The Senate convened today at 11 a.m.
S. B. 426 passed 17-16 with one member absent. The bill combines and modernizes a number of other bills relating to alcoholic beverages into one all-encompassing bill.
S. B. 434 was passed 27-6. The bill would specify that certain documents prepared by a health care provider are not subject to discovery in certain proceedings.
S. B. 507 passed 32-1. The bill creates the Katherine Johnson Academy. The academy would create both commuter and residential programs for high school students to attend STEM and Performing Arts academies at W. Va. public colleges and universities. To be accepted a high school student must meet the minimum eligibility requirement for the PROMISE scholarship (with exception to high school graduation and residency) and complete the core courses required for secondary school students in English, Mathematics, Social Science and Science.
Students accepted into the program will be awarded the PROMISE scholarship to pay for the tuition, fees and books required by the program. Any supplies not covered by the PROMISE will be covered by the Katherine Johnson Academy Fund. A bill requires the creation of a board made of five appointees by the Governor, the State Superintendent and the Chancellor for Higher Education to oversee the program.
S. B. 558 was passed 20-13. It will broaden the recognized programs under which crane operators are tested so any nationally recognized accrediting agency to certify training programs. Currently, only one agency is allowed to do so. The bill adopts the language OSHA regulations.
S. B. 625 was passed unanimously. This bill creates the W. Va. Volunteer Fire and Rescue Act of 2018. The bill makes changes to several laws to enhance the ability of volunteer fire departments and emergency medical services providers to provide necessary services throughout the state.
S. B. 600 was laid over for one day.
S. B. 82, S. B. 331, S. B. 443, S. B. 465, S. B. 506, S. B. 514, S. B. 515, S. B. 545, S. B. 557, S. B. 572, S. B. 575, S. B. 597, S. B. 603 and S. B. 628 were all passed unanimously.
Bills on Second Reading:
- S. B. 261 advanced to third readng with the right to amend.
- S. B. 282
- S. B. 295
- S. B. 360 advanced to third readng with the right to amend.
- S. B. 401
- S. B. 402
- S. B. 403
- S. B. 421
- S. B. 442
- S. B. 445
- S. B. 448
- S. B. 452
- S. B. 472
- S. B. 485
- S. B. 504
- S. B. 508
- S. B. 530
- S. B. 531
- S. B. 534
- S. B. 548
- S. B. 551 was amended on the floor.
- S. B. 556
- S. B. 565
- S. B. 567
- S. B. 568
- S. B. 580 was rereferred to Government Organization.
- S. B. 582
- S. B. 584
- S. B. 585
- S. B. 589
- S. B. 590
- S. B. 592
- S. B. 595 advanced to third readng with the right to amend.
- S. B. 598
- S. B. 601
- S. B. 612
- S. B. 616
- S. B. 629
- S. B. 630 was amended on the floor.
- S. B. 631 was amended on the floor.
- H. B. 4022 was laid over for one day.
- H. B. 4024 was laid over for one day.
- H. B. 4142 was laid over for one day.
- H. B. 4169 was laid over for one day.
- H. B. 4385 was laid over for one day.
The Senate is in recess until 5 p.m.
Committees meeting today:
Rules directly after the floor session in the President’s Conference Room
Health and Human Resources at 2:30 p.m. 451M
Judiciary at 3 p.m. 208W
Finance at 3 p.m. 451M
Update 6:55 p.m.
The Senate reconvened today at 5:45 p.m.
S. B. 438 was taken up for immediate consideration. The Constitutional rule requiring a bill to be read on three seperate days was suspended by the body and the bill was voted on for passage.
S. B. 438 would authorize bonds to fund improvements to the state parks. It was passed unanimously with two members absent.
The Senate recieved committee reports. The following bills were taken up for immediate consideration and read for a second time:
The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Committees meeting tonight:
Judiciary directly following the floor session in 208W.
