(Week of February 14-21, 2007)
Senate Bill 142 will provide a penalty for illegally possessing, possessing with intent to distribute or distributing iodine crystals or an iodine matrix at a concentration greater than two percent in order to deter illegal drug activity. The provision will not apply to legitimate use by public or private primary and secondary schools, institutions of higher education and licensed veterinarians or health care facilities. It also will not prohibit the transfer or receipt of any betadine or povidone solution with an iodine content that does not exceed 10 percent in containers of eight ounces or less or any concentration of iodine that does not exceed two percent in containers of one ounce or less that is sold over the counter, so long as these solutions are used solely for their intended common household use. The maximum penalty for violating this provision is a $10,000 fine.
House Bill 2120 will set minimum standards for candidates for municipal judge. These candidates will have to submit to a criminal background check by the State Police. The candidate will have to pay all costs associated with the check. If the background check reveals convictions for certain misdemeanors and/or felonies, the candidate will be deemed ineligible. The bill will also require municipal judges who are not licensed attorneys to attend continuing education classes.
House Bill 2285 will update the meaning of federal adjusted gross income and other terms used in the West Virginia Personal Income Tax Act. This will apply any changes made to the federal Internal Revenue Code in 2006 to the state code. Such bills are passed annually to explicitly keep state tax laws up-to-date.
House Bill 2314 will update the meaning of several definitions related to the state’s corporate net income tax. This will apply any changes made to the federal Internal Revenue Code in 2006 to the state code. Such bills are passed annually to explicitly keep West Virginia tax laws up-to-date.
House Bill 2917 will eliminate the requirement of accelerated payments of the consumer sales and service tax and personal income withholding tax for the last month of the fiscal year. Currently, taxes due by certain businesses for the first 15 days of June have to be paid by June 23; taxes for other months are due during the next month. The bill will remove the accelerated payment requirement starting in July 2007.
These bills now will go to the Governor for his consideration.
