As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, February 11, 2004, the 29th Day of the 2004 Regular Legislative Session, 512 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Of those, 16 measures were passed since Feb. 5 and will go on to the House for its consideration.
Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 52 would allow an owner of a vehicle with a Class G registration to have a motorcycle registration plate fastened in a vertical position. The owner would have to pay a onetime fee of $25 to cover the additional cost and services necessary to issue the special registration plate.
Senate Bill 138 would protect personal information maintained by the state from inappropriate disclosure. This information would include an individual’s home address, social security number, credit or debit card number, driver’s license identification number, marital status, or maiden name.
Senate Bill 181 would permit medically discharged or retired State Police to carry a concealed weapon for life without a license. Upon receiving the weapon, a written consent by the State Police Superintendent would be required and would have to be with the member at all times when he or she has the weapon in possession. No member, however, not working due to a mental disability, would be eligible for this consent.
Senate Bill 208 would allow State Police to engage in certain political activities while off duty and out of uniform. These activities would include to campaign for and hold office in political clubs and organizations, to actively campaign for candidates for public office in partisan and nonpartisan elections, and to contribute money to political organizations and attend political fund-raising functions.
Senate Bill 231 would authorize County Commissioners to establish a flood plain or mudslide enforcement agency. This agency would require and issue permits for all proposed construction, development, and other improvements in the county and conduct inspections of the projects as well.
Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 251 would provide requirements and limitations for mandatory nurse overtime in hospitals. According to this measure, any nurse who works 12 or more consecutive hours in a shift would be allowed at least eight hours off-duty time immediately following the completion of the shift. No nurse shall work more than 16 hours in a 24-hour period.
Senate Bill 318 would give the opportunity for inmates of correctional institutions to earn days labeled as “good time” for good conduct. Each day of good conduct would be taken off of the individuals sentence only after the inmate has served at least half of his or her overall sentence. No inmate, however, sentenced to serve life in prison, would be eligible to earn any “good time.”
Senate Bill 319 relates to centers for housing young adult offenders. According to this bill, if the offender, in the opinion of the warden, proves to be an unfit person to remain in the center, the offender would be granted a hearing before a committee court to review the warden’s determination before dismissal from the housing center.
Senate Bill 404 would provide a clarifying definition of the term “behavioral health services” excluding the description of “community care services.” Behavioral health services would mean services provided for the care and treatment of persons with mental illness, mental retardation, developmental disabilities or alcohol or drug abuse in an inpatient, residential or outpatient setting.
Senate Bill 406 would allow the Commissioner of Corrections, regional jail supervisors, or city or sheriff operating a jail the choice of a telephone call or written notification of a defendent’s last known address or telephone number upon his or her release.
Senate Bill 428 would provide a definition for “transacting insurance” throughout the insurance code and relates to the transactions of an insurance business in West Virginia.
Senate Bill 448 relates to higher education advisory boards. According to this bill, each president or administrative head of an administratively linked community and technical college would consult with classified council during the month of April to elect one new member of the council.
Senate Bill 449 relates to elections generally. This bill would provide that the filing fee for any candidate for president or vice president of the United States would not exceed $2,500 starting with the 2004 filing period.
Senate Bills 469 would continue the Interstate Commission on Uniform State Laws.
Senate Bill 470 would continue the Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board. Senate Bill 471 would continue the State Board Risk and Insurance Management.
