As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 12, 2003, the 36th day of the 2003 Regular Legislative Session, 508 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Of those, 17 bills were passed and will go on to the House for its consideration, including three sunset bills.
Senate Bill 170 would require informed consent for abortion, as well as other provisions. The bill would require a minimum 24-hour-waiting period during which time the physician performing the abortion would have to inform the woman of certain aspects of the procedure. The doctor would have to tell the woman the risks involved with having the abortion, the risks if she decided not to have the abortion, and the gestational age of the fetus. The bill would allow for an exception to be made in an emergency when the woman’s life is in danger.
Senate Bill 204 relates to involuntary commitment generally. This bill would remove wording that would prevent an incarcerated individual from being subject to mental hygiene proceedings, such as a psychiatric evaluation.
Senate Bill 206 would authorize aides to supervise students who are undergoing in-school suspension. The bill also would provide for limitations such as allowing an aide to only pass out or take up class work but not actually teach the students in the class.
Senate Bill 336 would require health care professionals to use a standardized form for credentialing, recredentialing or updating information.
Senate Bill 342 would limit the time a driver’s license may be issued to certain non-citizens. Anyone who is not a US citizen would only have a driver’s license for the amount of time he or she is in the country, although it cannot exceed five years. The license would be renewed at the discretion of the Commissioner of the
Senate Bill 356 relates to insurance company holding systems and the Federal GrammLeach-Bliley Act. The bill would allow insurance companies to acquire or be acquired by depository institutions and would amend the period of time within which an action may be taken by the Insurance Commissioner upon a statement filed by a person who wants to get control of an insurance company. The bill also would authorize the Commissioner to share certain confidential information about the company with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or other appropriate federal banking agency.
Senate Bill 358 relates to the redomestication of domestic insurance companies. A domestic insurer can, upon the approval of the Insurance Commissioner, transfer its domicile to any other state in which it is admitted. When such a transfer occurs, the company would cease to be a domestic insurer and become a foreign insurer. The commissioner could only approve the transfer if he or she determines that it is in the best interests of the policyholders of the state.
Senate Bill 375 would allow the transfer of a contractor’s license to a new business associate if the license holder is the principal owner, partner or officer of the company.
Senate Bill 381 would add professional surveyors to professional limited liability companies.
Senate Bill 388 would modify the requirements for the titling and registration of imported vehicles. An automobile would have to meet Federal Safety and Emissions Standards and the owner of the vehicle would have to be able to prove that the vehicle meets those standards before it could be sold.
Senate Bill 390 would remove the requirement that a person’s social security number appear on a commercial driver’s license (CDL). The license would still have to include the driver’s name, eye and hair color, weight, gender, date of birth, address, signature and color photo.
Senate Bill 414 would authorize the Real Estate Commission to enter into license reciprocity agreements with other states.
Senate Bill 424 would authorize the Commissioner of Corrections to consent to the transfer of convicted offenders under Federal treaty. It also would require that the inmate be informed of his or her rights in words he or she can understand.
Senate Bill 447 would allow reciprocal agreements with Ohio regarding hunting and fishing. The measure would allow agreements established by he DNR whereby the residents of West Virginia and Ohio may hunt waterfowl and fish in and along tributaries on both sides of the Ohio River without additional licensing.
Sunset Bills passed by the Senate
Senate Bill 469 would continue the Contractor Licensing Board until July 1, 2006.
Senate Bill 470 would continue the Board of Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety until July 1, 2005.
Senate Bill 471 would continue the Board of Pharmacy until July 1, 2008.
A sampling of bills introduced in the Senate
Senate Bill 466 would authorize expeditions for hunting black bear with dogs.
Senate Bill 486 would require Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to notify the Insurer’s Board or Audit Committee of an adverse financial condition.
Senate Bill 491 would authorize the Bureau for Child Support Enforcement to reduce monthly support payments when overpaid.
Senate Bill 489 would authorize the Parkways Authority to provide wireless communication coverage.
Senate Bill 465 would allow certain retail markup on cigarettes and beer.
Senate Bill 457 would allow counties adopting flood plain ordinance to designate an enforcement agency.
Senate Bill 459 would prohibit the renaming or rededication of certain monuments and memorials.
Senate Bill 453 would establish the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team.
Senate Bill 479 would prohibit municipalities from closing a Fire Department without State Fire Marshal approval.
Senate Bill 468 would repeal the requirement that the Tax Commissioner report annually the amount of fuel tax collected.
Senate Bill 458 would require hospitals to implement a plan eliminating or reducing medication-related errors.
Senate Bill 492 would exempt tax for materials and services used in coal preparation plants.
Senate Bill 478 would enact the Tax Free Family Meal Act of 2003.
