West Virginians Express Opinions on Legislation in order to Make a Difference
This year, public hearings have been at an all-time high compared previous legislative sessions. A public hearing gives the citizens an opportunity to learn, and even possibly speak to, a bill that is being considered for passage and eventually become law.
Earlier in the session joint public hearings were held on “same as bills” that have been introduced in both chambers on the issues of public charter schools (SB 14/HB 2014) and medical professional liability (SB 6/ HB 2006). These public hearings allowed the public and stakeholders the opportunity to better understand these bills and to even voice their opinions. These hearings can also provide lawmakers with a new perspective.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson) said, “This session a lot more issues are being addressed and advanced, which has led to an influx of public hearings here in the Legislature. With public hearings the public is granted the opportunity to voice their concerns in a more personal fashion and it gives them a sense of certainty that their legislators are listening.”
This week alone, six public hearings were held by various House committees on a number of topics. House Majority Leader Delegate Daryl Cowles (R-Morgan) said “Public hearings have long been a part of the process in the House for bills of heightened importance. This year we have had a great deal of input from citizens through the public hearing process. It is important to gather citizen input and this year we are considering numerous important bills to improve our state government- listening intently to the citizens.”
House Judiciary held a public hearing on House Bill 2289 which relates to the requirements governing water quality standards in the state. The bill still sits in the Judiciary committee.
House Government Organization held a public hearing earlier this week regarding House Bill 2208, relating to local smoking restrictions. This bill would ensure that only government officials elected by voters to serve on a county commission would have the power to regulate smoking. It would also create a process by which local boards of health may make formal recommendations for smoking ordinances to county commissions.
The public hearing regarding drug testing for recipients of federal and state assistance stirred up a lot of interest this week. House Bill 2021 would implement drug testing for all recipients of certain public assistance from state or federal sources.
Prevailing wage has been a focal point for discussion in the Legislature the past couple of weeks and a public hearing on Thursday addressed it. As introduced, Senate Bill 361 would have eliminate the prevailing hourly wage requirement for construction of public projects. Lawmakers in the Senate reached a compromise to not repeal the prevailing wage law but to allow the prevailing wage to be calculated by WorkForce West Virginia with guidance from economists at West Virginia University and Marshall University.
During a 60-day Regular Session where nearly 2,000 bills get introduced each year, it is important to get as much input into the issues before them as possible. Public hearings are another way for lawmakers to solicit information and involve their constituency, making the process more transparent and closer to the people.
