As of 4 p.m., Thursday, January 30th, 2014, the 23rd day of the 2nd session of the 81st Legislature, 455 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Of those, 17 passed and have been sent to the House of Delegates for consideration. Among those:
Senate Bill 12 would allow expedited partner therapy, permitting prescribing antibiotics for the partner of a patient with a sexually transmitted disease without examining the partner.
Senate Bill 208 would continue the Rural Health Initiative but discontinue the rural health advisory committee and assign duties to the Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences. The requirement for creation of primary health care education sites would be deleted.
Senate Bill 209 would require county education boards to allow special needs students to participate in graduation ceremonies. Special needs students who continue with special education services after graduation can participate in the ceremonies as well. The student would have to submit a written request to do so. County boards would not be allowed to deem a special needs student ineligible for post-graduation services due to his or her participation in graduation.
Senate Bill 251 would update the Uniform Arbitration Act for modern arbitration cases. This would include whether arbitrators are required to disclose facts likely to affect impartiality, testify in another proceeding, and to what extent arbitrators or representatives are immune from civil actions. It also decides whether arbitrators have the discretion to do things such as issue protective orders, decide motion for summary dispositions, and hold prehearing conferences.
Senate Bill 310 would adjust penalties for willful failure to pay child support when he or she has the abilities to do so within six months. If found guilty of the misdemeanor, it would be a sentence of up to a year. Upon second violation, he or she would serve up to a year in prison and/or a fine from $100 to $1,000. Third conviction would require a jail sentence from 90 days to one year and/or a fine from $500 to $1,500. If the person has 12 months to supply child support and willfully does not, it would be a felony with a sentence requiring one to three years in prison and/or fined $1,000 to $5,000. If one is convicted but is not incarcerated or gainfully employed, he or she must become employed or register with WorkForce West Virginia and actively seek employment or training.
Senate Bill 316 would shorten the period when the statute of limitations is tolled for bringing third party claims while a lawsuit pends to 60 days. The defendant could bring a third party complaint after the 60 days if the cause of action against the third party was not discovered until then.
Senate Bill 359 would remove the hand canvassing requirements of electronic voting machines.
Senate Bill 373 would incorporate recommendations from the State Water Resources Management Plan into the Water Resources Protection and Management Act. This would involve changing the definition of a large quantity user to a person who uses at least 300,000 gallons of water in a 30-day period, and these users would have to submit an annual water withdrawal or usage report. Drilling contractors and well owners would have to report the depth of groundwater of drilled wells. Aboveground storage tanks would have to be registered and regulated in a program to be developed by the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.
Senate Bill 394 would change the Health Sciences Scholarship Program to the Health Sciences Service Program to reflect the program’s purpose as a job recruitment incentive for healthcare professionals working in underserved parts of West Virginia.
