As of 4 p.m., Thursday, January 30th, 2014, the 23rd day of the 2nd session of the 81st Legislature, 1001 bills have been introduced in the House. Of those, 16 of those have passed and have been sent to the Senate for further consideration. A sample of these bills includes:
House Bill 2387 would allow people who have disabilities or are handicapped to keep assistive animals in their home. This specifically relates to housing complexes that have pet policies that would otherwise not allow this. To qualify a person needs a document from a licensed professional.
House Bill 2954 would require that members of the Mine Safety Technology Task Force are paid the same compensation and reimbursement as members of the Legislature.
House Bill 2966 would prohibit employers from requiring access to an employees personal accounts and wrongful termination if the employee doesn’t give access to those account. This bill would essentially protect an employee from having to give username or passwords for personal account through fear of consequences.
House Bill 4006 would increase penalties for possession and distribution of child pornography. This proposal would also include penalties for offenders who intentionally view, possess, distribute or transmit a large quantity of images and increases penalties for second offenses.
House Bill 4139 would restrict parental rights of a child of that child was conceived through sexual abuse or assault. This proposal restricts child custody and visitation with a natural parent that has been convicted of sexual assault unless the victim consents.
House Bill 4175 would provide protection to small businesses from the financial effects of emergencies. This bill would expand the Governor’s power in order to give financial protection to small businesses.
House Bill 4338 would require regional jail programs be the same as programs in a corrections facility. Due to overcrowding, many inmates that are supposed to be at a correctional facility end up serving time in a regional facility and don’t receive the same education and rehabilitation programs they would have originally benefitted from if it wasn’t for overcrowding.
House Bill 4339 would ensure money from Solid Waste Authority Closure Cost Assistance Fund is available to close the Elkins-Randolph County landfill and the Webster County Landfill.
House Bill 4340 would provide an exception to provisions of the West Virginia Ethics Act for elected Conservation District Supervisors who participate in the West Virginia Conservation Agency Agricultural Enhancement Program. The Conservation District Supervisors can’t consider, act or vote on matters that affect the elected supervisor or his or her immediate family.
House Bill 4342 would allow nurses and midwives to write prescriptions. This bill would amend a code of West Virginia that states only licensed physicians can write prescriptions and would allow for nurses to write prescriptions without the consent of a physician.
House Bill 4343 would create the West Virginia Project Launchpad Act, a program to attract businesses and people back to the state after the decline of the coal industry. This proposal would allow counties and cities to apply for the launchpad program which would give local and state tax breaks to businesses and workers that qualify for the program.
House Bill 4344 would amend the human trafficking statute. This bill protects the victim from prosecution and conforms to a Human Trafficking bill that was approved by the Uniformed Law Commission and the ABA of the House.
House Bill 4346 would establish separate standards of performance for carbon dioxide emissions. This proposal establishes different standards for carbon dioxide emissions for coal burning electric generators and natural gas burning electric generators based on efficiency and reduction of emissions.
House Bill 4348 would enhance civil legal services for the poor. This proposal would add fees in circuit courts to provide support for civil legal service for low-income people.
House Bill 4352 would require entities that receive public money for economic development much file an annual report. This bill would ensure that public money is being used to provide jobs and economic benefits.
House Bill 4355 would prohibit an employer from asking whether an applicant for employment has been convicted of a criminal offense unless harm could be done to an individual or the public.
House Bill 4377 would give DUI offenders an alternative to license revocation. A DUI offender can use an Alcohol Test and Lock device installed in their car that wouldn’t allow the car to start unless they have had any alcohol.
