As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 5, 2003, the 29th day of the 2003 Regular Legislative Session, 460 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Of those, the following 11 were passed by the Senate this week and will now go to the House of Delegates for its consideration:
Senate Bill 100 would exempt barbers, beauticians and manicurists from continuing education classes. The measure would provide that continuing education classes would not be required for a renewal of licensure.
Senate Bill 162 would expunge certain motor vehicle license information for 19- year-olds. This legislation would wipe clean information regarding any license suspension or revocation related to nonattendance at school for persons 19 years of age or older.
Senate Bill 181 relates to compulsory school attendance and home school instruction. This measure would change the requirements for qualifying for the home school exemption, including: requiring that the child’s age and grade level be included with the notice of intent; adding a new assessment option that would explicitly allow home schooled students to participate in the public school testing program; under the alternative academic assessment option, requiring that criteria for acceptable progress be mutually agreed upon by the parent and county superintendent; and, for all assessment options, if a child does not make acceptable progress for two consecutive years, then the home instructor would be required to submit additional evidence that appropriate instruction is being provided, to name a few of the provisions.
Senate Bill 182 would meet federal standards for certain child passenger seats and safety devices. This bill would allow drivers transporting children who are at least four years old and weighing at least 40 pounds to be secured in a safety belt. Current law requires that a child between the ages of three and eight be secured by a safety belt but does not list a weight requirement.
Senate Bill 210 would permit retired State Police to carry concealed weapons for life. The bill states that after five years, the retired or medically discharged member must pay the costs of the bond for his or her permit. Current law permits retired members of the State Police to carry a concealed weapon for five years. This legislation would retain current language that would permit the Superintendent to suspend this privilege without recourse and also automatically revoke the privilege should the former State Police officer be convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving the use of a firearm.
Senate Bill 337 would simplify the process for adoption of children from foreign countries. The measure would provide a procedure for recognition of a foreign adoption decree by the filing of a petition, which would include copies of a home study and the foreign adoption decree. The court would be required to review the petition and supporting documentation and then enter an order recognizing the foreign adoption order. This order would then have the same force and effect as an adoption order entered in West Virginia.
Sunset bills passed by the Senate
Senate Bill 415 would continue the Environmental Quality Board until July 1, 2003.
Senate Bill 416 would continue the Massage Therapy Licensure Board until July 1, 2015.
Senate Bill 417 would continue the Commission for the Deaf and Hard-of Hearing until July 1, 2005.
Senate Bill 418 would continue the Investment Management Board until July 1, 2005.
Senate Bill 419 would continue the Governor’s Office of Fiscal Risk Analysis until July 1, 2004.
A sampling of bills introduced in the Senate
Senate Bill 409 would create an efficient and expeditious procedure for finalizing wrongful death settlements. The measure also would establish a procedure for resolving conflicting claims as to the appropriate distribution of wrongful death settlement proceeds among potential statutory beneficiaries.
Senate Bill 444 would establish the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System Act. The bill would provide the administration of this retirement system by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board.
Senate Bill 436 would direct the Public Service Commission (PSC) to implement the West Virginia 211 Information and Referral System for human and social services. This legislation would be in accordance with the recommendations of the PSC’s appointed task force as reported to the Legislature in 2002.
Senate Bill 452 would remove the requirement that substitute teachers work a certain amount for full-time employment, hiring and seniority. This measure would remove the requirement that substitute teachers work at least 133 days in a school year to count that employment toward seniority for full-time employment hiring purposes.
Senate Bill 431 would reduce the excise tax on gasoline and special fuel. The proposed legislation would reduce the excise tax by five cents ($0.05).
Senate Bill 401 would exempt veterans’ organizations from the consumers sales and service tax. The measure would allow this exemption for organizations where at least 85 percent of its members are past or present members of the United States armed forces and at least 98 percent of all members of the organization are past or present members of the United States armed forces, cadets (including only students in college or university ROTC programs or at armed services academies) or spouses, widows or widowers. The bill also states that no part of the net earnings is to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
