Thursday, March 28, 2024
Thursday, March 28, 2024

In the House

As of 4 PM, Wednesday, March 3rd, 2004, the 50th day of the 2004 Regular Session, 1,371 bills have been introduced in the House of Delegates. Of those, the following bills have been passed by this body since February 25th and will go to the Senate for its consideration.

House Bill 2132 would provide retirement service credit to teachers at private colleges and universities. A teacher at a private college or university would be granted credit provided that the member pays to the system double the amount contributed during the first full year of current employment, times the number of years for which credit is granted, plus interest at a rate to be determined by the retirement board.

Committee Substitute for House Bill 2423 relates to the authorization of awarding high school diplomas to certain surviving veterans. The bill would award high school diplomas to veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam Conflict, provided that a veteran of the Korean Conflict or the Vietnam Conflict attended high school at the time he or she left prior to graduating and served in the armed forces of the United States.

Committee Substitute for House Bill 3004 would prohibit a person who is not the owner of a dog from removing tags, collars or apparel from a dog without the permission of the owner.

Committee Substitute for House Bill 4027 would establish a Voluntary Environmental Excellence Program and provide for incentives to those businesses that exceed minimum environmental law requirements. Those members who participate in the program would be eligible for certain benefits which may include more self-monitoring, regulatory flexibility and recognition of environmental leadership.

Committee Substitute for House Bill 4031 would increase the salaries of state Supreme Court justices, circuit court judges and family court judges. Committee Substitute for House Bill 4116 would provide tuition and fee vouchers for students who sound Taps during a military honors funeral. The bill would authorize the State Board of Education to create, distribute and provide general guidelines, contact information and technical assistance for the establishment of school level programs that encourage capable students in grades six through 12 to sound Taps. The sounding of Taps through this bill would be conducted on a standard or valved bugle, trumpet, cornet or flugelhorn during military honors funerals held in this state. Under this bill, the State Board would also distribute an appropriate summary and contact information to the colleges and universities in the state so that they may establish similar programs for their students. The bill also would provide that credits toward community service or work based learning requirements of the county can be awarded to a student for the registry and sounding of Taps during military honors funerals.

Committee Substitute for House Bill 4117 relates to copies of medical records. The bill would require a health care provider to furnish the records upon receipt of a written request or a facsimile of a medical authorization form. Also, the bill states that medical bills would not be considered medical records and therefore be provided without charge. The cost of medical records would be maintained at 75¢ per page and a search fee of $10.

House Bill 4252 would allow the purchase of up to four years of CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) time in the Teachers Retirement System.

House Bill 4280 would make available to retired participants in the Public Employee Insurance Agency (PEIA) the optional dental, vision, audiology and hearing aid services included in insurance plans that are available to current participants. The cost would be covered by the retiree who must pay entire cost including administrative costs.

House Bill 4560 would require that firefighters and security guards employed by the Adjutant General of the National Guard be members of the National Guard.

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