Jan. 18-22, 2010 Session Bills Reviewed

By Howard M. O’Cull, Ed.D.,
West Virginia School Boards Association Executive Director

Listed below are West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates bills introduced Jan. 18-22, 2010, during the first full week of the Second Regular Session of the 79th West Virginia Legislature.

Bills are listed topically, beginning with public education bills. A series of education-related bills follow. Lastly, some measures are cited briefly. Senate bills are listed first.

A total 17 bills are reviewed.

For a copy of any bill, please contact WVSBA: 304.346.0571. You also may contact me at hocull@wvsba.org

Bills are posted on the West Virginia Legislature’s Web site: http://www.legis.state.wv.us

Editor’s Note: Listing is not exhaustive.

 

PUBLIC EDUCATION

County boards/superintendents

 

Governmental Agencies would be able to issue revenue bonds secured by lottery revenue in order to construct public projects

 

Senate Bill 163. Proposed §13-2H-1 et. seq. would authorize county commissions, municipalities and county boards that receive lottery revenues to issue bonds secured by such lottery revenues to construct public projects.

According to the Bill Note, this would allow county commissions, municipalities and boards of education to “construct more public projects which creates jobs and stimulates the economy.”

The bill would pertain to county boards “…of a growth county…which has enacted the Local Powers Act and in which county a racetrack is located that has participated in the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund since on or before January 1, 1991, and is receiving lottery revenues.”

There are several other provisions.

Sponsored by Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha. Introduced Jan. 13. Referred to Senate Finance.
NOTE: This bill appears identical to Senate Bill 163 which was introduced last week.

Sponsored by Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha. Introduced Jan. 20. Referred to Senate Finance.
NOTE: Senate Bill 163 had a double reference – Senate Government Organization then Senate Finance.

Reference: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB237 intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=237

The Senate Bill 163 reference is http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB163 intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=163

Similar proposals have been introduced/considered in a past legislative session or sessions.

Higher Education Policy Commission

Tax credit would be granted to higher education graduates for portions of interest paid on student loans

 

Senate Bill 324. §11-13AA-1, -2, -3, and -4 and revised §11-21-12 would establish a tax credit for graduates of a higher education institution for a portion of the interest paid on student loans.

These are among bill provisions:

1. The legislation is designed to address a “demographic problem due to the inability of our state in the past two decades to attract and retain the younger generation into our state.”
2. The result, as laid out in the bill’s “Legislative Findings,” is that “The loss of young professionals and skilled workers is a self perpetuating cycle and requires decisive and creative action to reverse the trend… (and is) “critical to the future success of our state's economy, communities and intellectual infrastructure;
3. States are in a “stiff competition for the coveted younger demographic and are employing innovative strategies to create an economy and community attractive to this younger generation;
4. “The increase of intellectual capital through the attraction of the younger generation will enable the state to become more attractive to national and global companies to relocate to the State of West Virginia;
5. “(By providing) the younger generation with an incentive to live, work, and play in West Virginia will increase the intellectual capital of the state and combat the demographic problem currently facing West Virginia and is therefore in the best interest of the State of West Virginia.”

These are among other bill provisions:

• The measure would provide for a $500 tax credit paid in a particular “tax year.”
• “If the tax credit…exceeds the taxpayer liability…for that taxable year, the excess may be applied for succeeding taxable years until… (the full amount of the tax credit is used (or) the taxpayer reaches (age 40)…” whichever occurs first.
• Credits would be subject to “recapture, elimination or reduction” if the Tax Commissioner determines that a taxpayer was not eligible for the credit.
• Legislative rules are to be developed in regard to implementing the proposed statute.
• An existing statute would be amended to establish the modification in federal adjusted gross income for recent higher education graduates.

There are five Senate sponsors, including lead sponsor Sen. McCabe. Introduced Jan. 21. Referred to Senate Education then Senate Finance.

Reference: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB324 intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=324

Similar proposals have been introduced/considered in a past legislative session or sessions.

 

Measure would provide services and facilities to assist student veterans attending state institutions of higher education

 

Senate Bill 325. Proposed §18B-4-9 would provide services and facilities to U.S. Armed Forces veterans, based on their possible “…unique needs, issues and concerns that most traditional students do not have” due to “… (veterans’) post 911 era of service in the Armed Forces,” including “…multiple deployments to active duty, including overseas deployment, resulting in many unique issues and challenges for those veterans in their pursuit of higher education.”

Legislative findings

The intent of the legislation, as outlined in a series of “Legislative Findings,” is to require “…state institutions of higher education (to) provide adequate services and facilities to better serve the unique issues and needs facing the increasing number of these student veterans and to make West Virginia's institutions of higher education ‘veteran friendly.’”

‘Veteran friendly’

HEPC facilities In order ensure that higher education institutions are "veteran friendly,” the following “…academic and social support and assistance…” initiates would be established, namely:

1. “(Establishment of) "veteran friendly" community and technical college degree programs which recognize and award academic credit toward degrees for various types of technical and vocational military training and experience;
2. (Development of) programs to facilitate veteran students in the sharing of their unique knowledge and experience in the military through public school programs and local community organizations;
3. (Establishment) and (sponsorship of) an organization for student veterans on campus and (encouragement of) other ‘veteran friendly’ organizations;
4. (Appointment) and (training) of specific faculty within each degree program or major as liaisons and contacts for student veterans;
5. (Development of) state policies for all institutions of higher education for evaluation of academic credit for student veteran experiences;
6. (Establishment of) a program to provide information about the Regents Bachelor of Arts Degree program to student veterans and potential student veterans;
7. (Coordination of) existing disability services on campus with veteran disability services available from the Veterans Administration, other federal and state agencies and from private resources;

   Counselors

8. (Provision of) counselors on each campus trained to effectively respond to unique needs of veterans and to provide services or provide referrals to services to fulfill these needs for student veterans and develop training materials available for continued professional development to respond to student veteran needs;
9. (Facilitation of) regular statewide meetings for all personnel at state institutions of higher education who regularly provide specific services to student veterans to discuss and develop ‘best practices,’ (through exchanging) ideas and experiences and (hearing) presentations by presenters with generally accepted expertise in areas of the various needs of student veterans;
10. (Establishing) a policy or procedure to periodically appraise appropriate state and federal agencies of the status of student veterans in West Virginia;
11. (Establishing) a program to create a corroborative relationship between student veterans with alumni of the institution and with prospective employers to facilitate and provide employment as well as social opportunities to graduating student veterans; and
12. (Developing and facilitating) communications between state institutions of higher education and various veteran organizations in the state to advance veteran causes that benefit student veterans.”

Various reportage relating to the program is to be submitted to the Legislature annually.

There are five Senate sponsors, including lead sponsor Sen. Erik Wells, D-Kanawha. Introduced Jan. 21. Referred to Senate Military then Senate Education.

Reference: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB325 intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=325

The House companion measure is House Bill 4145. There are four House sponsors, including lead sponsor Del. Richard J. Iaquinta, D-Harrison. Introduced Jan. 20. Referred to House Veteran Affairs and Homeland Security then House Education.

Reference: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb4145 intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=4145

 

Teachers Retirement System (TRS)

TRS bill relates to qualification for total and permanent disability retirement; also applies to PERS members

 

Senate Bill 331. Proposed revisions to §18-7A-25 and §5-10-25 would clarify circumstances in which members of the Teachers Retirement System as well as the Public Employees Retirement System may qualify for total and permanent disability retirement.

Under terms of the legislation one would not be eligible for total and/or permanent disability retirement by reason of an “personal injury or disease not due to viscous habits, intemperance or willful misconduct on (his or her) part.”

Sponsored by Sen. Dan Foster, D-Kanawha. Introduced Jan. 21. Referred to Senate Pensions then Senate Finance.

Reference: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB321 intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=321

Similar proposals have been introduced/considered in a past legislative session or sessions.

 

Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA)

 

Higher education governing boards would have options other than PEIA participation for insurance coverage, including self-insurance

 

House Bill 4163. Proposed revisions to §5-16-22 would allow higher education governing boards to (1) participate in the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) program for insureds, another “third-party provided insurance program or, in the alternative, the boards may separately self-insure…”

There are three (3) House sponsors, including lead sponsor Del. Alex Shook, D-Monongalia. Introduced Jan. 22. Referred to House Education then House Finance.

Reference: Unavailable on the West Virginia’s Website.

 

EDUCATION-RELATED

Child Welfare

 

Measure relates to foster care program; creates “Jacob’s Law”

 

House Bill 4164. The purpose of this legislation is to create a pilot program for the placement of children 4- to 10-years old in foster care.

As part of is Legislative Findings, the legislation states, the needs of “young children are not always adequately addressed when the Department of Health and Human Resources is required to take custody of them.”

Legislative Findings

The bill’s “Legislative Findings” also conclude “the behavior of young children taken from their homes pose special challenges for (DHHR) and other individuals who are charged with their care,” meaning, “(DHHR) must take extraordinary precautions to prevent serious emotional damage to these children…”

Under terms of the legislation, which concludes DHHR has resources within its department, that can be “redirected to meet the needs of the proposed program,” the agency is to select “four regions in which to implement a pilot program” to address foster care for children 4- to-10-years old “immediately after removal from their homes by (DHHR) and who may be in crisis.”

Program components are to include early intervention, development of a short- and “on-going” long-term plan for each child, evaluation for emotional and physical trauma and “other medical, educational, dental and other needs, in a timely manner.”

‘Independent advocate’

Each such child is to be assigned an “independent advocate” and the child is to be exempt from the Behavioral Health Medicaid Administrative Services contract. Instead, the child is to be “reviewed” by the Bureau of Children and Families for approval for reimbursement.

Placement plans are to address “abandonment, separation anxiety, post-traumatic stress and other emotional and physical needs of the child” and be developed by “appropriately trained professional staff.”

Additionally, various state agencies, including the state Department of Education, are to participate in the program as well as “community program and other appropriate agencies providing services to children ages (4-10).”

‘Specialized Foster Care Program’

A “Specialized Foster Care Program” would be developed during an “initial evaluation period.”

It is to be developed to include “crisis intervention staff with trained and educated professional individuals who know how to manage a child’s reaction to trauma and the crisis of being removed from the custody of a parent, parents or other guardians, with emphasis on the child’s emotional needs instead of reactive behavior.”

The number of children in “one location” would be limited to “(2) or (3) foster children at a time,” with a “greater number (being) permitted if all of the children are siblings.”

After development of the short- and long-term plans, DHHR is to provide foster parents “training and education in the plan.”

DHHR is also responsible for “training the foster parent on how to respond to the child’s emotional crisis and how to understand the child’s crisis reactive behavior… (and) to evaluate the foster family on its understanding of the need for early intervention and the need for appropriate crisis management.”

‘Crisis Call System’

DHHR, in order to implement various segments of the legislation, is to create/train a “team” to provide crisis intervention which is to include a “call system” whereby foster parents or foster children may “speak to a team member or other appropriately trained professional during a crisis.”

If the crisis cannot be resolved via the telephone call, home visits would be required of a team member as would a “follow-up” visit within two days to “meet with the parents and child, individually, to determine the crisis was satisfactorily resolved.”

External evaluation

DHHR is required to develop a system to “evaluate the pilot program for outcomes and standards of care,” reporting results to “public, private and community partners.”

Evaluative information, to be conducted by external evaluators, is to be provided to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Government and Finance.

The bill specifies several components of evaluative criteria, including an “analysis of the impact of the pilot program on the child’s emotional stability including the number of placements the child experiences and the basis for required moves.”

There are 10 sponsors, including lead sponsor Del. Barbara A. Hatfield, D-Kanawha. Introduced Jan. 22. Referred to House Health and Human Resources then House Finance.

Reference: Unavailable on the West Virginia’s Website.

 

Elections

 

Write-in voters would have to pay a filing fee

 

Senate Bill 334. Proposed revisions to §3-6-4a would require write-in candidates to pay a filing fee equal to “(25 percent) of the amount required (under other sections of Code) for the particular office sought by the write-in candidate.”

There are other provisions.

Sponsored by Sen. Bob Williams, D-Taylor. Introduced Jan. 21. Referred to Senate Judiciary then Senate Finance.

Reference: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB334 intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=334

 

Governmental Entities

 

Public Land Corporation would be able to enter into leases relating to mineral rights that will benefit governmental entities

 

Senate Bill 238. Proposed revisions to §5A-11-3 and –6 would allow the Public Land Corporation to enter into leases and contracts regarding mineral rights on behalf of other state agencies, institutions and departments to benefit their operations.

The measure also has competitive bidding and notice requirements before the development or extraction of minerals on certain lands as well as related standards.

There are four Senate sponsors, including lead sponsor Sen. Randy White, D-Webster. Introduced Jan. 20. Referred to Senate Judiciary then Senate Finance.

Reference: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB238 intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=238

 

Office of Oral Health would be established under Bureau of Public Health auspices

 

Senate Bill 327. Proposed revisions to §16-41-2, -3, -4, and -6 would be amended in order to establish the state Office for Oral Heath.

The Office would be staffed by a full time director who would be required to have at least three years' experience in health or management in a health care related setting. The director would employ any administrative or professional employees required for the “proper administration of the programs provided in this (proposed statute).”

The director would be required to appoint a consulting dentist licensed in this state and is to administer the program.

Advisory Board

The advisory board would be comprised of the Director of the Office for Oral Health. He or she would serve as the chairperson; a representative of the West Virginia Dental Association; the West Virginia Dental Hygienist Association; the West Virginia University Dental School; the the West Virginia Primary Care Association; the Free Clinics in West Virginia; a dentist and a dental hygienist working in private practice in the state; a pediatrician and family practice physician; a representative of the Bureau of Medical Services; a representative of the(Children’s Health Insurance Program) and the Public Employee Insurance Program; a representative of the Department of Education and “other representatives of state agencies and private sector entities who the director believes will bring a broad prevention perspective to the board.”

Oral health program design

The bill several additional provisions, including a section that would required the “design of oral health programs that assure children entering kindergarten, grade two and grade six have an oral health exam and appropriate preventative programs including recommendations for potential funding sources…”

Another requirement relates to “design of a training program for pediatricians, primary care providers and their staff in certain preventative oral health procedures…”

In order to implement the program, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources would be responsible for transferring funds previously used in the BPH oral health program “unless specifically earmarked for the Division of Maternal and Child Health and from other programs within his or her control, to the special revenue account created in this section (for the oral health program and director).”

The bill contains additional provisions relating to funding, including grant procurement and a special account in the state Treasury.

Reportage

By December of each year, the commissioner of the Office for Oral Health would be responsible for submitting a report regarding the Commission’s findings to the governor, the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resource Accountability and the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Government and Finance.

The report is to include “a summary of program accomplishments during the preceding year and the identification of existing barriers to proper oral health care in the state and recommendations addressing the removal of the barriers.”

There are other provisions.

There are six Senate sponsors, including lead sponsor Sen. Roman W. Prezioso. Introduced Jan. 21. Referred to Senate Health and Human Resources then Senate Finance.

Reference: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB327 intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=327

The House companion measure is House Bill 4153. There are 11 House sponsors, including lead sponsor Delegate Don Perdue, D-Wayne. Introduced Jan. 21. Referred to House Health and Human Resources then House Government Organization.

Reference: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb4153 intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=4153

Similar proposals have been introduced/considered in a past legislative session or sessions.

 

Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs would be established in Governor’s Office

 

Senate Bill 329. Proposed §5-26-1 et. seq. would create the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs as a cabinet in the Governor's office. It would be staffed by an executive director appointed by the governor and is to ensure that the Office has “staff adequate to fulfill its functions.” Additionally, the governor is to “provide funding and offices for those purposes.”

Purpose

The Office’s purpose is to:

1. “Provide a forum for discussion of issues that affect the state's minorities;
2. Identify and promote best practices in the provision of services to minorities;
3. Review information and research that can inform state policy as to the delivery of programs and services to minorities;
4. Make recommendations to the cabinet in areas of policy and allocation of resources.
5. Award grants, loans and loan guaranties for minority affairs programs and activities in this state, subject to legislative appropriation; and
6. Focus attention on accountability and results;
7. Provide recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the most appropriate means to provide programs and services to support minority groups in the state

The Office would be required to report to the governor and the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Government and Finance annually.

‘Findings and Recommendations’

The report may include findings and recommendations concerning:

1. “The extent to which programs and services for minorities are available in the state, and to which funding for providing those programs and services is available;
2. The most appropriate means for the planning, delivery and evaluation of existing and needed programs and services for minority groups in the manner that best promotes diversity and regional, cultural and ethnic sensitivity;
3. Recommendations for the coordination of programs and services to minority groups throughout the state, and with those of other states and the federal government;
4. Identifications of governmental and private agencies, offices, departments or other entities in existence or recommended for creation that would, alone or in concert, most effectively improve the delivery of programs and services to minority groups throughout the state;
5. Recommendations for changes to law that would facilitate the achievement of the objectives of the office; and
6. Such other matters as the office may determine appropriate to its purposes.”

Special account in Treasury

To further these purposes, a special account would be established in the State Treasury which would consist of “all gifts, grants, bequests, transfers, appropriations or other donations or payments received by the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs from any governmental entity or unit or any person, firm, foundation or corporation for the purposes of this article, and all interest or other return earned from investment of the fund.

Executive Director

The Office executive director would be responsible for expending funds in order to receive “…matching funds to obtain federal funds for the delivery of programs and services to minorities in this state, to award grants, loans and loan guaranties for minority affairs programs and activities, and for performance of the duties of the office.”

Fund expenditures would have to be made in regard to the purpose of the Office and in accordance with legislative appropriation directives.

There are four Senate sponsors, including lead sponsor Sen. Foster. Introduced Jan. 21. Referred to Senate Judiciary then Senate Finance.

The House companion is House Bill 4161. There are five House sponsors, including lead sponsor Delegate Cliff Moore, D-McDowell. Introduced Jan. 22. Referred to House Government Organization then House Finance.

Both bills have been recommended for passage by a 2009 interim committee.

NOTE: Herbert Henderson is often referred to as “Mr. Civil Rights of West Virginia,” having served for two decades as president of the West Virginia conferences of the NAACP. He was instrumental in supervising school desegregation and other public accommodation civil rights cases in Southern West Virginia.

A graduate of West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University) and the George Washington University School of Law, one of Henderson’s accomplishments was the NAACP lawsuits against the West Virginia Department of Public Safety that facilitated the hiring of minorities and women as state troopers.

Henderson died in 2007, according to various news media accounts.

Note: As introduced in previous sessions, the proposed legislation has an extensive listing of Legislative Findings. These are omitted in the two 2010 bills.

The Senate Bill reference is: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?year=2010&sessiontype=RS

The House Bill reference is: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?year=2010&sessiontype=RS

Similar proposals have been introduced/considered in a past legislative session or sessions.

 

Partnership to Promote Community Well-Being would be single state planning agency for substance abuse prevention

 

House Bill 2308. The primary purpose of this legislation is to codify the West Virginia Partnership to Promote Community Well-Being.

The Partnership is designated as the state's substance abuse prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery planning body charged with producing a plan for the funding and effective delivery of alcohol and drug treatment and prevention services, including a thorough review of state law that establishes the state's alcohol and drug policies.

In doing so, the Partnership would establish grant application processes, make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature as to grant recipients and oversee the implementation of grants to be expended from federal, state and other public or private funds.

‘Consolidate treatment and prevention services’

Additionally, the Partnership would be responsible, as part of its charge, for making recommendations relative to strategies that will “consolidate treatment and prevention services and reduce the fragmentation in the delivery of services.”

The bill enumerates the entity’s powers and authority and would, as a matter of state law and policy, would be responsible for authorize the Partnership to make recommendations about pertinent federal grants.

To effectuate its purposes, the Partnership may communicate with “public bodies impacted by substance abuse and its attendant problems, including, but not limited to, law enforcement, corrections, courts, health care, including mental and behavioral health care, child welfare, education, family resource networks, counseling services and the faith-based community.”

The Partnership would have 24 ex officio members and would include 19 members appointed by the governor, including two student representatives – a student higher education representative and a high school student.

The West Virginia Department of Education’s Office of Healthy Schools is designated to have an ex officio representative as a member of the Partnership.

There are numerous other provisions.

There are 11 Senate sponsors, including lead sponsor Sen. Jeffrey Kessler, D-Marshall. Introduced Jan. 21. Referred to Senate Judiciary then Senate Finance.

The House companion, House Bill 4150, has nine sponsors, including lead sponsor Del. Tim Miley, D-Harrison. Introduced Jan. 21. Referred to House Judiciary then House Finance.

Reference: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB330 intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=330

The House Bill reference is: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?year=2010&sessiontype=RS

Similar proposals have been introduced/considered in a past legislative session or sessions.

 

Bill would establish the “Creative Communities Development Pilot Project”

 

Senate Bill 235. The purpose of this 17-page bill is to establish the Creative Communities Development Pilot Program which focuses on the fostering and implementation of “innovative planning strategies to develop and expand communities that can maximize emerging economic opportunities and environmental challenges and thrive in the (21st) Century…”

Program oversight

In addition to various state officials, the program would be overseen by a 7-member board which is to include representatives familiar with expertise in terms of broadband availability and adoption among consumers and small businesses, housing/real estate, and “diversity,” the latter being knowledgeable about “the value of diversity in a community and economy” in terms of “communication and education of cultural values (and) organizational and institutional issues related to diversity.”

The Secretary of the Department of Commerce (or designee) would chair board.

The board could provide grants with up to a 50 percent match to “for a project” it approves. Matches would be based on community size, with a $200,000 maximum annual grant for a community less than 5,000.

A grant of $1 million in matching funds would be available to “a state institution of higher learning…a local government partnership…(or) a metro government…”

Legislature to fund program

The Legislature would be responsible for establishing funds for pilot program.

There are numerous other provisions, including bill sections relative to the matching requirements for grants, especially whether grant moneys received will “impact the attraction, retention, and development of entrepreneurs in high-technology, environmentally friendly, scientific, arts, cultural, design, engineering and similar industries.”

Additionally, the bill has specifics about grant application reviews, recipients’ expenditures of grant dollars received, agreements for grant funds usage, and various auditing and compliance requirements.

The program would face a sunset review in 2015.

Sponsored by Sens. Richard Browning, D-Wyoming, and McCabe. Introduced Jan. 20. Referred to Senate Economic Development then Senate Finance.

Reference: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB235 intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=235

 

Bill addresses outdated sections of Code with outdated reference(s) to Sunset and/or termination or continuation of agencies, boards and commissions

 

House Bill 4134. The purpose of this legislation is to repeal sections of code with outdated reference to sunset termination or continuation of agencies, boards and commissions. The bill also repeals programs that have expired or were not implemented.

In terms of education, Sunset reviews of the Share in Your Future Commission would be repealed as would the sunset review of the School Building Authority of West Virginia, the Southern Region Education Compact (West Virginia’s membership in such), the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Act, the Center for Professional Development (sunset review) and the Rural Health Advisory Panel (higher education).

There are eight (8) House sponsors, including lead sponsor Del. Jim Morgan, D-Cabell. Introduced Jan. 19. Referred to House Government Organization.

Reference: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb4134 intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=4134

 

 Briefly...

Senate Bill 233 and its companion measure House Bill 4130 would create the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Pilot Program as recommended by the governor…Senate Bill 236 relates to aquaculture development in West Virginia…Senate Bill 335 would increase the number of persons that may be appointed to the Marshall County Park and Recreation Board…House Bill 4137 relates to using voter registration figures to determine the placement of political parties on the General Election ballot…House Bill 4148 would prohibit members of the news media from having to give testimony in any civil, criminal or grand jury proceedings. There are exceptions…House Bill 4151 would establish a procedure for disclosure of birth parents to an adoptee, when the parties are not registered in the Voluntary Adoption Registry…House Bill 4156 would establish policies and procedures for recall of elected or appointed federal officials that do not hold a life term – apparently West Virginia’s U.S. House of Representative members and U.S. Senators…House Bill 4160 would create a tax incentive for dental practitioners who perform dental services at no cost to indigent patients. There are several implanting provisions.

 

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