As of 4 p.m., Friday, February 24, 2017, the 17th day of the regular session of the 83rd Legislature, 441 bills have been introduced in the West Virginia Senate. Of those bills, 16 have passed this week and have been sent to the House for further consideration. Among those:
Senate Bill 41 would extend the total number of years that a person may be subject to a period of probation to seven years from five.
Senate Bill 113 would authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to promulgate a legislative rule relating to Awarding of Matching Grants for Local Litter Control Programs.
Senate Bill 116 would authorize the Governor’s Committee on Crime, Delinquency and Correction to promulgate a legislative rule relating to Law-Enforcement Training and Certification Standards.
Senate Bill 134 would authorize the Division of Natural Resources to promulgate a legislative rule relating to the Point System for the Revocation of Hunting – Repeal.
Senate Bill 172 would eliminate the $12,000 salary for members of the West Virginia Water Development Board.
Senate Bill 182 would provide procedures to prevent the disqualification of low bids for government construction contracts due to documentation technicalities.
Senate Bill 188 would correct the definition of “telehealth” in the medication assisted treatment portion of the Code.
Senate Bill 202 would limit pawnbrokers from purchasing or receiving gift cards as a pawn.
Senate Bill 215 would give county commissions the authority to amend the proposed rates, fees, and charges, in its sole discretion, proposed by public service districts.
Senate Bill 222 would provide that an individual is disqualified for unemployment benefits for any week, or portion of a week, in which he or she left or lost his or her job as a result of a strike. The bill also clarifies that a lockout is not a strike.
Senate Bill 240 would create the crime of distribution of nude and sexually explicit images when the person depicted has an expectation of privacy.
Senate Bill 242 would require that the instructional term for students begin no earlier than August 10, and end no later than June 10, except for schools operating on a balanced calendar. The bill also increases number of two-hour blocks for faculty senate meetings from four to six and permits accrued minutes to be used for lost instructional days.
Senate Bill 247 would allow a prosecuting attorney to designate and deliver grand jury records to law-enforcement officers or investigators for investigative purposes.
Senate Bill 248 would clarify the composition and chairmanship of the Commission on Special Investigations, among other clarifications and establishments for the commission.
Senate Bill 249 would require additional information in an abstract of judgment, including the address, last four digits of the Social Security number, and the date of birth of the judgment debtor.
Senate Bill 325 would clarify licensing for the use of a crossbow during crossbow deer season.
Additional Senate Bills
Senate Bill 18 would require ACT and ACT Aspire to be used as the official comprehensive statewide student assessment.
Senate Bill 44 would allow West Virginia voters in presidential elections to express opposition to all candidates by voting for “none of these candidates.”
Senate Bill 51 would require health care providers and facilities to notify a patient when a mammogram indicates dense breast tissue.
Senate Bill 53 would allow adult adoptees and their lineal descendants to access adoption records regarding the biological parents and to repeal the voluntary adoption registry.
Senate Bill 74 would allow fire companies or fire departments to assess fees to reimburse the fire company or fire department responding to calls for assistance when: the property is not within a county having a fire levy or the property is assessed the county’s or municipality’s fire service fee and the fire service fee is not delinquent.
Senate Bill 77 would prohibit discrimination based upon age or sexual orientation with respect to employment, public accommodations and housing accommodations.
Senate Bill 166 would require protective fencing to be included in any new construction of an overpass, and to require commissioner to promulgate rules to effectuate section’s purposes.
Senate Bill 189 would establish that shared legal and physical custody of a child in cases of divorce is presumed to be in the best interests of the child.
Senate Bill 212 would transfer the administration of license suspension and revocation in cases where an individual is charged with driving under the influence to the courts, instead of the Division of Motor Vehicles.
Senate Bill 218 would place restrictions on the use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones), as well as provide criminal offenses and penalties for certain conduct while using a drone.
Senate Bill 245 would permit natural gas companies to enter private property without prior consent from the owner for the limited purposes of obtaining data to comply with regulatory requirements or to survey land for pipeline development. This bill also requires natural gas companies to request permission to inspect property and to provide owner notice of intent to enter property prior to entry.
Senate Bill 296 would strengthen and establish criminal offenses relating to human trafficking by creating felony offenses and penalties for using an individual in forced labor, debt bondage, and commercial sexual activity, among other provisions of the bill.
Senate Bill 312 would establish a four-year pilot program to have social workers in public schools, from prekindergarten through the elementary school, as well as require a minimum of one social worker per county.
Senate Bill 327 would provide for teaching certificates for teachers whose spouses are married to a member of the Armed Forces who is on active duty stationed in the state.
Senate Bill 341 would establish a tax credit for West Virginia small businesses located in low-income communities.
Senate Bill 342 would provide compensation to victims of abusive lawsuits and provide that a party in a civil action is entitled to recover attorney’s fees and costs after a court dismisses a claim as lacking any basis in law or fact.
Senate Bill 357 would waive the license for a hunting or fishing license or trapping permit for individuals who are currently serving as volunteer firefighters.
Senate Bill 359 would provide exemptions from mandatory immunizations for children, students and employees.
Senate Bill 386 would authorize the prescription and use of medicinal cannabis in West Virginia.
Senate Bill 397 would grant sovereign immunity to healthcare workers who provide free medical care to low-income citizens or provide Medicaid services to low-income families.
