Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bulletin_Board/2016/RS/h_journal/hdj2016-02-19-38.htm
Timestamp: 2017-10-23 23:04:54
Document Index: 65378139

Matched Legal Cases: ['§5', '§5', '§5', '§ 5', '§5', '§5', '§5', 'Art. 3', '§4', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§55', '§55', '§59', '§59', '§7', '§8', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§60', '§60', '§60', '§60', '§60', '§60', '§60', '§44', '§59', '§11', '§29', '§29', '§17', '§7', '§30', '§926', '§926', '§926', '§926', '§926', '§30', '§60', '§60', '§5', '§5', '§5']

The Clerk proceeded to read the Journal of Wednesday, March 2, 2016, being the first order of business, when the further reading thereof was dispensed with and the same approved.
Your Joint Committee on Enrolled Bills has examined, found truly enrolled, and on the 3rd day of March, 2016, presented to His Excellency, the Governor, for his action, the following bills, signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates:
(Com. Sub. for S. B. 10), Creating Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act,
(S. B. 558), Maintaining solvency of Unemployment Compensation Fund.
Com. Sub. for S. B. 259, Amending Unfair Trade Practices Act,
Delegate Cowles asked unanimous consent that second reference of the bill to the Committee on the Judiciary be dispensed with, objection being heard.
The bill (Com. Sub. for S. B. 259) was then referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In accordance with the former direction of the Speaker, the bill (S. B. 334) was referred to the Committee on Government Organization.
In accordance with the former direction of the Speaker, the bill (S. B. 333) was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
S. B. 336, Relating to crossbow hunting,
In accordance with the former direction of the Speaker, the bills (Com. Sub. for S. B. 43 and S. B. 336) were each referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In accordance with the former direction of the Speaker, the bill (S. B. 426) was referred to the Committee on Government Organization.
At 11:31 a.m., the Clerk announced availability in his office of the report of the Committee of Conference on S. B. 509, Removing 10-day requirement Division of Labor has to inspect amusement rides and attractions.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Armstead, presented a communication from His Excellency, the Governor, advising that on March 1, 2016, he approved Com. Sub. for S. B. 309, S. B. 341, S. B. 449, S. B. 450 and S. B. 451; and on March 2, 2016, he approved Com. Sub. for S. B. 7, Com. Sub. for S. B. 14, Com. Sub. for S. B. 146, Com. Sub. for S. B. 150, S. B. 351, Com. Sub. for S. B. 369 and S. B. 462.
Re: Enrolled Committee Substitute for House Bill 4007
Pursuant to the provisions of section fourteen, article VII of the Constitution of West Virginia, I hereby disapprove and return the Enrolled Committee Substitute for House Bill 4007.
The general aim of this bill—establishing competitive bidding and qualification procedures for the hiring of private legal counsel by the Attorney General in cases in which the state and its agencies are plaintiffs—is commendable. I support wholeheartedly including procedures in the West Virginia Code to ensure that the state and its offices and agencies receive competent counsel at competitive rates.
My issue with the bill is the extent to which it permits, perhaps inadvertently, the Attorney General to ignore a state office or agency client’s authority, decisions, and directives in a case, in contravention of the Rules of Professional Conduct governing West Virginia lawyers. For example, the following broad language appears in the bill’s §5-3-3(b): “All special assistant attorneys general appointed shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Attorney General and shall perform such duties as the Attorney General may require of them.” See p. 2, lines 11-13. This statement disregards that there are circumstances where special assistant attorneys general are appointed for state offices and agencies, including the Governor’s Office, because the Attorney General’s Office has a conflict or has taken a contrary position in a case. In such circumstances, the special assistant attorneys general serve at the will and pleasure of their client state offices and agencies, not the Attorney General. As drafted and passed by the Legislature, §5-3-3(b) is overbroad and could occasion conflicts of interest.
Furthermore, Enrolled Committee Substitute for House Bill 4007 provides that “[t]he Attorney General, or the deputy or assistant Attorney General involved in the case, shall retain control over the course and conduct of the case.” See §5-3-3a(g)(1), p. 5, lines 76-77. The bill also states that “[t]he Attorney General, or the deputy or assistant Attorney General involved in the case, retains veto power over any decisions made by any appointed private attorneys.” Id. at § 5-3-3a(g)(3), p. 5, lines 80-81.
The Rules of Professional Conduct, however, make it clear that “a lawyer [whether it be the Attorney General, his assistant, or outside private counsel] shall abide by a client’s decisions concerning the objectives of representation and . . . shall consult with the client as to the means by which they are to be pursued.” See Rule 1.2(a), Rules of Professional Conduct (emphasis added). Rule 1.2(a) thus “confers upon the client the ultimate authority to determine the purposes to be served by legal representation, within the limits imposed by law and the lawyer’s professional obligations.” Id. at Comment [1] (emphasis added).
In other words, it is the state office or agency client—not the Attorney General—“who retains control over the course and conduct of the case,” and who “retains veto power over any decision made by any appointed private attorneys,” subject, of course, to the law and applicable ethical obligations. See §5-3-3(a)(g)(1) and (3), p. 5, lines 76-81.
Enrolled Committee Substitute for House Bill 4007 is problematic because it appears to cede state office and agency decision-making authority to the Attorney General. This problem is exacerbated because West Virginia Code §5-3-3(c), which is implicated in the bill, expressly provides that the bill’s language trumps all other laws that are inconsistent with its provisions, such as the Rules of Professional Responsibility. See §5-3-3(c), p. 2, lines 14-15 (“All laws or parts of laws inconsistent with the provisions hereof are hereby amended to be in harmony with the provisions of this section.”).
Finally, the bill contains a technical issue because it is silent as to its impact on existing private counsel contracts. The bill should contain a provision explicitly stating that it does not impair those contracts. See W. Va. Const. Art. 3, §4 (prohibiting the passage of laws impairing contractual obligations).
In sum, I believe Enrolled Committee Substitute for House Bill 4007 contains overly-general language that fails to account for those scenarios where special assistant attorneys general cannot—for practical and ethical reasons—serve at the will and pleasure of the Attorney General. The bill also infringes on state office and agency client decisions and directives and is at odds with the Rules of Professional Conduct adopted by our Supreme Court of Appeals. Lastly, the bill is flawed technically because it could be read to impair existing contracts. For these reasons, I must disapprove the bill and return it. However, I welcome the Legislature to repair the issues I have addressed herein and then return the bill to my desk for signature.
On motion of Delegate Cowles, in accordance with Section 51, Article VI of the Constitution, the House of Delegates proceeded to reconsider Enrolled Committee Substitute for House Bill 4007, in an effort to meet the objections of the Governor.
On motion of Delegate Cowles, Com. Sub. for H. B. 4007 was amended, in an effort to meet the objections of the Governor, by amending the bill on page two, section three, line thirteen, following the word “them”, by replacing the period with a colon and inserting the following proviso:
“Provided, That the appointment of a special assistant Attorney General under this section shall not be construed to alter, inhibit or expand the attorney-client relationship set forth in this article between the Attorney General and the state in the control or conduct of a cause of action.”
On page five, section three-a, line seventy-six, by striking out subdivision (1) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision (1) to read as follows:
“(1) The Attorney General, or the deputy or assistant Attorney General involved in the case, shall retain management and supervisory authority over the private attorney” and a semicolon.
On page five, section three-a, line eighty, by striking out subdivision (3) in its entirety and renumbering the remaining subdivision.
On page eight, section three-a, following line one hundred fifty, by inserting two subsections, designated subsections (p) and (q), to read as follows:
“(p) The requirements and procedures established in this section are inapplicable to and shall not impair any contingency fee legal arrangement or contract awarded prior to the effective date of this section.
(q) The appointment of a special assistant Attorney General under this section shall not be construed to alter, inhibit or expand the attorney-client relationship set forth in this article between the Attorney General and the state in the control or conduct of a cause of action.”
The question being on the passage of the bill, as amended, the Speaker propounded, “Shall the bill pass, in an effort to meet the objections of the Governor?”
On this question, the yeas and nays were taken (Roll No. 351), and there were--yeas 85, nays 14, absent and not voting 1, with the yeas, nays and absent and not voting being as follows:
Yeas: Amber, Anderson, Arvon, Atkinson, Azinger, Bates, Blackwell, Blair, Boggs, Border, Butler, Byrd, Cadle, Campbell, Canterbury, Cooper, Cowles, Deem, Duke, Eldridge, Ellington, Espinosa, A. Evans, D. Evans, Faircloth, Fast, Flanigan, Folk, Foster, Frich, Gearheart, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hamrick, Hanshaw, Hartman, Hicks, Hill, Householder, Howell, Ihle, Ireland, Kelly, Kessinger, Kurcaba, Lane, Manchin, McCuskey, McGeehan, Miller, Moffatt, Moye, E. Nelson, J. Nelson, O’Neal, Overington, Perry, Pethtel, Phillips, Pushkin, Reynolds, Rodighiero, Rohrbach, Romine, Rowan, Shaffer, Shott, Skinner, P. Smith, R. Smith, Sobonya, Stansbury, Statler, Storch, Summers, Trecost, Upson, Wagner, Walters, Waxman, Weld, Westfall, P. White, Zatezalo and Mr. Speaker, Mr. Armstead.
Nays: Caputo, Ferro, Fleischauer, Fluharty, Hornbuckle, Longstreth, Lynch, Marcum, Miley, Moore, Morgan, Perdue, Rowe and Sponaugle.
Absent and Not Voting: B. White.
So, a majority of the members elected to the House of Delegates having voted in the affirmative, the Speaker declared the bill (Com. Sub. for H. B. 4007) passed, as a result of the objections of the Governor.
The Clerk of the Senate, announced that the Senate had rejected a bill of the House of Delegates, as follows:
Com. Sub. for H. B. 4012, West Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Com. Sub. for S. B. 602 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §29-12B-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §29-12D-1 and §29-12D-3 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-12D-1a; to amend and reenact §55-7B-9 and §55-7B-9c of said code; and to amend and reenact §59-1-11 and §59-1-28a of said code, all relating to the Patient Injury Compensation Fund; transferring funds from Medical Liability Fund to Patient Injury Compensation Fund and thereafter closing Medical Liability Fund; prohibiting direct recover of legal fees from Patient Injury Compensation Fund; providing that the board may not compensate claimants who have not filed a claim with the fund by a specific date; providing an assessment on medical licenses; providing exceptions to assessment on medical licenses; prohibiting granting or renewal of medical license for failure to pay assessment; providing an assessment on trauma patients treated at designated trauma centers; providing an assessment on claims filed under the Medical Professional Liability Act; defining “qualifying claim”; defining “date” for purposes of determining applicability of section; directing entities collecting assessments to remit payment to Board of Risk and Insurance Management; setting schedule for remittance of payments to Board of Risk and Insurance Management; providing termination of assessments upon certain deadlines being met; limiting jurisdiction of court reviewing award from board to approval of final award; clarifying authority of Board of Risk and Insurance Management make periodic payments or place claims in nonpayment status in its discretion; permitting trier of fact to consider fault of all alleged parties, including fault of persons who have settled claims with plaintiff arising out of same medical injury, in assessing percentages of fault; permitting clarifying manner in which damages are to be determined with respect to each defendant for purposes of entering judgment when there is no pre-verdict settlement; providing for limit on liability for economic damages in causes of actions against a trauma facility to be adjusted for inflation annually beginning January 1, 2016; setting limit on inflation increase; authorizing plaintiff who suffers economic damages in excess of limit of liability to collect economic damages up to an additional $1 million; clarifying that additional economic liability limit is not subject to inflation; providing that a claimant’s attorney fees may not be paid out of the fund; providing that several liability applies in all cases under the Medical Professional Liability Act; increasing filing fee for causes of action under the Medical Professional Liability Act; and directing clerk of court to deposit a portion of the filing fee into Patient Injury Compensation Fund”; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.
Com. Sub. for S. B. 686 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §7-1-3pp; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §8-12-5g, all relating to authorizing local governing authorities to hold sanctioned motor vehicle races on public roads or municipal streets or airports under their jurisdiction; requiring issuance of permit in relation to racing event; providing immunity from damages; and declaring that an authorized racing event is not a nuisance or subject to speed restrictions”; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
S. B. 701 - “A Bill to repeal §7-25-15, §7-25-17, §7-25-19, §7-25-21 and §7-25-22 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §7-25-3 and §7-25-8 of said code; and to amend and reenact §60-5-1, §60-5-2, §60-5-3, §60-5-4, §60-5-6, §60-5-7 and §60-5-8 of said code, all relating generally to resort area districts; removing resort area district authority to conduct property assessments; authorizing resort area districts to hold local option elections as to whether or not the sale of alcoholic beverages may be sold within the district; and providing voting mechanisms therefor”; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
S. B. 702 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §44-8-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to providing that, in instances where real estate, or an interest therein, is devised to be sold and the proceeds thereof distributed, title to said real estate passes to those individuals entitled to receive the proceeds of sale if the personal representative of the estate does not do so within five years of the closing of an estate”; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
S. B. 703 - “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §59-1-2b, relating to requiring the Secretary of State to develop a mechanism for the deposit of the overpayment of certain fees into the Children’s Trust Fund; and requiring that the person due the refund voluntarily and affirmatively chooses to donate the amount of the overpayment”; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.
S. B. 705 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §11-13A-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to reducing the severance tax on coal to three percent over two years; and specifying effective dates”; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.
The Clerk of the Senate, announced the adoption by the Senate and requested the concurrence of the House of Delegates in the adoption of a joint resolution, which was read by its title and referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then Finance as follows:
Com. Sub. for S. J. R. 14 - “ Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia amending article III thereof, by adding thereto a new section, designated section twenty-three, relating to the right to farm and ranch; numbering and designating such proposed amendment; and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of such proposed amendment.”
Delegate Bates presented a petition from over 5,000 West Virginia citizens concerned about the grave toll that tobacco use is having on our communities, our economies and our personal health and urging members of the WV House of Delegates to resist any attempt to weaken smoke-free indoor air in West Virginia’s communities or undermine the authority of our local Boards of Health to create smoke-free indoor regulations; which was referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.
Your Committee of Conference on the disagreeing votes of the two houses as to the amendment of the Senate to Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 2800 having met, after full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective houses as follows:
That both houses recede from their respective positions as to the amendment of the Senate striking out everything following the enacting clause and inserting new language, and agree to the same as follows:
“article 1. public records.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2800 - “A Bill to amend and reenact §29B-1-2 and §29B-1-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to law-enforcement officers’ personal information; defining terms; and adding personal information of law-enforcement officers and certain family members of law-enforcement officers maintained by the public body in the ordinary course of the employer-employee relationship to the list of exemptions from public records requests.”
Patrick Lane, Bob Ashley,
Roger Hanshaw, Robert Karnes,
Steve Shaffer, Mike Woelfel,
Conferees on the part of Conferees on the part of
the House of Delegates. Senate.
On the passage of the bill, the yeas and nays were taken (Roll No. 352), and there were--yeas 99, nays none, absent and not voting 1, with the absent and not voting being as follows:
So, a majority of the members present and voting having voted in the affirmative, the Speaker declared the bill (Com. Sub, for H. B. 2800) passed.
Com. Sub. for S. B. 594, Requiring State Auditor consider for payment claim submitted by electronically generated invoice; on third reading, coming up in regular order, was read a third time.
The question being on the passage of the bill, the yeas and nays were taken (Roll No. 353), and there were--yeas 98, nays none, absent and not voting 2, with the absent and not voting being as follows:
Absent and Not Voting: Moffatt and B. White.
So, a majority of the members present and voting having voted in the affirmative, the Speaker declared the bill (Com. Sub. for S. B. 594) passed.
Com. Sub. for H. B. 4608, Requiring the State Auditor to consider for payment a claim submitted by an electronically generated invoice; on third reading, coming up in regular order, was, on motion of Delegate Cowles, tabled.
Com. Sub. for S. B. 13, Increasing penalties for overtaking and passing stopped school buses; on second reading, coming up in regular order, was read a second time.
An amendment, recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary, was reported by the Clerk on page one, immediately following the enacting section, by striking out the remainder of the bill and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
“That §17C-12-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 12. SPECIAL STOPS REQUIRed
(a) This law shall be known as Haven’s Law
(b) (c)(1) Where the actual identity of the operator of a motor vehicle operated in violation of subsection (a) of this section is known Any driver acting in violation of subsection (a) of this section then that driver is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction for a first offense, shall be fined not less than $150 or more than $500, or confined not less than two days nor more than six months and shall be fined not less than $200 nor more than $2,500: Provided, That such jail term shall include actual confinement of not less than twenty-four hours: Provided, however, That a person sentenced pursuant to this subsection shall receive credit for any period of actual confinement he or she served upon arrest for the subject offense. Upon conviction of a second violation of subsection (a), the driver shall be fined $500, or confined in jail not more than six months, or both fined and confined in jail for not more than one week nor more than one year, and shall be fined not less than $2,500 nor more than $5,000. Upon conviction of a third or subsequent violation of subsection (a), the driver shall be fined $500, and confined not less than twenty-four hours in jail but not more than six months is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than two nor more than five years and the court may, in its discretion, impose a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000.
Where the actual identity of the operator of a motor vehicle operated in violation of subsection (a) of this section is unknown but the license plate number of the motor vehicle is known, it may be inferred that the operator was an owner or lessee of the motor vehicle
(1) For a first offense under subsection (b) of this section, and shall assess fees of not less than $200 nor more than $2,500;
(2) For a second offense under subsection (b) of this section, and shall assess fees of not less than $2,500 nor more than $5,000; and
(3) For a third or subsequent offense under subsection (b) of this section, and shall assess fees of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000.
Where there is more than one registered owner or lessee, the inference created by this subsection shall apply to the first listed owner or lessee as found on the motor vehicle registration:
(i) (j) The State Board of Education shall promulgate a rule in accordance with the provisions of article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code governing the idling of school buses.”
On motion of Delegate Shott, the amendment was amended on page three, section seven, line forty-four, by striking out the entirety of the remaining text of subsection (d) and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
“Where the actual identity of the operator of a motor vehicle operated in violation of subsection (a) of this section is unknown but the license plate number of the motor vehicle is known, it may be inferred that the operator was an owner or lessee of the motor vehicle, and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall
Where there is more than one registered owner or lessee, the inference created by this subsection shall apply to the first listed owner or lessee as found on the motor vehicle registration.”
S. B. 27, Permitting county commissions hire outside attorneys for collection of taxes through courts; on second reading, coming up in regular order, was read a second time and ordered to third reading.
Com. Sub. for S. B. 102, Conforming to federal Law-Enforcement Officers Safety Act; on second reading, coming up in regular order, was read a second time.
“That §7-4-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-29-12, all to read as follows:
(6) It is the intent of the legislation in enacting the amendment to this section during the 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature to authorizing a prosecuting attorney and assistant prosecuting attorneys wishing to do so to meet the requirements of the Federal Law-Enforcement Officer’s Safety Act, 18 U. S. C. §926B.
(b) When a qualified law-enforcement officer, within the meaning of 18 U. S. C. §926B retires from, or otherwise honorably ceases employment with, a West Virginia state, county or municipal agency, the agency shall provide, at no charge, an appropriate photo identification to show the former employee’s status as an honorably separated or retired qualified retired law-enforcement officer within the meaning of 18 U. S. C. §926C. Every West Virginia state, county or municipal agency which conducts firearms qualification for current employees shall offer its honorably retired or separated former employees an opportunity to participate in such firearms qualification on an annual basis. The former employees shall provide at their own expense an appropriate firearm and ammunition and may be charged a fee not to exceed $25. Upon completion of the training and payment of any fee, the law-enforcement agency shall issue a new photo identification and certification which identifies the former employee as a ‘qualified retired law-enforcement officer’ who has satisfied the annual training requirements of 18 U. S. C. §926C.
(c) A law-enforcement agency may, in its sole discretion, allow a person who honorably retired or separated from another agency as a qualified law-enforcement officer within the meaning of 18 U. S. C. §926B, the opportunity to participate in firearms qualification the agency provides its own former employees under subsection (b) of this section. A participant shall provide at their own expense an appropriate firearm and ammunition and may be charged a fee not to exceed $50. Upon completion of the training and payment of any fee, the law-enforcement agency shall issue a certification which states that the retiree satisfied the training requirements of 18 U. S. C. 926C.”
Com. Sub. for S. B. 254, Not allowing county park commissions to prohibit firearms in facilities; on second reading, coming up in regular order, was read a second time.
On motion of Delegate Shott, the bill was amended on page one, section five, line twelve, immediately following the word “county”, by striking out the word “court” and inserting in lieu thereof the word “commission”.
On page one, section five, line thirteen, immediately following the word “county”, by striking the word “court” and inserting in lieu thereof the word “commission”.
Com. Sub. for S. B. 265, Allowing library volunteers necessary access to user records; on second reading, coming up in regular order, was read a second time and ordered to third reading.
S. B. 271, Conforming definition of attest services to Uniform Accountancy Act; on second reading, coming up in regular order, was read a second time.
On motion of Delegate Shott, the bill was amended on page ten, section seven, line fifty-two, immediately following the word “article” and the period, by inserting the following two new sections:
“§30-9-33. Mandatory Training in federal antitrust law and state action immunity.
In the event that a lawsuit is filed alleging violation of federal antitrust laws, the board may indemnify its board members and current and former employees for expenses reasonably incurred in connection with judicial or administrative proceedings to which they are or may become parties by reason of the performance of their official duties.”
Com. Sub. for S. B. 274, Relating to increasing civil jurisdictional amount in magistrate courts; on second reading, coming up in regular order, was read a second time.
An amendment, recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary, was reported by the Clerk and adopted, amending the bill on page one, section one, line four, by striking out “Circuit courts may send any civil case where the amount in controversy is $10,000 or less to magistrate courts for trial.”
Com. Sub. for S. B. 283, Creating crime when fire is caused by operation of a clandestine drug laboratory; on second reading, coming up in regular order, was read a second time.
“That §60A-4-411 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
(b) (c) For purposes of this section, a ‘clandestine drug laboratory’ means any property, real or personal, on or in which a person assembles any chemicals or equipment or combination thereof for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine or lysergic acid diethylamide in violation of the provisions of section four hundred one of this article.
(e) For purposes of W.Va. Code §60A-2-1, both subsection (a) and (b) of this section shall be deemed qualifying felony offenses of manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance.
(c) (f) Any person convicted of a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be responsible for all reasonable costs, if any, associated with remediation of the site of the clandestine drug laboratory.”
S. B. 352, Dedicating corporation net income tax proceeds to railways; on second reading, coming up in regular order, was read a second time and ordered to third reading.
S. B. 379, Relating to candidate filing fees; on second reading, coming up in regular order, was read a second time and ordered to third reading.
S. B. 476, Relating to driving restrictions in school zones; on second reading, coming up in regular order, was read a second time.
An amendment, recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary, was reported by the Clerk and adopted, amending the bill on page one, immediately following the enacting section, by striking out the remainder of the bill and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
“ARTICLE 6. SPEED RESTRICTIONS
(1) Fifteen miles per hour in a school zone during school recess or while children are going to or leaving school during opening or closing hours. A school zone is all school property, including school grounds and any street or highway abutting the school grounds and extending one hundred twenty-five feet along the street or highway from the school grounds. The West Virginia Division of Highways shall erect signage indicating the place of entry and exit of each school zone. Upon a formal vote and a written request by a county board of education to expand a school zone to a road that is adjacent to school property, the West Virginia Division of Highways shall, upon a determination by the Division that such action is needed and necessary for the safety of the school children, expand the school zone by erecting new signage indicating the expanded school zone’s location and speed limit within ninety days of receiving the request. The speed restriction does not apply to vehicles traveling on a controlled-access highway which is separated from the school or school grounds by a fence or barrier approved by the Division of Highways;
(e) Unless otherwise provided in this section, any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100; upon a second conviction within one year thereafter, shall be fined not more than $200; and, upon a third or subsequent conviction within two years thereafter, shall be fined not more than $500: Provided, That if the third or subsequent conviction is based upon a violation of the provisions of this section where the offender exceeded the speed limit by fifteen miles per hour or more, then upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $500 or confined in the county or regional jail for not more than six months, or both fined and confined.
(f) Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision (1), subsection (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500: Provided, That if the conviction is based upon a violation of the provisions of subdivision (1), subsection (b) of this section where the offender exceeded the speed limit by fifteen miles per hour or more in the presence of one or more children, then upon conviction, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 or confined in the regional or county jail for not more than six months, or both fined and confined: Provided, that if the signage required by subdivision (1) is not present in the school zone at the time of the violation, then any person who violates said provision is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $25.
(j) If an owner or driver is convicted in another state for the offense of driving above the maximum speed limit on a controlled access highway or interstate highway and if the maximum speed limit in the other state is less than the maximum speed limit for a comparable controlled access highway or interstate highway in this state, and if the evidence shows that the motor vehicle was being operated at ten miles per hour or less above what would be the maximum speed limit for a comparable controlled access highway or interstate highway in this state, then notwithstanding the provisions of section four, article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code, a certified abstract of the judgment on the conviction shall not be transmitted to the Division of Motor Vehicles or, if transmitted, shall not be recorded by the division, unless within a reasonable time after conviction, the person convicted has failed to pay all fines and costs imposed by the other state: Provided, That the provisions of this subsection do not apply to conviction of owners or drivers who have been issued a commercial driver’s license as defined in chapter seventeen-e of this code, if the offense was committed while operating a commercial vehicle.”
S. B. 483, Marshall County LSIC waiver; on second reading, coming up in regular order, was read a second time.
An amendment, recommended by the Committee on Education, was reported by the Clerk and adopted, amending the bill on page two, section three-a, line twenty-six, after the year 2016 and the period, by adding thereto another subdivision as follows:
“(3) Section one-a, article eight, chapter eighteen of this code is waived for the schools of Wyoming County for the purpose of increasing the compulsory school attendance age in Wyoming County from seventeen to eighteen years of age as a part of its countywide dropout prevention initiative as requested by letter dated February 25, 2016 and recommended by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on February 25, 2016.”
Com. Sub. for S. B. 582, Providing refundable tax credit for motor fuel sold for use or consumed in railroad diesel locomotives; on second reading, coming up in regular order, was read a second time and ordered to third reading.
S. B. 303, Providing for 5-day resident fishing license,
S. B. 507, Exempting motor vehicles engaged in nonemergency transport of Medicaid recipients from PSC permit requirements.
At the request of Delegate Cowles, and by unanimous consent, leave of absence for the day was granted Delegate B. White.
Delegate J. Nelson asked and obtained unanimous consent that the remarks of Delegate Perdue regarding Trevor Noah be printed in the Appendix to the Journal.
Delegate Hamilton asked and obtained unanimous consent to be removed as a cosponsor of H. B. 2704.
At 12:17 p.m., on motion of Delegate Cowles, the House of Delegates recessed until 5:00 p.m.
The Clerk of the Senate, announced the adoption of the report of the Committee of Conference on and the passage, as amended by said report, to take effect from passage, of
Com. Sub. for H. B. 2800, Adding law-enforcement officers’ contact information and names of family members to the list of exemptions from public records requests.
The Clerk of the Senate, announced that the Senate had concurred in the amendments of the House of Delegates, with a title amendment, and again passed a bill of the House of Delegates, heretofore disapproved by the Governor, all as a result of the objections of the Governor, as follows:
Enr. Com. Sub. for H. B. 4007, Relating generally to appointment of attorneys to assist the Attorney General.
The House of Delegates then proceeded to reconsider the bill (Com. Sub. for H. B. 4007), in an effort to meet the objections of the Governor.
On motion of Delegate Cowles the House concurred in the Senate title amendment, as follows:
Enr. Com. Sub. for H. B. 4007 - “An Act to amend and reenact §5-3-3 and §5-3-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §5-3-3a, all relating generally to appointment of attorneys to assist the Attorney General; authorizing the Attorney General to appoint special assistant attorneys general; establishing when special assistant attorneys general can be appointed; establishing competitive bidding process for the use of private attorneys on a contingency fee basis by the Attorney General; requiring written determinations for the Attorney General’s selection of private attorneys to represent the state on a contingency fee basis; setting fees for contingency fee legal arrangements or contracts between private attorneys and the Attorney General; requiring appointed private attorneys to accept an award of attorney fees in accordance with, and no greater than, the established fee limitations; establishing supervision requirements for private lawyers representing the state on a contingency fee basis; requiring the posting of certain documents relating to the Attorney General’s retention of private attorneys to represent the state on a contingency fee basis; providing for the designation as a special assistant attorney general upon appointment; requiring Attorney General reports on certain legal causes and matters to the Governor, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House; outlining contents of those reports; updating and removing outdated provisions; defining terms; clarifying that the appointment of a special assistant attorney general shall not be construed to alter, inhibit or expand the attorney-client relationship between the Attorney General and the state in the control or conduct of a cause of action; and providing that these new provisions are inapplicable to and shall not impair any contingency fee legal arrangement or contract awarded prior to the effective date.”
On this question, the yeas and nays were taken (Roll No. 354), and there were--yeas 76, nays 8, absent and not voting 16, with the nays and absent and not voting being as follows:
Yeas: Amber, Atkinson, Azinger, Bates, Blackwell, Blair, Boggs, Butler, Byrd, Cadle, Campbell, Canterbury, Cooper, Cowles, Duke, Ellington, Espinosa, A. Evans, D. Evans, Faircloth, Fast, Folk, Foster, Frich, Gearheart, Hamilton, Hamrick, Hanshaw, Hartman, Hill, Householder, Howell, Ihle, Ireland, Kelly, Kessinger, Kurcaba, Lane, Longstreth, Lynch, Manchin, McCuskey, McGeehan, Miller, Moffatt, Moye, E. Nelson, J. Nelson, O’Neal, Perry, Pethtel, Phillips, Pushkin, Rodighiero, Rohrbach, Romine, Rowan, Rowe, Shaffer, Shott, Skinner, P. Smith, R. Smith, Sobonya, Stansbury, Statler, Summers, Upson, Wagner, Walters, Waxman, Weld, Westfall, P. White, Zatezalo, and Mr. Speaker, Mr. Armstead.
Nays: Eldridge, Ferro, Fleischauer, Fluharty, Guthrie, Hornbuckle, Miley and Sponaugle.
Absent and Not Voting: Anderson, Arvon, Border, Caputo, Deem, Flanigan, Hicks, Marcum, Moore, Morgan, Overington, Perdue, Reynolds, Storch, Trecost and B. White.
Com. Sub. for S. B. 421, Terminating behavioral health severance and business privilege tax.
Com. Sub. for S. C. R. 7 - “Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 11186, at mile marker 153 crossing Interstate 79 in Monongalia County, the “Rosie the Riveters Memorial Bridge”.
The Clerk of the Senate, announced the adoption by the Senate and requested the concurrence of the House of Delegates in the adoption of the following concurrent resolution, which was read by its title and referred to the Committee on then Rules:
Com. Sub. for S. C. R. 37 - “Requesting Division of Highways to name bridge number 22-119-0.04, NB & SB (22A102 & 22A103), latitude 38.18215, longitude -81.84941, on U. S. Route 119, otherwise known as the North Pinnacle Rock Creek Bridge, in Lincoln County, the ‘U. S. Army PFC Willie Paul Wilson Bridge’.”
Whereas, PFC Willie Paul Wilson was killed on Christmas Eve, 1944, aboard the S. Leopoldville, a Belgian troopship being used in the English Channel to transport troops and supplies for the Allied war effort. On that evening, a German submarine torpedoed the S. Leopoldville when it was only five miles from the shore, killing at least eight hundred and two people in the most deadly tragedy to ever befall an American Infantry Division as the result of an enemy submarine attack; and
S. C. R. 38 - “Requesting Division of Highways name bridge number 06-64-19.71, EB & WB (06A145, 06A192) (38.41793, -82.26105), locally known as the Ona Mall Bridge, EB and WB, carrying Interstate 64 over Cabell County Route 60/89 in Cabell County, the “ U. S. Army PFC Denver Holly Memorial Bridge’.”
Whereas, Denver Holly was born in Livingston, West Virginia, on August 11, 1920. He lived in Holly Grove, Hansford, and in a few other towns in Kanawha County until he was 22 years old; and
Whereas, Denver Holly joined the U. S. Army on July 17, 1942. Denver was a Private First Class and served his country in Europe during World War II. He was an infantryman and, during battles, was an ammunition runner. In 1944, he was wounded twice while serving in France; and
Whereas, PFC Denver Holley’s service during World War II earned him the Purple Heart Medal with Cluster, American Theater Service Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Service Ribbon and World War II Victory Ribbon; and
Whereas, Following his honorable discharge from the Army following the war, PFC Denver Holley lived in Huntington and Barboursville for 41 years; and
Whereas, PFC Denver Holly passed away on December 17, 2015; and
Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate his service to his country; therefore, be it
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 06-64-19.71, EB & WB (06A145, 06A192) (38.41793, -82.26105), locally known as the Ona Mall Bridge, EB and WB, carrying Interstate 64 over Cabell County Route 60/89 in Cabell County, the “ U. S. Army PFC Denver Holly Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the “U. S. Army PFC Denver Holly Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways and to the family of the late Denver Holley.
S. C. R. 39 - “Requesting Division of Highways to name bridge numbered 13-60-41.35 (13A118), that intersects over Dry Creek, also known as the Dry Creek Bridge, located at latitude 37.79396, -80.30068 on Route 60, Main Street, in White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County, the ‘Clifford Family Memorial Bridge’.”
S. C. R. 41 - “Requesting Division of Highways to name bridge number 03-9/2-0.01 (03A053) (37.95860, -81.85398), locally known as Missouri Fork Bridge, carrying County Route 9/2 over Hewett Creek in Boone County, the ‘U. S. Army SGT Philip Ray Casto Memorial Bridge’.”
Whereas, SGT Philip Ray Casto was born January 29, 1942, in Hewett, the first of three children to Girt and Hazel (Ball) Casto and attended Missouri Fork and Spencer Grade schools and graduated from Scott High School in 1959; and
Whereas, SGT Philip Ray Casto married Doris Jean Caruthers in 1964 and shortly thereafter was drafted into the U. S. Army. He went on to serve his country in Germany, specializing in radio communications and as a rifle sharpshooter. Being honorably discharged in June, 1966, he and his wife returned home to Boone County to await the arrival of their daughter, Debra Chambers; and
Whereas, After his discharge, SGT Philip Ray Casto worked at Barkers’ Hardware and later with Logan Auto Parts in Madison, which he went on to manage for nearly 20 years. SGT Casto never failed to go out on any given night, no matter the time, so that a customer, whether it was a coal mine in need or a friend broken down beside the road, could get the parts needed to be up and running, most times fixing the vehicle himself; and
Whereas, SGT Philip Ray Casto later worked for Eastern States Mine Supply, where he once again served the county day and night supplying any need, retiring in 2004; and
Whereas, SGT Philip Ray Casto loved cars or pretty much anything with a motor. He always made them just a little better. Everyone knew where to find him when a problem arose with their vehicle. Most weekends you could find SGT Philip Ray Casto building or repairing drag racing cars or riding in the hills of Boone County in the first dune buggy built, of course, by him; and
Whereas, SGT Philip Ray Casto was also an avid gardener. It was never a strange sight for anyone who knew SGT Casto to see him on his tractor preparing for another huge garden. He gave away at least most everything he grew, leaving fresh vegetables on neighbors’ porches with no expectation of anything in return; and
Whereas, SGT Casto had a second child, a boy named Steve, born in 1973. Regretfully, he and his wife divorced in 1978, but later remarried and had another son; and
Whereas, Except for the time he served in the Army, SGT Casto lived all of his life in Boone County, and all but eleven of those years were lived on Missouri Fork in Hewitt; and
Whereas, SGT Casto passed away at the Veterans Hospital in Huntington on August 11, 2015. He was 73 years old; and
Whereas, It is fitting that SGT Philip Ray Casto be memorialized and honored for his service in the area where he lived; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia::
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways to name bridge number 03-9/2-0.01 (03A053) (37.95860, -81.85398), locally known as Missouri Fork Bridge, carrying County Route 9/2 over Hewett Creek in Boone County, the “U. S. Army SGT Philip Ray Casto Memorial Bridge; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U. S. Army SGT Philip Ray Casto Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and to the family of SGT Philip Ray Casto.
S. C. R. 42 - “Requesting Division of Highways to name the newly constructed bridge, number 23-10-19.39 (23A365), (37.84226, -81.97681), locally known as the Guyandotte River Bridge, carrying WV Route 10 over the Guyandotte River in Logan County, the ‘U. S. Navy LCDR Helen Elizabeth Peck Memorial Bridge’.”
Whereas, Helen Elizabeth Peck was born on August 28, 1910, in Logan, West Virginia, as one of six children of John Edwin and Minerva Peck, whose American lineage extends back to the time of the Revolutionary War; and
Whereas, Helen Elizabeth Peck attended and graduated from Marshall University with a major concentration in elementary education and mathematics and, subsequently, earned her West Virginia teaching certificate; and
Whereas, Helen Elizabeth Peck became a teacher in Logan County schools and then, during World War II, was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Women’s Reserve of the U. S. Navy; and
Whereas, Lieutenant Helen Elizabeth Peck served for nearly four years at the hydrographic office with Central Naval Operations in Washington, D. C., where she worked with LORAN navigation, which was a top secret project at that time; and
Whereas, After completing her active duty, Helen Elizabeth Peck continued service in the Naval Reserve where she attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander; and
Whereas, She returned to teaching in Logan County schools where she worked in various positions at the elementary and junior high school levels, including a period as principal of an elementary school, until her retirement in her early 1970s; and
Whereas, Lieutenant Commander Helen Elizabeth Peck was, apart from her period of active duty in military service, a lifelong resident of Logan County; and
Whereas, It is only fitting that we name this bridge in Lieutenant Commander Helen Elizabeth Peck‛s honor to acknowledge her many years of service to her nation, her students and her community; therefore, be it
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the newly constructed bridge, number 23-10-19.39 (23A365) (37.84226, -81.97681), locally known as the Guyandotte River Bridge, carrying WV Route 10 over the Guyandotte River in Logan County, the “U. S. Navy LCDR Helen Elizabeth Peck Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U. S. Navy LCDR Helen Elizabeth Peck Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and to the family of Lieutenant Commander Helen Elizabeth Peck.
S. C. R. 44 - “Requesting Division of Highways name bridge number 10-15-10.14 (10A039) (37.98063, -81.29932), locally known as the turnpike Bridge, carrying County Route 15 over I-77 NBL and SBL in Fayette County, West Virginia, the ‘U. S. Marine Corps SGT Mike Plasha Memorial Bridge’.”
That the Division of Highways name bridge number 10-15-10.14 (10A039) (37.98063, -81.29932), locally known as Turnpike Bridge, carrying County Route 15 over I-77 NBL and SBL in Fayette County, West Virginia, the “U. S. Marine Corps SGT Mike Plasha Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
S. C. R. 45 - “Requesting Division of Highways name bridge in Putnam County, bridge number 40-35-9.68 (40A157) northbound and bridge number 40-35-9.68 (40A158) southbound, on Route 35 crossing over 5 and 20 Creek Road, 1.17 miles north of CR 19, the ‘U. S. Army SGT Deforest Lee Talbert Memorial Bridge’.”
Whereas, SGT Deforest Lee Talbert was born January 24, 1982, in Alexandria, Virginia, the son of Gloria Nesbitt and Benjamin Dickens. He graduated from T. C. Williams High School. He moved to West Virginia to attend West Virginia State University where he majored in communications. He enlisted in the West Virginia Army National Guard in Dunbar, West Virginia, and was assigned to Bravo Company, 1/150 AR, in 2001; and
Whereas, SGT Deforest Lee Talbert was mobilized as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom on October 1, 2003, and was reassigned to Charlie Company, 1/150 AR. His company was deployed to the Iraqi Theater of Operations along with the 1-150th Armor Battalion and the 30th Brigade Team on February 29, 2004. He served as an assistant gunner with the First Platoon, Charlie 12 gun truck. While patrolling on the evening of July 27, 2004, SGT Talbert’s convoy was the target of an enemy attack using an improvised explosive device. Three of his fellow soldiers were injured, but SGT Talbert absorbed the brunt of the explosion and was instantly killed. SGT Deforest Lee Talbert received the Army Service Ribbon, the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Badge (Pistol), the Expert Marksmanship Badge (Grenade), SSI/FWS for the 30th Brigade Combat Team and the 1st Infantry Division and, posthumously, a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with V Device; and
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the bridge in Putnam County, bridge number 40-35-9.68 (40A157) northbound and bridge number 40-35-9.68 (40A158) southbound, on Route 35 crossing over 5 and 20 Creek Road, 1.17 miles north of CR 19, the “U. S. Army SGT Deforest Lee Talbert Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U. S. Army SGT Deforest Lee Talbert Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this Resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways and the surviving family members of SGT Deforest Lee Talbert: Mother, Gloria Nesbitt; father, Benjamin Dickens; sisters, Tawanna Talbert-Loving, Latasha Marble and Chiquita Talbert; brother, James Talbert; and his devoted friend, Frances Hamlet.
S. C. R. 47 - “Requesting Division of Highways name bridge number 20-60-30.04 EB-WB, (20A350-20A349) (38.21983, -81.52307), locally known as U. S. 60 Witcher Creek Bridge EB & WB, carrying U. S. 60 over Witcher Creek in Kanawha County, the ‘West Virginia State Police SGT Harold E. Dailey Bridge’.”
Whereas, Naming bridge number 20-60-30.04 EB-WB, (20A350-20A349) (38.21983, -81.52307), locally known as U. S. 60 Witcher Creek Bridge EB & WB, carrying U. S. 60 over Witcher Creek in Kanawha County, the “West Virginia State Police SGT Harold E. Dailey Bridge” is an appropriate recognition of his contribution to his country, state, community and Kanawha County; therefore, be it
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 20-60-30.04 EB-WB, (20A350-20A349) (38.21983, -81.52307), locally known as U. S. 60 Witcher Creek Bridge EB & WB, carrying U. S. 60 over Witcher Creek in Kanawha County, the “West Virginia State Police SGT Harold E. Dailey Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed signs identifying bridge number 20-60-30.4 EB-WB, (20A350-20A349) (38.21983, -81.52307), locally known as U. S. 60 Witcher Creek Bridge EB & WB, carrying U. S. 60 over Witcher Creek in Kanawha County, the “West Virginia State Police SGT Harold E. Dailey Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways and SGT Harold E. Dailey.
Your Joint Committee on Enrolled Bills has examined, found truly enrolled and, on the 3rd day of March, 2016, presented to His Excellency, the Governor, for his action, the following bill, signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates:
(Com. Sub. for H. B. 4366), Finding and declaring certain claims against the state and its agencies to be moral obligations of the state.
Com. Sub. for S. B. 263, Allowing travel and other expense reimbursement for members of Municipal Home Rule Board,
In accordance with the former direction of the Speaker, the bill (Com. Sub. for S. B. 263) was referred to the Committee on Finance.
And reports the same back, with amendment, with the recommendation that they each do pass, as amended, but that they each first be referred to the Committee on Government Organization.
In accordance with the former direction of the Speaker, the bills (S. B. 306 and S. B. 573) were each referred to the Committee on Government Organization.
S. B. 384, Requiring Bureau for Medical Services seek federal waiver for 30-day waiting period for tubal ligation
S. B. 478, Authorizing licensees who sell growlers to offer samples,
S. B. 658, Allowing licensed professionals donate time to care of indigent and needy in clinical setting,
At 5:23 p.m., the House of Delegates adjourned until 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 4, 2016.