As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 1, 2012, the 22nd day of the 80th Legislature’s 2nd Regular Session, 607 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Of those, 57 passed this week and have been sent to the House for consideration. The bills passed by the Senate this week include:
Senate Bill 156 would allow the Commissioner of the Division of Corrections to use excess funds to offset operational costs. A special revenue account titled “Additional Operations Account” would be established.
Senate Bill 166 would make disarming or attempt to disarm a correctional officer a felony. Violation of this bill would result in a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, a fine of up to $500 or jail time.
Senate Bill 186 would make salary payments for teachers equal in all counties throughout the state. The bill also states should the Department of Education not be able to provide the funds necessary to meet the salary payment, they must request it within its budget.
Senate Bill 215 would correct legislation that requires unused funds to be deposited into the road fund. The bill states that all unobligated funds return to the road fund.
Senate Bill 343 would allow a grace period for fire departments to submit data to the State Fire Marshall. The State Fire Marshall would also be required to give notice to the fire department as to the dates of the grace period.
Senate Bill 404 would permit the issuance of a barristers certificate to teach special curricula in West Virginia’s public school system. The recipient of the certificate must have studies law in the state, passed the Standard Bar exam, and demonstrate professionalism and experience.
Senate Bill 409 would substitute community service for jail time for individuals who are under the age of 21 and have been caught purchasing, selling, or consuming alcohol, or have presented a form of false identification to purchase alcohol.
Senate Bill 411 relates to the suppression devices used in electronic cash register sales. Such devices include software programs that falsify transaction data and “phantom-ware” that allows for electronic cash removal for one’s own benefit.
Senate Bill 418 would require that members serving on the West Virginia Parole Board must have been a state resident for at least five consecutive years and must have a degree in criminal justice, social work, sociology, psychology or sufficient experience needed to perform duties of the office.
Senate Bill 430 updates Code provisions to conform to the Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement. Among the bill’s many provisions, it would incorporate changes to the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement and add computer software maintenance contracts as a Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement.
Senate Bill 484 would promote the safety and well-being of children in situations of child abuse and neglect, family court and/or juvenile cases. The bill would also require that attorneys appointed in child abuse cases have at least eight hours of annual training and states that reasonable efforts to preserve a family is not required if a parent is a registered sex offender.
