As of 4 pm, Wednesday, March 23, 2005, the 43rd day of the 2005 Regular Session, 1,181 bills have been introduced in the House of Delegates. Of those, 19 have been passed by the House since March 16th and sent to the Senate for its consideration. These include:
House Bill 2229 would provide for the temporary detention of juveniles who are named in an emergency domestic violence protective order. Created in response to situations in which a juvenile is accused of domestic violence and magistrates are unwilling to detain the accused, this legislation would provide that a law enforcement official could take custody of a juvenile who is named in an emergency protective order by the juvenile’s parent or guardian. The detaining officer would be required to notify the Department of Health and Human Resources immediately and could detain the juvenile only in a non-secure or staff-secure facility.
House Bill 2522 would permit the operation of mini-distilleries, establishments that produce less than 20,000 gallons of alcoholic liquor annually, in West Virginia. The bill would require that at least 25 percent of the ingredients used to make the product are grown on the premises and would provide that no more than 25 percent of the ingredients used originate outside of the state. Under this legislation, mini-distilleries would be treated similar to farm wineries by allowing distillers to offer samples of and sell their products at the distillery, provided that sales are for off-site consumption only.
House Bill 2619 would provide that funds from revenues allocated to volunteer and part volunteer fire companies and departments may be expended for the payment of dues to national, state and county associations.
House Bill 2626 would allow active-duty military personnel stationed in West Virginia to hunt, fish or trap in the state without a license. The Director of the Division of Natural Resources would propose rules to verify that applicants qualify and to determine the type of identification required to be carried in place of a license while hunting, fishing or trapping.
House Bill 2783 would authorize the Director of the Division of Rehabilitation Services to allow school groups and other youth or civic organizations to use state vocational rehabilitation facilities. The Director also would be responsible for charging and collecting reasonable rent, provided that this money would be used exclusively for the maintenance of these buildings.
House Bill 2837 would charge the State Board of Education with prescribing personal finance instruction in secondary schools. The instruction would be integrated into the curriculum of appropriate existing courses for all students in secondary schools. This legislation is intended to provide students with a basic understanding of personal finances to prepare them for the future because, as outlined in the findings of the bill, individuals who have an understanding of personal finance are better equipped to manage money.
House Bill 2885 would reduce the number of tuberculosis skin testing required by school personnel, thereby reducing the cost and burden of repeated testing for these employees. Under current law, skin testing is required every other year and according to the findings in the bill, records show that this group of people has been a low-risk population for tuberculosis. Additionally, it would allow a physician or local health officer to seek an individualized course of treatment for people with tuberculosis, which would reduce their risk of developing multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.
House Bill 2914 would restrict actions against doctors who are board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility for in-vitro fertilization attempts that fail to result in live birth. Doctors would not be held liable in these situations, unless there is evidence of willful actions or gross neglect against the doctor.
House Bill 2936 would establish certain standards for the advertising of dental services by licensed dentists to prohibit false or misleading information. Among other provisions, the standards would ensure that the dentist’s licensing is clearly communicated in the advertisement and require general dental practitioners to disclose that they practice general dentistry. Any licensed dentist in West Virginia failing to comply with the new provisions would be subject to disciplinary action.
House Bill 3018 would designate the Mountaineer Challenge Academy, which is operated in Preston County by the Adjutant General, as a special alternative education program for students who are at risk of not succeeding in conventional schooling. Under this legislation, the State Board of Education would enact rules applicable only to this Academy that would, among other provisions, set precedence for National Guard policies and procedures in the program; provide that students participating in the special alternative education program at the Academy would be at full enrollment status in the county; and, provide for consideration of General Education Development (GED) eligibility in special circumstances.
House Bill 3105 would create a special revenue fund for the operation of the Occupational Safety and Health Program within the Division of Labor. The Commissioner of Labor would make expenditures from the fund to obtain federal money for the management of this program under contract with the federal Department of Labor.
