House Bill 2004
House Bill 2004 relates to the submission of West Virginia’s compliance plan with the EPA’s new emission standards. The EPA set forth new rules in June of 2014 for state’s carbon emissions and requires states to create a plan to reduce these emissions. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to submit a compliance plan for both houses of the Legislature to approve of the plan. The bill also includes language for the plan to be rendered void should the EPA’s rules not be put into effect.
House Bill 2005
House Bill 2005 would reorganize and revise current laws controlling the certification of teachers through an alternative education program. The bill revises the process by which schools or school districts create and operate alternative education programs in which a person may receive a professional teacher certificate.
House Bill 2011
House Bill 2011 would change requirements of employee’s knowledge of danger to employees relating to Workmen’s Compensation payment. Currently violation of any safety statue for workers is viable for payout, even if one is not aware of the law. The bill seeks to change the doctrine of liability to deliberate intent. The bill would require proof in a legal case that employer is deliberately placing an employee in an unsafe working condition in order to claim Workmen’s Compensation. Evidence cannot be circumstantial in nature and precautions included in the equipment manuals may also not be presented before the court.
House Bill 2128
House Bill 2128 permits individuals who have been issued concealed weapons permits to keep their personal firearms in their vehicles on the grounds of the State Capitol Complex. With this bill, vehicles must be locked and the weapons should be out of normal view.
House Bill 2151
House Bill 2151 would make West Virginia’s teacher of the year a member of the Board of Education. They would be an ex officio, non-voting member of the Board. The bill also includes provisions for the governor to appoint a replacement for any vacant board member as well as compensate the teacher of the year for any expenses incurred in the duties of their membership on the Board of Education.
House Bill 2224
House Bill 2224 provides an exception for historical reenactors concerning the prohibition against a group of individuals associating themselves into a military organization. Because it is currently unlawful for any person to associate themselves into a military group or organization and reenactors technically meet that definition, this bill makes it lawful for them to associate themselves, drill, and parade with arms.
House Bill 2234
House Bill 2234 would allow a court to permit a party involved in a divorce proceeding to continue to use the name he or she used prior to the marriage without having to file a separate petition in a separate action.
House Bill 2266
House Bill 2266 would repeal sections of the state code regarding the publication requirements of administration of states. The new language would require appraisement of a property to be filed and a public notice of appraisement to be filed within thirty days of the appraisal or within 120 days of the estate opening. The estate must be filed within ninety days of the first date of publication of the appraisal. All notices must be filed as legal advertisements in the appropriate news outlet.
House Bill 2444
House Bill 2444 would provide assistance to small businesses from the West Virginia Development office. The bill provides for the assignment of economic development officers to serve as Small Business Allies to act as facilitators to assist small businesses. The bill lays outs the duties and services to be provided by the officers including assisting individuals seeking to establish and maintain a small business.
House Bill 2568
House Bill 2568 creates the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, prohibiting abortions when the gestational age of a fetus has reached a pain capable gestational age. The bill prohibits abortion past this stage except for in cases where the fetus is not medically viable or there is a medical emergency.
