As of 4 p.m., Friday, March 4, 2016 the 52nd day of the second session of the 82nd Legislature, 1182 bills have been introduced in the House. Of those, 218 have passed and have been sent to the Senate for further consideration, and 13 have completed legislation. Among those:
House Bill 4352 (Relating to the selling of certain state owned health care facilities by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources) would work to authorize the selling of certain state owned health care facilities by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources. The bill proved that expenditures from the fund are not authorized from collections deposited in the fund but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature.
House Bill 4463 (Permitting the practice of telemedicine) the purpose of the bill is to permit the practice of telemedicine. The bill establishes requirements and makes exceptions. The bill also defines terms and authorizes rulemaking. The bill has since been communicated to the Senate.
House Bill 4505 (Allowing powerball winners to remain anonymous) would work to allow a powerball winner to be anonymous if they elect to be anonymous. The bill also provides an exemption under FOIA if a person elects anonymity. The bill has been communicated to the Senate for consideration.
House Bill 4240 (Relating to the Uniform Controlled Substances Act) would work to increase the penalties and mandatory minimum sentences for drug traffickers bringing drugs into the state and for distributing drugs. The enhanced penalties apply to those individuals previously been convicted of a drug offense who are in possession of a certain threshold of drugs at the time of arrest.
House Bill 4271 (Ending discretionary transfers to the Licensed Racetrack Modernization Fund) would work to end discretionary transfers to the Licensed Racetrack Modernization Fund. If this bill were enacted, these transfers of up to $9 million annually, which were to be permitted through July 1, 2020, would no longer be permitted; the Licensed Racetrack Modernization Fund would be closed; and the fund’s balance would be transferred to the General Revenue Fund of the state. The bill would also close the Historic Resort Hotel Modernization Fund and would transfer that fund’s balance to the General Revenue Fund as well.
House Bill 4307 (Clarifying that a fireman may by carried for self defense in state parks, state parks, state forests and state recreational area) would work to clarify that a firearm may be carried for self defense in state parks, state forests and state recreational areas managed by the Department of Natural Resources. The bill is now being considered in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
House Bill 4428 (Clarifying that optometrists may continue to exercise the same prescriptive authority which they possessed prior to hydrocodone being reclassified) would work to permit the pharmaceutical certified licensee, certified optometrist, to prescribe hydrocodone and hydrocodone containing drugs, for a duration of no more than three days.
House Bill 4507 (Providing an employer may grant preference in hiring to a veteran or disabled veteran) would work to provide an employer may grant preference in hiring to a veteran or disabled veteran without violating the state Human Rights Act. The bill defines the term “veteran” for purposes of the allowable preference in hiring.
House Bill 4561 (Creating a special hiring process for West Virginia Division of Highway employees) would work to require the Commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Highways and the Director of the West Virginia Division of Personnel to collaborate to develop a special hiring process for Division of Highway positions; to exempt the West Virginia Division of Highways from regular State Personnel Board Procedures upon implementation of the special hiring process; to establish requirements for the special hiring process; and to establish reporting requirements.
House Bill 4577 (Creating an additional penalty for use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense) would work to create an additional penalty for use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense. The bill additionally includes a heightened penalty if the firearm is discharged.
House Bill 4035 (Permitting pharmacists to furnish naloxone hydrochloride) would allow pharmacists to furnish opioid antagonists upon request by those who know someone who could be a potential candidate for drug overdose. The drug provides people with the ability to help prevent death by overdose. Additionally, the bill would require that those requesting access to the drug be trained to properly administer as well as in the potential signs of drug overdose.
House Bill 4046 (Relating to the promulgation of rules by the Department of Administration) would authorize certain agencies to publicize certain legislative rules with modifications presented to and recommended by the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. Additionally it would allow the Department of Administration to repeal certain legislative, procedural or interpretative rules that are no longer authorized or are obsolete.
House Bill 4168 (Creating a special motor vehicle collector license plate) would authorize the commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue a special motor vehicle collector license plate. The bill would also establish requirements for issuance, establishing fees, and providing requirements and conditions for use of the plate on a collector motor vehicle.
House Bill 4196 (Relating to abandoned antique vehicles) would allow automobile auctions to obtain titles to abandoned vehicles, and create a process by which an automobile auction may obtain a salvage certificate or an unrepairable motor vehicle certificate for vehicles abandoned on its property.
House Bill 4239 (Relating to construction of a modern highway from Pikeville, Kentucky to Beckley, West Virginia) would develop a highway project plan for the extension of the state of Kentucky’s Mountain Parkway Expansion project from the eastern Kentucky border with West Virginia into Mercer County and Raleigh County. The bill would also require the commissioner of highways to develop the highway project plan, quarterly progress/status reports and a full report to the legislature by the first day of the 2017 session.
House Bill 4246 (Changing the Martinsburg Public Library to the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library) would change the Martinsburg Public Library to the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library and would make changes in the current law to be consistent with the change of name in relation to the creation of a library board with the power to operate the public library. The bill also provides a stable method of financing the operation of the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library.
House Bill 4301 (Relating to a framework for initiating comprehensive transformation of school leadership) would initiate comprehensive transformation of school leadership and make legislative findings that provide a context for leadership that promotes instructional improvement.
House Bill 4308 (Barring persons who are convicted of certain criminal offenses from acquiring property from their victims) would bar persons who are convicted of certain criminal offenses from acquiring property form their victims through joint tenancy or inheritance. The bill would also create exceptions.
House Bill 4364 (Internet Privacy Protection Act) would protect the privacy of personal electronic data for employees and applicants for employment, and to authorize employers to investigate to ensure compliance with applicable protections of certain business information.
House Bill 4435 (Authorizing the Public Service Commission to approve expedited cost recovery of electric utility coal-fired boiler modernization and improvement projects) would modernize and improve coal-fired boilers at electric power plants and provide procedure for expedited cost recovery of electric utility coal-fired boiler modernization and improvement projects deemed just and reasonable and in the public interest.
House Bill 4537 (Relating to the regulation of chronic pain clinics) would update the definitions and exemptions and clarify hearing notice procedures with regard to the regulation of chronic pain clinics.
House Bill 4586 (Ensuring that the interest of protected persons, incarcerated persons and unknown owners are protected in condemnation actions filed by the Division of Highways) would ensure that the interest of protected persons, incarcerated persons and unknown owners are protected in condemnation actions filed by the Division of Highways. The bill would require the appointment of a limited guardian if a protected person is not otherwise represented and an attorney to represent an incarcerated person who is not otherwise represented in a condemnation action. The bill would also clarify that the process set out in the eminent domain statute must be followed rather than other requirements related to disposition of a protected person’s or inmate’s real property.
