As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, January 25, 2006, the 15th day of the 2006 Regular Session, 276 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Ten bills have been passed by the Senate, including Senate Bill 247, which has completed legislative action.
One measure passed this week was Senate Bill 13, which would require cross-reporting of suspected abuse or neglect of individuals or animals. If a child protective service worker, adult protective service worker, law-enforcement officer or humane officer responded to an alleged incident of domestic violence or animal cruelty, he or she would be required to report any suspicion of further abuse or neglect, unrelated to the current incident, of a child, an incapacitated or elderly person, or an animal to the local child protective services agency of the Department of Health and Human Resources or the county humane officer. This measure will now go to the House for its consideration.
A Sampling of Bills Introduced in the Senate
Senate Bill 219 would prohibit a minor with a learner’s instructional permit or provisional license from using a handheld or hands free cell phone while driving unless he or she is contacting a 9-1-1 system.
Senate Bill 222 would create a fund to reimburse group life insurance premiums for National Guard members called to active duty in combat areas by establishing a Service Members’ Group Life Insurance Reimbursement Fund in the State Treasury administered by the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety. The provisions of this bill would apply only to premiums paid on or after the date the bill would be passed.
Senate Bill 223, which relates to the examinations of insurance and health care entities, would increase the time insurers, rating organizations and certain health care entities may respond to examination reports from the Insurance Commissioner. The bill also would clarify the Insurance Fraud Prevention Act to apply to certain health care entities and increase the minimum period in which examinations of certain health care entities must be conducted by the Insurance Commissioner.
Senate Bill 225 would provide a one-time supplement for public employee and teacher retirees who have been members of the retirement system for more than 10 years and for retirees who have been members for more than five to 10 years. The bill also would exempt the one-time supplement from West Virginia taxes.
Senate Bill 231 would prohibit an individual who has violated the terms and conditions of his or her probation or home confinement from being granted parole until he or she serves a minimum of one year in prison or until he or she is eligible for parole provided that the individual will not be up for parole for at least one year.
Senate Bill 236 would expand the definition of child abuse or neglect regarding the “imminent danger to the physical well-being of the child” to include a parent or parents who habitually abuse or are addicted to alcohol, controlled substances or drugs to the extent that they are no longer able to maintain proper parenting skills.
Senate Bill 245 would create the Consolidated Local Government Act. This measure would establish processes for municipalities and counties to consolidate, or for a county to consolidate with its principal city, to form a metro government.
Senate Bill 246 would provide a salary supplement of $2,500 and expense reimbursements to professional personnel who have a nationally recognized certification in speech-language pathology, audiology or counseling.
Senate Bill 253 would change the PROMISE Scholarship Program to the PROMISE Forgivable Student Loan Program and defer repayment of the loan while the student is enrolled in a West Virginia institution of higher education or working in West Virginia after graduation. The loan would be forgiven each year the graduate who received the PROMISE files a West Virginia resident personal income tax return and completely forgiven after four years of filing.
Senate Bill 258 would prohibit any individual other than the owner of a dog, including hunting dogs, from removing identification tags, collars or apparel from a dog or disabling a device worn by a dog to aid in its retrieval without the permission of the owner. A person who would violate this provision would be guilty of a misdemeanor penalty and, if convicted, either would be confined to jail between 90 days and six months, and/or fined $100.
Senate Bill 260 would create a registry of convicted clandestine drug lab operators. This registry would provide information regarding such criminals and direct the Criminal Identification Bureau of the State Police to establish a Web site for the public to use to access information regarding the registry.
Senate Bill 264 would designate English as the official language for West Virginia. The bill would not require or prohibit any state agency or political subdivision from providing any documents, information, literature or other written materials in any other language.
Senate Bill 265 would add to the West Virginia Veterans Memorial Monument the names of all West Virginians who died while serving the United States in the Kosovo, Afghanistan or Iraq conflicts.
Senate Bill 267 would prevent the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) from raising retired employees’ premiums more than 5 percent above premium rates starting January 1, 2006, until the Legislature creates a cost of living adjustment for retired employees receiving annuities from public retirement plans administered by the Consolidated Retirement Board.
Senate Bill 268 would require a mandatory alert when natural gas or other petroleum product pipeline facilities are seen damaged during commercial activities near pipeline facilities. Individuals violating the provisions would suffer a civil penalty of no more than $100,000 per day until the violation is corrected, and/or would be guilty of a misdemeanor and be fined $10,000.
Senate Bill 276 would create a special unit within the State Police known as the Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations Unit which would focus on child abuse or neglect cases and help Child Protective Services identify criminal violations.
