As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, March 2, 2011, the 50th day of the 80th Legislature’s 1st Regular Session, 614 bills have been introduced in the Senate. To date, 19 bills have completed legislation. Of the bills introduced, 67 passed this week and have been sent to the House for further consideration. A sampling of bills passed by the Senate this week includes:
Senate Bill 18 would require certain employees of licensed private clubs and retail outlets selling alcoholic beverages to take the Techniques for Education and Alcohol Management course, the Training for Intervention Procedures course and Alcohol Awareness programs provided by the American Hotel and Lodging Association or the National Restaurant Association or other similar alcohol awareness education courses provided or approved by the Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner.
Senate Bill 35 would raise the tax credit for nonfamily adoptions from $2,000 to $4,000.
Senate Bill 228 would create the Local Solutions Dropout and Prevention Pilot program to reduce the number of high school dropouts in West Virginia.
Senate Bill 229 would provide loan assistance for math and science teachers who agree to teach in areas and schools in critical need of such teachers. Each award recipient would be eligible to receive assistance of up to $2,000 annually subject to limits set forth in the bill.
Senate Bill 242 would dedicate five percent of the coal severance tax to the county of origin, provide for a five-year phase-in at one percent per year and provide permissible uses for the funds. Also, the bill would provide for the Development Office to administer distribution of funds, direct the office to put into effect rules for distribution and establish the County Severance Revenue Fund.
Senate Bill 307 would create and provide structures and standards for a new Intermediate Court of Appeals.
Senate Bill 387 would allow retired officers to carry a concealed weapon in accordance with federal law and would direct the Superintendent of the State Police to create a firearms course.
Senate Bill 408 would provide for a health insurance exchange in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. If implemented, this bill would establish a West Virginia Health Benefit Exchange to facilitate the purchase and sale of qualified health plans in the individual market in West Virginia. Additionally, the bill would establish a Small Business Health Options Program within the health benefit exchange to assist the state’s qualified small employers in facilitating the enrollment of their employees in qualified health plans.
Senate Bill 420 would clarify that county commissioners must continue to reside in the district they are elected or appointed to represent throughout the entire time they hold the office.
Senate Bill 424 would modernize the oil and gas regulatory program to provide a means to regulate horizontal drilling and drilling processes that utilize large volumes of water. The bill would add “timber” to the list of items for which a land surface owner could be compensated and also, would provide a new section to regulate pooling of gas from horizontal shallow wells. Additionally, the bill would remove the Chief of the Office of Oil and Gas from the Shallow Gas Well Review Board and replace the chief with a person representing the interests of surface owners of real property. Finally, this bill would remove the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection and the Chief of the Office of Oil and Gas from the Conservation Commission and replace them with the state geologist and a person representing the interests of surface owners of real property.
Senate Bill 465 would enact the Marcellus Gas and Manufacturing Development Act of 2011, which encourages and facilitates the development of oil and gas wells and the downstream uses of natural gas in this state. Additionally, this bill would endorse economic development in this state associated with natural gas production and various downstream uses.
