During the morning floor session, Senators concurred with House Amendments on Senate Bill 89, which requires hospitals to staff qualified personnel to perform sexual assault exams. The bill revises the requirement of staffing to apply to on call and available health care practitioners rather than requiring the hospital to have staff available at all hours of operation. The bill adds an effective date of July 1, 2024.
The bill now heads to the Governor for final approval.
Among other bills on third reading, Senators also passed Senate Bill 591, which allows counties and municipalities to jointly undertake development projects and, Senate Bill 602, to enable West Virginia State University and Bluefield State University to offer associate degrees.
All bills on 2nd Reading on the Senate Calendar were advanced to third reading with the exception of Senate Bill 195, Glucagon for Schools Act; Senate Bill 608, correcting list of items which are considered deadly weapons; and House Bill 3141, relating to the practice of dentistry, which were all three laid over one day, and; Senate Bill 601, providing that WV Secondary School Activities Commission promulgate legislative rules , which was referred to the Rules Committee.
Afternoon Senate committee meetings:
Health – 1 p.m. 451M
Finance Subcommittee B – 2 p.m. 208 W
Finance – 3 p.m. 451M
Judiciary – 3 p.m. 208W
The Senate is adjourned until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, February 22nd.
