As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, January 20th, 2010, the eighth day of the 79th Legislature’s 2nd Regular Session, 854 bills have been introduced in the House of Delegates. Of those, one passed and has been sent to the Senate for consideration. The bill passed was:
House Bill 4016 would expand the reporting requirements of the State Ethics Act by including the income information of the spouses of public officials. The bill would also require additional information – job title, employer address and job duties – be disclosed regarding employment of public officials.
The bill would prohibit legislators, secretaries of executive departments, commissioners or other appointed employees of constitutional offices from registering as lobbyists until one year after the end of his or her public service.
A Sampling of Bills Introduced In the House
House Bill 4001 would require the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop specific standards to control levels of dissolved solids in rivers and streams. The bill would grant the director of DEP the authority to carry out its requirements.
House Bill 4005 would make failure to wear a seatbelt a primary offense.
House Bill 4006 would require the reporting and publication of compensation received by lobbyists for all lobbying activities. The bill also defines “compensation” as money or any other thing of value received from an employer for successful lobbying activities. It would require the reports be published on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Web site.
House Bill 4022 would allow vehicles in a funeral procession to be exempt from paying toll fees on the West Virginia Turnpike. The vehicles would have to be easily identified as part of the funeral procession.
House Bill 4024 would broaden the circumstances and types of prescriptions physician assistants could issue under the supervision of a licensed physician. Under this bill, a physician assistant must have completed an approved program, wear a badge identifying them as a physician assistant and may only perform services they are certified and trained to perform.
House Bill 4029 would strengthen penalities for the assault and/or battery of volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicans and service providers.
House Bill 4033 would establish the Fleet Management Office in order to manage motor vehicles and aircraft owned by the state of West Virginia. The bill would also remove all agency exemptions from the travel rules of the Secretary of the Department of Administration. The Secretary of the Department of Administration would be granted the authority to determine if the vehicles are being used in an official and proper manner.
House Bill 4036 would establish an eight member Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission, which would assist in filling judicial vacancies. The commission would submit a list of qualified candidates to the governor for consideration of judicial appointment. The bill would also require the commission to create procedures for choosing candidates.
House Bill 4040 would require county school boards to adopt contingency plans guaranteeing students receive 180 separate days of instruction. The bill would limit the county boards to commencing no earlier than August 26 and terminating no later than June 8. A provision in the bill would require county boards to create plans to include icy conditions and emergencies and still meet the state requirement of 180 instructional days.
House Bill 4130 would create a pilot program providing alternative campaign financing options to Supreme Court of Appeals candidates. The program would begin in 2012 and would be funded through public funds including attorney fees and special court fees. Participating candidates would be required to raise a certain amount of campaign funds to qualify for the pilot program. After accepting public funds, participants could not accept money from private sources.
House Bill 4138 would include radiologist assistants under the authority of the West Virginia Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Technology Board of Examiners. The duties of the board include determining license requirements and maintaining license examination records.
House Bill 4143 would increase the authority of the Office of Emergency Medical Services. The bill would allow the state police to perform background checks on EMS certification applicants.
