As of 4 p.m., Thursday, February 27th, 2014, the 51st day of the 2nd session of the 81st Legislature, 631 bills have been introduced in the Senate. Of those, 146 passed and have been sent to the House of Delegates for consideration.
Senate Bill 252 would allow certain students that are expelled to return to school through the Juvenile Drug Court. Under provisions of the bill, parents, principals, superintendent and a county-board would have the authority to refer an expelled student to the Juvenile Drug Court. Upon successful completion of a certification given by the Juvenile Drug Court, the judge would notify the county superintendent and the student must be reinstated in school by the third day after notification.
Senate Bill 254 would set minimum care requirements that the Livestock Care Board must follow for equine boarding facilities. The minimum care requirements for boarding facilities would be an adequate amount of fresh, clean water, fresh hay and pasture sufficient for grazing, clean bedding, sufficient exercise and structures for shelter.
Senate Bill 391 would increase the salaries of teachers and school service personnel. By the fiscal year 2019, it is the goal of the Legislature to increase the salary of an entry level teacher to $43,000. The bill provides pay increase increments for teachers and school employees. School service personnel salary’s would increase by 2 percent.
Senate Bill 409 proposes to align school and school system accreditation and modify the time frame for county and school strategic plans. This bill would also add duties of the Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical College Education.
Senate Bill 425 would update licensing, supervision and regulation of physician assistants. The current law regarding physician assistants hasn’t been updated in 30 years. The bill provides that a physician assistant does not need to be under direct supervision of a doctor but does have to be supervised. An agreement between the doctor and the physician assistant would be required, clarifying what the physician assistant can and cannot perform.
Senate Bill 455 would create the Move to Improve Act. This bill is in response to legislative findings of poor health statistics among children in West Virginia. This proposes that elementary schools and middle schools require no less than 30 minutes of daily physical activity. Physical education programs would be required to be submitted to the county board for approval.
Senate Bill 461 would create the West Virginia Future Fund. The proposal provides that 25 percent of oil and natural gas tax revenue over $175 million would be placed in a long-term investment fund to accumulate interest until 2020. The WV Future Fund is modeled off of North Dakota’s Legacy Fund which has accumulated over $1 billion in funds in just three years.
Senate Bill 467 would update a code that relates to criminal conviction expungement. The bill would prevent a person who has been convicted of domestic violence from seeking criminal record expungement.
Senate Bill 469 would create the Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture Fund. The proposal would give authority to the Department of Agriculture to fund and maintain programs that would encourage, support and develop agricultural opportunities for veterans of West Virginia.
Senate Bill 523 would build a skilled nursing facility in Beckley for West Virginia veterans. The Department of Agriculture would give land for construction based on an agreement with the Department of Veterans. The facility would be equipped with 120 beds and a staff of skilled nurses. The construction and the facility would be funded by the Veterans Lottery Fund, Veterans Nursing Home Building Fund and the Veterans Nursing Home Debt Service Fund.
Senate Bill 539 would allow a law-enforcement officer with the proper and legal licensing, to carry a firearm while employed as a school security guard.
Senate Bill 552 would increase the minimum penalties for transporting Schedule I and II narcotics into the state. The purpose of this bill is to give judges more discretion when deciding the appropriate sentence by adding that the maximum sentence of 15 years.
Senate Bill 579 would improve land and housing development in West Virginia. The bill provides all municipalities and counties an option to create a land banking program. This program would eliminate and address vacant, delinquent or foreclosed properties.
Senate Bill 600 would give municipalities authority to require owners of vacant buildings to maintain the vacant buildings.
Senate Bill 603 relates to methane detection in underground mines and makes three changes. Methane in underground mines would require a handheld detection device. Acceptable methane levels would increase from 1.25 percent to 1.5 percent. If levels are 1.5 percent, extraction equipment must de-energize automatically.
Senate Bill 621 would allow insurance providers to offer flood insurance in West Virginia. The proposal provides coverage limits, rate options, and requires an insurer to notify and file a plan of operation with the Insurance Commissioner.
