The Senate met at 11:00 a.m. today and passed five Senate bills.
SB 291 requires PEIA and other health insurance providers to provide mental health parity. This would be divided between mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse disorders and medical procedures.
SB 502 increases the penalty for methamphetamine trafficking. The bill defines the different terms and degrees of this felony and provides a description of how the penalty should be implemented.
SB 562 clarifies expungement of certain criminal convictions. The bill also eliminates the requirement that the chief law enforcement officer or head of a law-enforcement agency is sought where such an agency was not the arresting agency. The bill also clarifies that the Commissioner of Corrections is served with a copy of the petition for expungement if the petitioner was confined for a crime they seek to have expunged.
SB 610 removes the resident manager requirement for the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission. The bill also removes the residency requirement for granting permits under the Medical Cannabis Act. The WV Lottery is also to remove residency and United States citizenship requirements from its statutes.
SB 692 clarifies that persons indicted or charged jointly for a felony is entitled to a separate trial to address the guilt or innocence of the offense or offenses.
The House did not concur with amendments made by the Senate for House bill 4275, which is a rules bundle for the Fire commission, to be authorized by the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety. A Conference Committee is being arranged to resolve differences between the houses.
The Senate adopted resolution 47, congratulating the Clay County High School “We the People” team for winning their sixth consecutive WV state championship. The Senate held a brief recess to present this resolution.
The Senate is adjourned until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.
