As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, February 17, 2010, the 36th day of the 79th Legislature’s 2nd Regular Session, 599 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Of those, 18 have been passed and have been sent to the House for its consideration. The bills passed this week were:
Senate Bill 38 would make the federal Servicemembers Civic Relief Act a state law. The act is designed to relieve certain civil responsibilities from servicemembers entering active duty or being deployed.
Senate Bill 89 would allow elected police chiefs and deputy chiefs to be assigned to their previously held position within the force at the end of their term.
Senate Bill 218 would make certain inmates eligible for early parole, upon successful completion of a rehabilitation program. Inmates who had committed violent crimes or crimes against children would not be eligible for accelerated parole, as well as inmates who had level one or two disciplinary action 120 days prior to parole consideration.
Senate Bill 236 would create the Aquaculture Development Act in order to promote aquaculture in the state. Aquaculture is defined as the breeding, raising and/or use of aquatic species in controlled environments for commercial purposes including food production, recreation and research.
Senate Bill 350 would add recycled energy to the list of renewable energy resources. This includes exhaust heat from commercial or industrial processes, waste gas, mechanical energy resulting from pressure drops, and other forms of recycled energy.
Senate Bill 354 would update the terms and reporting procedures for traffic crashes. The word “accident” would be replaced with “crash,” and the investigating law-enforcement officer would be required to submit a report electronically or in writing within 24 hours of the incident. If the officer could not complete the investigation within 10 days of the crash, a preliminary report would be required on the tenth day and a final report would be required within 24 hours of the completed investigation.
Senate Bill 382 would authorize the preparation and submission of geological reports incidental to oil and gas drilling. It would also require that logs and other valuable information be given to the state Geological and Economic Survey.
Senate Bill 391 would require that candidates for county boards be citizens of the county in which the board serves.
Senate Bill 397 would create a single dwelling residential housing index that would annually compile the costs of all single dwelling residential housing in the state. The index would be made available to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance as well as the public.
Senate Bill 436 would replace the Latin “haec verba, viz” with the English equivalent “these words verbatim” in the West Virginia code.
A Sampling of Bills Introduced In the Senate
Senate Bill 541 would increase penalties for passing a stopped school bus that is either picking up or dropping off children. The fine for a first offense would increase from a minimum $50 to $150, while the maximum fine would increase from $200 to $500.=
Senate Bill 550 would establish a driver’s license restoration program for people who have their license cancelled, suspended or revoked. The program would be responsible for providing information and educational services to assist people in having their license reinstated.
Senate Bill 552 would create the Office of Child Advocacy. The office would investigate and monitor the Department of Health and Human Resources Division of Child Protective Services and the Division of Corrections.
Senate Bill 586 would require county school boards of underachieving schools to notify parents of school choices for the next school year. School boards would be required to notify parents within five days of receiving the schools failure to produce satisfactory results by the testing service.
Senate Bill 590 would create an energy related public relations campaign focused on educating the Washington D.C. area and federal government about West Virginia coal and its positive impact. The Division of Energy would design and develop the campaign.
Senate Bill 599 would make it a felony offense to recklessly transfer HIV or AIDS. Punishment would include incarceration of up to 10 years. If a consenting adult knew the risks before engaging in sexual activity, the transfer of the virus could not be prosecuted.
