The Senate convened Tuesday morning for the 49th day of the legislative session, and quickly concurred with the House Amendments to Senate Bill 489.
Senate Bill 489 would provide for licensure of pharmacy benefit managers with the Insurance Commissioner, sets forth minimum reimbursement rates, and requires PBMs report data to PEIA. The House of Delegates passed a strike and insert amendment to page seven subsection k by stating that if information is not provided, then the Office of the Insurance Commission shall discipline the pharmacy benefit manager as provided.
The Senate passed the amended bill unanimously, and will be reported to Governor Justice to either sign into law or veto.
The Senate also discussed 22 bills that were on third reading and up for passage, including a campaign finance bill.
Senate Bill 622 would make numerous changes to the state’s regulation and oversight of campaign finance. Many changes relate to current federal regulation over federal elections. It raises independent expenditures from $1,000 to $5,000. The proposed legislation also raises the following:
- The bill permits contributions to a candidate in a primary or general election campaign up to $2,800 per election. Current code permits contributions up to $1,000.
- The bill permits contributions to a state party executive committee, or a local subsidiary thereof, or to a caucus campaign committee of up to $10,000 per calendar year. Current code permits contributions up to $1,000 in a calendar year.
- The bill permits contributions to a PAC, of up to $5,000 per election. Current code permits contributions up to $1,000.
The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 19 – 15, and it will be reported to the House of Delegates.
The Senate also passed Senate Bill 520 which would permit the Office of Drug Control Policy to adopt a specific information technology reporting platform for overdose reporting. The committee substitute clarified that all mandatory reporters would be required to submit their report within 48 hours after the provider responds to the incident and via an appropriate technology platform.
Other bills that passed on third reading include:
- SB 248: Creating Prosecuting Attorney’s Detectives Act
- SB 249: Relating to administration of estates and trusts
- SB 329: Relating to agricultural education in high schools
- SB 472: Exempting retirement income of certain uniformed services members from state income tax
- SB 537: Creating workgroup to review hospice need standards
- SB 561: Permitting Alcohol Beverage Control Administration request assistance of local law enforcement
- SB 566: Relating to compensation for State Athletic Commission members
- SB 600: Relating to preservation of biological evidence obtained through criminal investigations and trials
- SB 615: Providing ongoing mechanism for county commissioners to allow compensation increases for elected officials every two years
- SB 640: Regulating sudden cardiac arrest prevention
- SB 642: Providing options in living wills and combined medical powers of attorney and living wills
- SB 651: Relating to DNR ability to enter into certain contracts
- SB 653: Relating generally to practice of medical corporations
- SB 655: Relating to conservation districts generally
- SB 668: Relating to physician assistants collaborating with physicians in hospitals
- SB 669: Allowing appointment of commissioners to acknowledge signatures
- SB 670: Relating to WV College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program
Senate Bill 522 and House Bills 2740 and 2776 were laid over one day.
The Senate also advanced 28 bills on second reading, with six of those passing with amendments.
Senate Bill 348 would prohibit the sale or furnishing of smoking devices (pipes and cigarette papers), tobacco products and electronic smoking devices to persons under the age of 21. It would increase the fines for a person, firm or corporation that violates the proposed provision. The bill also would allow an employer to dismiss for cause, an employee who sold or furnished tobacco to a person under the age of 21. Senators Palumbo (D – Kanawha, 17) and Stollings (D – Boone, 7) proposed to an amendment to strike sections 12 and 13 from the legislation, which allowed exemptions to veterans’ organizations and facilities with a valid racetrack video lottery license from local board of health rules restricting smoking in indoor spaces. The amendment passed by a vote of 19 – 15.
The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 27 at 11 a.m.
The following committees will meet today:
Health at 3:15 p.m. in 451M
Education will meet five minutes following Heath in 451M
Gov. Org. will meet five minutes following Health in 208W
Finance at 5 p.m. in 451M
Judiciary at 5 p.m. in 208W
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