As of 4 p.m. Wednesday March 9th, 2005, the 29th day of the Regular Session, 958 bills have been introduced in the House of Delegates. Of those, 26 have passed since March 3rd and have been sent to the Senate for its consideration. Some of these were:
House Bill 2174 would require the Department of Health and Human Resources to develop a procedure to notify licensed professionals who are mandated to report child abuse and neglect of the disposition of the investigation into the report by January 1, 2006.
House Bill 2189 would authorize West Virginia law enforcement officials to deputize out-of-state police officers. The out-of-state law enforcement agency would be able to enter into a multi-jurisdictional task force agreement, but would first have to permit the West Virginia agency to deputize its officers. The out-of-state officers’ duties would be limited to those of the multi-jurisdictional task force. Also, the head of the West Virginia law-enforcement agency would have to notify the Governor’s Committee on Law Enforcement Training that out-of-state officers have been deputized.
House Bill 2244 would make the state’s criminal and penalty laws which apply to the use and display of beer and alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles conform to federal law. This measure is intended to avoid federal sanctions that could be imposed on the state resulting in the loss of federal-aid highway construction funds.
House Bill 2350 would make a technical correction to the West Virginia Code dealing with the awarding of teaching certificates in West Virginia. The bill would add to existing requirements for receiving a teaching certificate in West Virginia that candidates must possess the minimum of a bachelor’s degree or hold a certificate of eligibility issued by another state that certifies that he or she meets all of the requirements of the state for full certification.
House Bill 2368 would increase the fee for vaccinating cats and dogs for rabies from $4 to $8. The increase would only apply to animal clinics established by a county commission, such as those at a town hall or community center. In all other situations, the veterinarian would set a reasonable fee at his or her own discretion.
House Bill 2450 would allow a mother to breast feed her child in any private or public location.
House Bill 2456 would ratify the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact to streamline the transfer of criminal history records for non-criminal purposes between states that also ratify the compact. The Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police would execute, administer and implement the compact on behalf of the state and may adopt necessary rules, regulations and procedures for the national exchange of criminal history records for noncriminal records purposes.
House Bill 2466 would eliminate provisions of the West Virginia Code that created unlawful classifications based on race for county boards of education, and it would update obsolete provisions noting Bluefield State College would be under the authority of the Higher Education Policy Commission.
House Bill 2471 would establish a financial responsibility program for inmates by requiring wardens to deduct a portion of inmates’ earnings for the purpose of paying child support and legitimate court-ordered financial obligations. The Division of Corrections would work with inmates to determine a financial plan.
House Bill 2476 would revise the parole law to keep certain persons who have been released on parole three times and had their parole revoked from being eligible for further release on parole. It also would authorize the Parole Board to hire hearing examiners and authorize the Commissioner of the Division of Corrections to issue subpoenas for persons and records necessary to prove a violation of a parolee’s parole.
House Bill 2478 would remove the prohibition against beer brewers requiring distributors to submit profit and loss statements, balance sheets or financial records as a requirement to retain its franchise.
House Bill 2497 would provide that a truck with four axles in combination with a trailer with two axles is limited to a max gross weight of 80,000 pounds with a tolerance of 10 percent. If the truck were to operate within the tolerance range, then it would be considered to be operating at the gross weight for which it is registered and the registered weight would include the 10 percent tolerance.
House Bill 2510 would allow public money to be used to fulfill the matching requirements of the Workforce Development Initiative grant application process beginning in Fiscal Year 2006. The public partner providing the money, however, could not be eligible for a Workforce Development Initiative grant unless the amount of funding provided by the Legislature that year exceeds $650,000. In that case, only half of the amount could be qualified to an eligible applicant.
House Bill 2607 would expand screenings required for newborns by adding sickle cell anemia and adrenal hyperplasia.
House Bill 2663 would modify and update laws relating to digging, growing, harvesting and selling Ginseng. The bill would shorten the digging season to run from Sept. 1st to Nov. 13th. The bill also would require that seeds be planted after a root is dug and that all roots be at least five years old before being harvested. In addition, the bill also would establish a penalty of $500 to $1,000 for violating any sections of the provision.
House Bill 2764 would allow the Board of Medicine to re-issue a license to a physician convicted of certain drug related offenses. Once a physician who has had his or her license revoked due to a drug related felony conviction applies for a new licence, the Board would be able to issue a new license if it determines the physician is, except for the underlying conviction, qualified to practice medicine. A license could not be issued until the physician has completed any sentence of confinement, parole, probation or other court-ordered supervision and until any fines, judgments, or other fees imposed by the sentencing court are fulfilled. The Board also would be able to place upon a licensed physician whatever terms, conditions or limitations it finds appropriate.
