As of 4 p.m., Thursday, March 28th, 2013, the 44th day of the 1st session of the 81st Legislature, 663 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Of those, 78 passed and have been sent to the House of Delegates for consideration.
Senate Bill 11 would limit the prescription size patients can receive at one time for controlled substances such as hydrocodone. Doctors would still have the ability to refill patients’ prescriptions at their discretion.
Senate Bill 80 would require certain central office administrators and supervisors to substitute teach on at least three instructional days each school year. Superintendents and those who have never held a valid teaching certificate or administrative certificate are exempt from the requirement.
Senate Bill 158 would create the Complete Streets Act. The act would ensure the safety of all travelers including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders through policies, design guidance, planning, development, construction and maintenance of roads in this state.
Senate Bill 187 would require the West Virginia Development Office to create a jobs impact statement for any proposed legislation that may have an economic impact at request of the Governor, Senate President, or House Speaker.
Senate Bill 201 would allow a healthcare provider to prescribe an antibiotic to a sexual partner(s) of a person who has been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease without first having to conduct an examination of the partner(s).
Senate Bill 336 would establish protocols and protections to help limit injuries to youth athletes and students and improve the treatment when injuries do occur. The bill would concentrate on protocols for removal and return to play following concussions in interscholastic sports.
Senate Bill 341 would require that livestock be enclosed by a fence, gate, or grate that is built to reasonably prevent livestock from escaping.
Senate Bill 371 would address the state’s prison overcrowding problem by reforming aspects of the criminal justice system. The bill seeks to address the issue of overcrowding is by reducing recidivism and expanding community sentencing options.
Senate Bill 414 would clarify who will be authorized agents for the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and provides a choice for whether county clerks will be such authorized agents.
Senate Bill 445 would enhance state revenues by allowing the State Tax Commissioner to use lottery prizes to pay the unpaid tax liabilities of lottery prize winners.
Senate Bill 461 would address children witnesses in domestic relations cases, abuse and neglect cases, and criminal cases. The bill would allow the courts to accommodate a child witness by adjusting the timing of the testimony, allowing the witness to have a toy while testifying, allowing the witness to have a support person nearby while testifying when the court finds it is needed for reliable testimony or the parties agree, and permits the court to relax formalities.
Senate Bill 496 would provide certain people who provided commodities and/or services to the state, but were not paid because the agency involved overspent its budget.
Senate Bill 534 would correct an internal reference in the code regarding insurance information disclosure. The bill would make clear that providing certain required information is not a violation of the insurer’s responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of consumer financial and health information.
Senate Bill 538 removes the requirement that state, county, and local law enforcement agencies maintain a confidential file of domestic violence orders. This change is due to a new statewide database.
Senate Bill 584 would authorize the establishment of pretrial release programs as part of community corrections in any county, court or combination thereof for the purpose of reviewing pretrial criminal defendants in regional jails and making recommendations for release of those awaiting trial based on their low risk of flight and risk of danger to the community.
