As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, January 30, 2008 the 22nd day of the 78th Legislature, 975 bills have been introduced in the House of Delegates. Of these, a total of 17 have passed the House and will go to the Senate for its consideration. Some of the bills passed this week include:
House Bill 2517 would require a West Virginia state bank or holding company wishing to acquire an out of state bank to file a copy of the application with both a federal regulator and the state banking commissioner. However, this would not be required if the acquisition involves a merger or establishment of branches.
House Bill 3215 would remove the administrative link between Blue Ridge Community and Technical College and Shepherd University. This would make Blue Ridge a free-standing state community and technical college.
House Bill 4019 would allow courts to dismiss cases involving multiple plaintiffs including nonresidents and residents under the doctrine of forum non conveniens. Currently, courts are not allowed to dismiss cases under this doctrine if it involves both resident and nonresident plaintiffs and if the action arose from a single occurrence.
House Bill 4036 would give the Board of Respiratory Care the authority to issue temporary permits to respiratory students. Students would have to meet certain criteria before receiving this work permit. Students would be allowed to practice under the supervision of a licensed respiratory care therapist. If the initial permit expires before the student completes licensor requirements and the student is enrolled in at least nine semester hours, making satisfactory progress in his or her curriculum and working well during clinical rotations, then the student may apply for one six-month extension.
House Bill 4078 would eliminate the Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park Commission. The tasks and powers of this commission would be transferred to the Division of Natural Resources.
House Bill 4092 would require a person to pass an examination in order to be licensed as a forester or forestry technician and would clarify and update the board’s rule-making authority. Upon a vacancy on the Board of Foresters, the Governor would appoint a new registered forestry technician, with the consent of the Senate, from the 10 nominees recommended by the West Virginia Chapter of the Society of American Foresters.
House Bill 4141 would reduce the amount of written status reports on civil actions against a state agency by requiring them to be sent only to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates upon request.
House Bill 4147 would regulate the parking at the State Capitol in Charleston. It would allow the Speaker of the House and the Senate President to decide where parking would be allowed on the Capitol Complex during regular, extended, extraordinary and interim sessions or at any other necessary time.
A Sampling of Bills Introduced In the House
House Bill 4158 would allow law enforcement agencies to sell stolen, unclaimed firearms and ammunition at public auctions to federally licensed firearms dealers with licenses appropriate for the firearm being purchased. Profits from the sale would stay within the law enforcement agency and go towards the agencies needs.
House Bill 4159 would remove state financial aid from college students who receive two or more citations for the illegal consumption or possession of alcohol. This bill would take effect July 1, 2008.
House Bill 4162 would make leaving children unattended or unsupervised in a motor vehicle for more than 15 minutes a crime. Any person convicted of leaving a child unattended for this period of time would be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined between $50 and $500. However, if the child experiences great bodily harm, then the person would be guilty of a felony and sentenced for no more than five years and/or fined no more than $500.
House Bill 4167 would require that the school principal, county superintendent, county school board president and anyone in equivalent leadership positions in religious or private schools be given the results of local school health inspections.
House Bill 4291 would require the State Election Commission to produce one or more training videos for poll workers. Poll workers would be required to be trained within 30 days of a scheduled election. County clerks also would be required to attend training every two years to review the training of poll workers and law matters.
House Bill 4301 would allow the uninsured children of state workers who make no more than $25,000 a year to have their health insurance covered by a program of the West Virginia Children’s Health Insurance Program. This program would be created by the Board and would include the child’s premiums, coinsurance, co-pays and deductibles. The board must report at least four times a year to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability on the development and progress of the proposed program.
House Bill 4302 would allow farmers, who have quit farming due to a physical or mental illness and have lived on the land that they farmed for the last 10 years, to continue having their property appraised as farm property.
