As of 4 p.m., Friday, March 24, 2017, the 52nd day of the regular session of the 83rd Legislature, 1108 bills have been introduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Of those, bills 103 have passed this week in the House and have been sent to the Senate for consideration. Among those:
Com. Sub. for S. B. 36 would allow school nurses to possess and administer opioid antagonists at school. The bill has passed in the House and the bill will be sent back to the Senate.
S. B. 41 would extend the total number of years that a person may be subject to a period of probation to seven years. The bill passed in the House and will be sent back to the Senate.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2195 would require county boards of education to implement comprehensive drug awareness and prevention programs for all student in grades K through 12. The bill is pending in Senate Education.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2363 would require that a state employee with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) have a yearly medical evaluation certification. The bill is pending in Senate Government Organization.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2428 would establish more substance abuse treatment services in the state. It would also create the Ryan Brown Addiction Prevention and Recovery Fund. The bill is pending in Senate Health and Human Resources.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2708 would allow persons with developmental disabilities to receive a base hunting license after receiving an onsite training. The bill also would authorize person with developmental disabilities to lawfully hunt while accompanied and directly supervised by a licensed hunter. The bill has been sent to the Senate for more consideration.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 3080 would institute a “Celebrate Freedom Week” and require the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and other founding documents to be taught during the week. The bill is now pending in Senate Education.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2002 would modify the law requiring parental notification of abortion laws performed on minors, who are not emancipated.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2453 would expand the list of persons the Commissioner of Agriculture may license to grow or cultivate industrial hemp. The bill is pending in Senate Agriculture and Rural Development.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2520 would prohibit the use of tanning beds or other devices by minors (those under the age of 18). The bill is pending in Senate Health and Human Resources.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2711 would eliminate the Regional Education Service Agencies (RESA) and funding by July 1, 2017. It would eliminate the office of Education Performance Audits. It would establish the County Superintendents’ Advisory Council; it would also provide authority for county school systems to share services. The bill is pending in Senate Education
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2771 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 this state. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Education Committee.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2930 would allow a Powerball winner to be anonymous if they elect to be anonymous.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 3102 would permit the Secretary of DHHR to sell Hopemont Hospital and its assets. The bills would ensure the transfer of patients and the construction of a replacement facility. The bill is pending in Senate Health and Human Resources.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2763 would require the approval by the Council for Community and Technical College Education of acquisitions, bequests, donations, construction of new buildings, repairs, renovations or lease payments over the lifetime of the lease which exceed $1 million, if made or accepted by the institution’s research corporation or an affiliated foundation. The bill is pending in Senate Education.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2799 would prohibit the superintendent of schools from requiring a student appear before him or her for the minor to receive a work permit. This bill is to keep from students being removed from school in order to receive a permit. The bill is currently pending in Senate Education.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2966 would create the West Virginia Sentencing Commission, as a standing sub-committee pf the Governor’s committee on crime, delinquency, and correction. The bill is currently pending in Senate Judiciary.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 3028 would create the Office of Drug Control Policy under the director of the Secretary of DHHR and require that office develop a strategic plan. The department would coordinate information, resources, programs, and funds. The bill puts in code public health and education initiatives and pilot programs to prevent and treat substance abuse. The bill would also transfer the responsibility for the Controlled Substance Monitoring Program to this office. This bill is currently pending in Senate Health and Human Resources.
Postponed
Com. Sub. for S. B. 437 would discontinue the West Virginia Racing Commission special account known as the West Virginia Greyhound Breeding Development Fund and transfer all moneys in the West Virginia Greyhound Breeding Development Fund to the state Excess Lottery Revenue Fund for appropriation by the Legislature. Action was postponed on this bill one day. It is on third reading in the House.
Rejected
H. B. 3088 would remove teacher-pupil ratio requirements for grade six classes, and require the West Virginia Board of Education to collect and report class size information and number of pupils per teacher for grade six classes to the Legislative Oversight Committee on Education Accountability. The bill was rejected in the House. Com. Sub. for H. B. 2816 would eliminate the new film tax credits. It would also eliminate the exemption from consumer sales and service tax. It also would increase the rate of barrel tax on nonintoxicating beer. This bill was rejected by the House.
