.
SB 694 would appropriate $3,300,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Administration.
HB 2188 would extend the length of time for the special Community-Based Pilot Demonstration Project to Improve Outcomes for At-Risk Youth.
HB 2364 would prohibit electioneering during early voting periods in and around early voting locations to the same extent as is currently prohibited at polling places on election day.
HB 2404 would bar persons who are convicted of certain criminal offenses from acquiring property from their victims through joint tenancy or inheritance.
HB 2479 would adopt and implement the provisions of the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act in West Virginia to set standard procedures for resolution and determination of custody and visitation issues when a parent is deployed in the military or other national service.
HB 2509 would permit a physician to prescribe certain controlled substances when using telemedicine technologies.
HB 2518 would permit a pharmacist or pharmacy intern to administer HPV vaccines for adults as well flu and HPV vaccines for children 12-15 with a prescription.
HB 2519 would require the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources to enter into a compact to ensure payment for health care services provided to other states’ Medicaid participants.
HB 2522 would allow the state to enter into an interstate licensure compact for registered nurses, practical nurses and vocational nurses with 25 other states.
HB 2526 would classify additional drugs to Schedules I, II, IV and V of controlled substances.
HB 2586 would update the required minimum distribution laws to be in compliance with federal Internal Revenue Code requirements.
HB 2653 would extend the multistate real-time tracking system to June 30, 2023.
HB 2706 would authorize legislative rules related to higher education, involving the West Virginia Higher Education Grant Program, the PROMISE scholarship, the Research Trust Fund Program and the Annual Reauthorization of Degree-Granting Institutions, among others.
HB 2731 would clarify that only civil actions with controversial amounts exceeding $7,500 must be heard in circuit court, except in actions relating to real estate installment sales contracts or actions confined exclusively by the Constitution to some other tribunal.
HB 2739 would provide that an eligible provider may receive supplemental Medicaid reimbursement, in addition to the rate of payment that the provider would otherwise receive, for Medicaid ground emergency medical transportation services, and that the supplemental reimbursement shall be equal to the amount of federal financial participation the department receives as a result of claims submitted for expenditures for services.
HB 2796 would allow the West Virginia National Guard to contract for specialized technical services with the federal government for specialized technical services to support specific activities related to national security, homeland security and other military-related programs.
HB 2856 would generally declare public policy and legislative intent for improving the marketing, quality and frequency of passenger rail service of the Cardinal Passenger Train.
HB 2948 would require certain state agencies to take final action on certain completed permit applications within thirty days if uncontested, or ninety days if contested, unless other timelines exist.
Of the bills on third reading, SB 476 was requested to lie over for one day. The bill would expire funds in the amount of $101,700,000 from the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund to the General Revenue Fund.
Members of the Senate also adopted SR 67 to declare January 26th of each year as “Danny Heater Day.”
Senate Bill 199 and House Bills 2006, 2083, 2119, 2219, 2303, 2319, 2367, 2373, 2427, 2446, 2453, 2475, 2548, 2619, 2676, 2683, 2726, 2734, 2767, 2898, 2939, 2949, 2963 and 2980 were advanced from second reading.
Of those, amendments were made to 11 bills.
House Bills 2083, 2219, 2303, 2367, 2373, 2619 and 2980 were amended by Senator Charles Trump, R-Morgan, on behalf of decisions made by the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which he serves as Chair.
Senator Randy Smith, R-Tucker, amended the Judiciary amendment to HB 2303 to increase fines for those who litter in waterways and prohibiting magistrate or municipal judges from dismissing a related action without notifying the prosecuting attorney of that county.
Senator Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, made amendments to House Bills 2446 and 2767 on behalf of decisions made by the Senate Government Organization Committee, on which he serves as Chair.
Senator Mike Hall, R-Putnam, amended HB 2734 on behalf of decisions made by the Senate Finance Committee, on which he serves as Chair. Hall also made an additional amendment to make minor technical corrections to the bill.
Senator Roman Prezioso, D-Marion, proposed an amendment to HB 2319 related to campaign contributions and lobbyists’ expenditures, but the amendment was rejected after Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, determined that the amendment was not germane to the bill.
Of the bills on second reading, HB 2555 was requested to lie over for one day.
All bills on first reading were advanced to second reading.
Committee Meetings Today
Government Organization: 2 p.m. in 208W
Education: 2 p.m. in 451M
Judiciary: 3 p.m. in 208W
Finance: 3 p.m. in 451M
Committee Meetings Tomorrow
Judiciary: 9:30 a.m. in 208W
Military: 10 a.m. in 208W
Health and Human Resources: 10 a.m. in 451M
The Senate is in recess until 6 p.m. this evening.
