As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 14, on the 36th day of the 2006 Regular Session, 586 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Thirty-seven bills have been passed by the Senate and sent to the House for further consideration. The following six bills were passed by the Senate since Thursday, February 9:
Senate Bill 270 would continue Board of Banking and Financial Institutions and regulate the qualifications for members chosen to represent the public on the board. After July 1, 2006, when a vacancy occurs among the executive officers of state banking institutions, the commissioner would divide all of the state banking institutions, according to asset size, into three equal groups. The replacement would be selected from the appropriate group to ensure that each group has a representative on the board. One member would be an executive officer of a financial institution other than a banking institution, while the other two members would represent the public; neither of whom would be an employee, officer, trustee, director or stockholder owner of five percent or more of the outstanding shares of any financial institution.
Senate Bill 462 would require the filing of all interstate compacts and information relating to compacts with the Secretary of State’s Office. The proposed law would grant 90 days for a commission, an agency, or a person administering the compact to properly file with the Secretary of State.
Senate Bill 473 would create a new offense of reckless driving when the incident causes serious bodily injury. Serious bodily injury would encompass all bodily injury that creates a high risk of death, causes serious or permanent disfigurement, or causes the loss or functional impairment of any bodily member or organ.
Senate Bill 505 would extend time for the Fairmont City Council to present to voters of the city an election for a municipal excess levy that would provide funding for the operation, maintenance and repair of the streets and roadways in the city between March 27 -28 and the third Tuesday in April until May 19, 2006.
Senate Bill 556 would amend a current law that relates to state parks and operational contracts for recreation systems. The amendment would require legislative notice and legislative approval of a proposed contract location between the director of a state park or recreational system and the contractor.
Senate Bill 557 would remove the requirement for the construction of the Shady Spring Turnpike Interchange and restore tolls to their prior rates.
A Sampling of Bills Introduced In The Senate
Senate Bill 540 would make it a felony offense to solicit another person, or group of persons to commit a violent crime. A person found guilty of this crime would face 3-15 years in prison if the violent offense solicited is punishable to life imprisonment. If the violent offense solicited is punishable by a term that is less than life imprisonment, the person found guilty of soliciting the violent crime would face between one and three years in prison and/or fined no more than $5,000.
Senate Bill 543 would create the “Asbestos and Silica Compensation Fairness Act.” The aim of this bill is to create guidelines for asbestos and silica claims, to provide for the fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims from asbestos or silica exposure, and to ensure that individuals who suffer from illnesses caused by exposure to asbestos or silica receive just compensation.
Senate Bill 547 relates to acceptable state Internet use policies. The proposed bill would require the Secretary of the Department of Administration to propose a rule implementing acceptable use standards for the Internet by public employees. The bill would prohibit public employees from doing the following while using state owned computers and communication devices: sending, viewing, or downloading explicit material and participating in private business purposes, political purposes of a partisan nature, campaign purposes or services for personal gain.
Senate Bill 550 relates to landline telephone service contracts. Currently in the State of West Virginia, landline telephone companies use automatic contract renewals for their consumers. This proposed legislation would provide standards for landline telephone contracts that would require telephone companies to issue new contracts to customers upon expiration of the initial term of the contract, or allow the current contract to renew on a month-to-month basis. The legislation also would provide that contracts that have been renewed automatically could be terminated without incurring fees or fines for ending the contract.
Senate Bill 561 would create a misdemeanor offense for the interference of the medical treatment of an injured railroad worker. A railroad company convicted of this misdemeanor would be fined no more than $10,000 for each violation. A person convicted of this misdemeanor would be fined no more than $10,000 for each violation and/or confined to jail for no more than one year.
Senate Bill 564 would create the Berkeley County Litter Control pilot project. The project would be a volunteer-based program ran by the Berkeley County Commission that would coordinate all industry and business organizations seeking to aid in litter control and recycling.
Senate Bill 565 would authorize educational benefits for the spouses of certain deceased persons who were killed during military service. Tuition fees would not be charged to eligible applicants attending any state education or training institution. The Spouse Educational Opportunities Benefit Account would be funded by appropriations made by the State Legislature, income from the investment of moneys held in the special revenue account and all other sums available for deposit to the special revenue account from any public or private source.
Senate Bill 567 would create the Energy Policy and Development Act. This Act would establish the Division of Energy and the position of the Executive Director, who would coordinate governmental activities intended to develop an energy policy and a development plan that would include innovative alternative and traditional sources of energy.
Senate Bill 571 relates to the pay of National Guard members. The bill would set the salary of the Adjutant General at the pay and allowance of an officer of the same rank on active duty. The bill also would set a minimum base pay for members of the National Guard and provide tuition payment for the cost of post-graduate courses of members.
