Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bulletin_Board/2016/RS/s_journal/sdj2016-03-03-51.htm
Timestamp: 2017-10-17 15:12:23
Document Index: 165711604

Matched Legal Cases: ['§11', '§11', '§16', '§17', '§17', '§17', '§17', '§17', '§17', '§17', '§17', '§18', '§42', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§21', '§21', '§21', '§21', '§24', '§16', '§16', '§16', '§54', '§7', '§11', '§61', '§60', '§17', '§52', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', 'Art. 3', '§ 4', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§29', '§29']

Charleston, W. Va., Thursday, March 3, 2016
Prayer was offered by Terry Swanson, Gideons International, Camp President of the Charleston North Camp, Charleston, West Virginia.
Pending the reading of the Journal of Wednesday, March 2, 2016,
(7) For purposes of this section, the term “school dormitory” means housing or a unit of housing provided primarily for students as a temporary or permanent dwelling place or abode and owned, operated or controlled by an institution of higher education, and shall be synonymous with the term “residence hall.”;
Eng. Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 421—A Bill to amend and reenact §11-13A-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §11-15-9i of said code, all relating to the termination of behavioral health severance and business privilege tax; specifying effective date of the termination; establishing method of payment of outstanding refund claims; generating replacement revenue stream by suspending exemption of certain purchases of durable medical equipment from consumer sales and service tax for certain period; continuing the exemption for specified purchases of durable medical equipment; specifying effective dates; providing method to claim the exemption; and providing definitions and conditions for exemption.
Engrossed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 421, as amended by the House of Delegates, was then put upon its passage.
So, a majority of all the members elected to the Senate having voted in the affirmative, the President declared the bill (Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 421) passed with its House of Delegates amended title.
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4035—A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-46-7; relating to permitting pharmacists to furnish opioid antagonists in accordance with standardized procedures developed and approved by both the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy and the West Virginia Board of Medicine; and granting rule-making authority.
A message from The Clerk of the House of Delegates announced the concurrence by that body in the Senate amendments to, and the passage as amended, with its House of Delegates amended title, of
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4168—A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §17A-6F-1, §17A-6F-2 and §17A-6F-3, all relating to authorizing the commissioner of the division of motor vehicles to issue a special motor vehicle collector license plate; defining terms; establishing requirements for issuance; establishing fees; and providing requirements and conditions for use of the plate on a collector motor vehicle.
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4196—A Bill to amend and reenact §17-24A-1 and §17-24A-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §17A-4-10 of said code; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §17-24A-6a, all relating to abandoned antique vehicles; adding new definitions; allowing automobile auctions to obtain title to abandoned vehicles; creating a process by which an automobile auction may obtain a salvage certificate or a nonrepairable motor vehicle certificate for vehicles abandoned on its property; establishing a process by which automobile auctions may obtain title to and sell certain abandoned vehicles; allowing an insurance company to obtain a salvage certificate or a cosmetic total loss salvage certificate after paying a total loss claim on a vehicle; creating a special procedure for a person in possession of an abandoned antique vehicle to apply for and receive title to the vehicle; creating a procedure for the Division of Motor Vehicles to search for the owner of the vehicle and provide notice of the application for title to vehicle; creating a procedure for the owner to reclaim the vehicle within 30 days of notice of an application for title to the vehicle; establishing fees to accompany an application for title to the vehicle; establishing fees for reclamation of the vehicle by owner; creating a misdemeanor and imposing fines for interfering with an owner's attempt to reclaim a vehicle; and directing the division to promulgate rules and forms to effectuate new procedure.
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4239—A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §17-2A-8d, relating to development of a highway project plan for the extension of the state of Kentucky’s Mountain Parkway Expansion project from the eastern Kentucky border with West Virginia into Mercer County and Raleigh County; legislative findings; requiring the commissioner of highways to develop the highway project plan; requiring quarterly progress and status reports; requiring a full report to the Legislature by the first day of the 2017 regular session.
Eng. House Bill 4246—A Bill to amend and reenact chapter 83, Acts of the Legislature, regular session, 1970, relating to changing the Martinsburg Public Library to the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library; creating a library board with the power to operate the public library; and providing a stable method of financing the operation of the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library.
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4301—A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18‑2‑36, relating to a framework for initiating comprehensive transformation of school leadership; making legislative findings that provide a context for leadership that promotes instructional improvement; stating purpose of section as framework for development of needed statutory and policy changes; stating further purpose to initiate transformation through general statement of legislative intent; providing certain expectations; stating intent for process of broad stakeholder input; requiring convening of stakeholders to assist state board; listing minimum issues to be considered for state recommendations; and requiring reports and recommendations to Legislature and Governor.
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4308—A Bill to amend and reenact §̀36-1-20 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §42-4-2 of said code, all relating generally to barring persons who are convicted of certain criminal offenses from acquiring property from their victims through joint tenancy or inheritance; and creating exceptions.
Eng. House Bill 4345—A Bill to repeal §5A-6A-1, §5A-6A-2, §5A-6A-3, §5A-6A-4, §5A-6A-5, §5A-6A-6, §5A-6A-7, §5A-6A-8 and §5A-6A-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the West Virginia Permitting and Licensing Information Act.
Eng. House Bill 4364—A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §21-5G-1, §21-5G-2, §21-5G-3 and §21-5G-4, all relating to employment and privacy protection; prohibiting an employer from requesting or requiring that an employee or applicant disclose any user name, password, or other means for accessing a personal account or service through certain electronic communications devices; prohibiting an employer from taking or threatening to take, certain disciplinary actions for an employee’s refusal to disclose certain password and related information; prohibiting an employer from failing or refusing to hire an applicant as a result of the applicant’s refusal to disclose certain password and related information; prohibiting an employee from downloading certain unauthorized information or data to certain websites or web-based accounts; providing that an employer is not prevented from conducting certain investigations for certain purposes, including gathering information needed for compliance with mandatory state or federal regulations; and duties not created under this article.
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4435—A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §24-2-1l, relating to modernization and improvement of coal-fired boilers at electric power plants; providing procedure for expedited cost recovery of electric utility coal-fired boiler modernization and improvement projects deemed just and reasonable and in the public interest; and providing rulemaking authority.
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4537—A Bill to amend and reenact §16-5H-2, §16-5H-5 and §16-5H-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to the regulation of chronic pain clinics; updating definitions; deleting an exemption; and clarifying the process for hearing notices regarding license suspension or revocation.
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4586—A Bill to amend and reenact §54-2-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to representation in condemnation proceedings where a property owner or other party is under a legal disability; providing that the court shall protect the rights of any person who is under a legal disability because he or she is a protect person, incarcerated, or whose ownership interest, lien, or other claim to property requires them to be a party in a condemnation action; providing that a protected person who is a party in a condemnation action may be represented by a conservator or guardian or by a limited guardian appointed by the court; providing that an incarcerated person who is a party in a condemnation action and has an attorney or committee shall be represented by the attorney or committee; providing that an incarcerated person who is a party in a condemnation action who does not have an attorney or committee shall be represented by a court appointed attorney; providing that the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to defend the interests of an unknown owner or owners of property subject to condemnation; clarifying that the statutory procedures for condemnation actions control; and authorizing payment for court appointed attorneys to be paid in an amount to be fixed by the court or judge, to be taxed as costs and paid by the applicant.
Eng. House Bill 4616—A Bill to amend and reenact §7-7-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to permitting county commissions the option of paying the salaries of county officials and their employees on a bi-weekly basis.
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4668—A Bill to amend and reenact §11-13A-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to raising the allowable threshold of the coal severance tax revenue fund budgeted for personal services from one fourth to one half; and directing State Auditor report of county special budgets to Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
Eng. House Bill 4724—A Bill to amend and reenact §61-5-27 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to adding a requirement for the likelihood of imminent lawless action to the prerequisites for the crime of intimidation and retaliation.
Eng. House Bill 4728—A Bill to amend and reenact §60A-2-208 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to schedule three controlled substances; designating human chorionic gonadotropin as a schedule three controlled substance; and allowing human chorionic gonadotropin solely for injection or implantation in cattle and other nonhuman species.
Eng. House Bill 4738—A Bill to amend and reenact §17C-5-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the offense of driving in an impaired state; establishing the offense of driving a vehicle while he or she is in an impaired state; establishing the offense of driving a vehicle while he or she is in an impaired state but has an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of less than fifteen hundredths of one percent by weight; adding influence of substances in definition of impaired state; and providing for penalties.
Eng. House Bill 4740—A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §52-1-11b, relating to jury service; permitting that current members of the National Guard or Reserves may be excused from jury duty.
The Clerk then presented a communication from His Excellency, the Governor, advising that on March 2, 2016, he had approved Enr. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 7, Enr. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 14, Enr. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 146, Enr. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 150, Enr. Senate Bill 351, Enr. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 369 and Enr. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 462.
(Com. Sub. for S. B. No. 10), Creating Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act.
(S. B. No. 558), Maintaining solvency of Unemployment Compensation Fund.
Com. Sub. for Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 (originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure)—Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge design number 11186 that will carry University Town Center Drive over Interstate 79, at mile marker 153, approximate latitude and longitude of 39.63966, -80.00394, crossing Interstate 79 in Monongalia County, the “Rosie the Riveters Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, Rosie the Riveter is a cultural icon of the United States, representing the American women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II, many of whom produced munitions and war supplies. American women sometimes took entirely new jobs replacing the male workers who were in the military. Rosie the Riveter is commonly used as a symbol of feminism and women’s economic power. Similar images of women war workers appeared in other countries such as Great Britain and Australia. Images of women workers were widespread in the media as government posters and commercial advertising was heavily used by the government to encourage women to volunteer for wartime service in factories; and
Whereas, Rosie the Riveter became most closely associated with another real woman, Rose Will Monroe, who was born in Pulaski County, Kentucky. In 1920 Ms. Monroe moved to Michigan and during World War II she worked as a riveter at the Willow Run Aircraft Factory in Ypsilanti, Michigan, building B-24 bombers for the U. S. Army Air Forces. She was asked to star in a promotional film about the war effort at home. The song “Rosie the Riveter” was popular at the time and Ms. Monroe happened to best fit the description of the worker depicted in the song. “Rosie” went on to become perhaps the most widely recognized icon of that era. The films and posters she appeared in were used to encourage women to go to work in support of the war effort. At the age of 50, Ms. Monroe realized her dream of flying when she obtained a pilot’s license. In 1978, she crashed in her small propeller plane when the engine failed during takeoff. The accident resulted in the loss of one kidney and the sight in her left eye, and ended her flying career. She died from kidney failure on May 31, 1997, age of 77, in Clarksville, Indiana, where she was a resident; and
Whereas, According to the Encyclopedia of American Economic History, “Rosie the Riveter” inspired a social movement that increased the number of working American women from 12 million to 20 million by 1944, a 57% increase from 1940. By 1944 only 1.7 million unmarried men between the ages of 20 and 34 worked in the defense industry, while 4.1 million unmarried women between those ages did so. Although the image of “Rosie the Riveter” reflected the industrial work of welders and riveters during World War II, the majority of working women filled nonfactory positions in every sector of the economy. What unified the experiences of these women was that they proved to themselves and the country that they could do a “man’s job” and could do it well. In 1942, just between the months of January and July, the estimates of the proportion of jobs that would be “acceptable” for women was raised by employers from 29 to 85%; therefore, be it
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge design number 11186 that will carry University Town Center Drive over Interstate 79, at mile marker 153, approximate latitude and longitude of 39.63966, -80.00394, crossing Interstate 79 in Monongalia County, the “Rosie the Riveters 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 “Rosie the Riveters Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Senate Concurrent Resolution 37, US Army PFC Willie Paul Wilson Bridge.
Com. Sub. for Senate Concurrent Resolution 37 (originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure)—Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge numbers 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 Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, Willie Paul Wilson, known to his family and friends as “Jenkie”, was born on November 11, 1925, in Julian, West Virginia, to John and Elsie Wilson; and
Whereas, Willie Paul Wilson enlisted in the U. S. Army on February 29, 1944, and was assigned to Company K, 1st Platoon, 262nd Regiment; and
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways to name bridge numbers 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 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 PFC Willie Paul Wilson 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 Willie Paul Wilson.
At the request of Senator Carmichael, unanimous consent being granted, the resolutions (Com. Sub. for S. C. R. 7 and 37) contained in the preceding report from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure were taken up for immediate consideration and considered simultaneously.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 39, Clifford Family Memorial Bridge.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 41, US Army SGT Philip Ray Casto Memorial Bridge.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 42, US Navy LCDR Helen Elizabeth Peck Memorial Bridge.
At the request of Senator Carmichael, unanimous consent being granted, the resolutions (S. C. R. 38, 39, 41, 42, 44, 45 and 47) contained in the preceding report from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure were taken up for immediate consideration and considered simultaneously.
At the request of Senator Carmichael, unanimous consent being granted, the bill (Eng. H. B. 4235) contained in the preceding report from the Committee on the Judiciary was taken up for immediate consideration, read a first time and ordered to second reading.
At the request of Senator Carmichael, unanimous consent being granted, the bill (Eng. H. B. 4362) contained in the preceding report from the Committee on the Judiciary was taken up for immediate consideration, read a first time and ordered to second reading.
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4487, Relating to state retirement systems.
At the request of Senator Gaunch, unanimous consent being granted, the bill (Eng. Com. Sub. for H. B. 4487) contained in the preceding report from the Committee on Pensions was taken up for immediate consideration, read a first time, ordered to second reading and, under the original double committee reference, was then referred to the Committee on Finance.
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4519, Allowing certain municipalities to elect to participate in the West Virginia Municipal Police Officers and Firefighters Retirement System.
At the request of Senator Gaunch, unanimous consent being granted, the bill (Eng. Com. Sub. for H. B. 4519) contained in the preceding report from the Committee on Pensions was taken up for immediate consideration, read a first time, ordered to second reading and, under the original double committee reference, was then referred to the Committee on Finance, with an amendment from the Committee on Pensions pending.
The Clerk announced the following conference committee report had been filed at 11:37 a.m. today:
Senators Sypolt, Stollings, Williams Plymale, Cline and Unger offered the following resolution:
Senate Concurrent Resolution 60—Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance conduct an interim study of the feasibility of public virtual online schools.
Whereas, A primary responsibility of the Legislature is to ensure a thorough and efficient education for the children of the state; and
Whereas, A variety of educational opportunities should be made available to students including those whose needs are not met in the in the traditional school setting; and
Whereas, There may be a desire to expand upon the use of virtual online programming currently available for West Virginia students who do not excel in a regular school setting and for whom a full-time virtual learning program would better meet their needs; therefore, be it
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the feasibility of public virtual online schools; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Joint Committee on Education its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Senators Sypolt, Stollings, Plymale, Williams, Cline and Unger offered the following resolution:
Senate Concurrent Resolution 61—Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance conduct a study on the best methods to enhance communication between teachers, parents and students to promote student success.
Whereas, The success of youth in grades prekindergarten through twelve is vital to their success as adults and to the future of our state; and
Whereas, Efficient and ongoing communication between teachers, parents and students is crucial to that success; and
Whereas, Internet technology and software resources may enhance communication in and among teachers, parents and students; therefore, be it
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the best methods to enhance communication between teachers, parents and students to promote student success; and, be it
Senators Carmichael, Beach, Williams, Prezioso, Stollings, Plymale, Ashley, Cline, Unger, Leonhardt and Kessler offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution 59—Designating March 3, 2016, as Cancer Survivorship Day.
Whereas, There are 14.5 million cancer survivors alive in the United States because of the efforts of researchers, doctors, volunteers and lawmakers; and
Whereas, This progress must continue through collaboration between lawmakers and citizens to end cancer as a major health issue; therefore, be it
That the Senate hereby designates March 3, 2016, as Cancer Survivorship Day; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Senators Karnes, Williams, Stollings, Plymale, Ashley, Cline, Unger and Leonhardt offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution 60—Recognizing June 12, 2016, as the 75th Anniversary of the American Tree Farm System.
Whereas, Forests, covering one third of the land in the U. S., provide all Americans, including the residents of West Virginia, clean drinking water, clean air and an abundant wildlife habitat; and
Whereas, Forests provide renewable wood for buildings, furniture, energy and paper needs; and
Whereas, In West Virginia, forests provide people with over 30,000 jobs and contribute more than $3.2 billion annually to West Virginia’s economy; and
Whereas, Most of our nation’s forests are owned by the people who make West Virginia and our country great, the citizens; and
Whereas, Seventy-five years ago, the American Tree Farm System was founded to help family and individual woodland owners sustain their forests and the benefits we all receive from them; and
Whereas, With more than 186 individuals and families, who combined own more than 116,000 acres in West Virginia, the American Tree Farm System remains a strong and essential program today to conserve our state’s forests and their benefits, especially in the face of growing pressures such as wildfires, insects and diseases, and development pressures; and
Whereas, Tree farmers invest time, manpower and personal funds to practice sustainable forest management on their land so we can enjoy all the benefits these forests provide us; and
Whereas, The American Tree Farm System is made possible by volunteers from the local small woodlands associations, conservation organizations, forest products companies, university extensions and our own West Virginia Division of Forestry; therefore, be it
That the Senate hereby recognizes June 12, 2016, as the 75th Anniversary of the American Tree Farm System; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the American Tree Farm System.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 62 (originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure)—Requesting Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the benefits of permitting the Division of Highways to continue to be able to enter into comprehensive agreements with a developer under the Public-Private Transportation Facilities Act.
Whereas, In 2008, the West Virginia Legislature passed the Public-Private Transportation Facilities Act and the act was signed into law; and
Whereas, The act allows the West Virginia Division of Highways to partner with a private company on the design and construction of otherwise public transportation facilities; and
Whereas, The act initially permitted the Division of Highways to enter into comprehensive agreements with developers until June 30, 2013; and
Whereas, The act was amended in 2013 to extend the time during which the Division of Highways may enter into comprehensive agreements with developers until June 30, 2017; and
Whereas, The Division of Highways has utilized the act to help finance three major initiatives: The Coalfields Expressway (Mullens Connector to East County Route 12/1); the upgrading of a fourteen-mile section of US 35 (WV 869 to Mason County Route 40); and a section of Corridor H (Kerens to US 219 Connector); and
Whereas, The Division of Highways has recently advertised a Public-Private-Partnership (P3) project for the construction of the Wellsburg Bridge; and
Whereas, The Division of Highways has indicated that the use of the Public-Private-Partnership project delivery allowed it to expedite project delivery, provided for the opening of sections of highway earlier than the traditional design-bid-build delivery method, allowed it to reduce costs for the engineering design for the project and provided stability in managing its cash by providing equal monthly payments to the successful bidder; and
Whereas, The Division of Highways has further indicated that allowing the act to be effective after June 30, 2017, would provide the Division of Highways and the State of West Virginia the necessary flexibility to take advantage of future public and private sector funding opportunities; therefore, be it
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the benefits of permitting the Division of Highways to continue to be able to enter into comprehensive agreements with a developer under the Public-Private Transportation Facilities Act ; and, be it
On motion of Senator Walters, the resolution (S. C. R. 62) contained in the foregoing report from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure was then referred to the Committee on Rules.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 56, Judge Ronald G. Pearson Bridge.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 57, Requesting study on county animal shelter dog and cat population and costs.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 58, Requesting study on issue and advantages of tax map legislation.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 59, U. S. Army SPC 4 Everette R. Johnson Memorial Bridge.
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.
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.).
Enr. Com. Sub. for House Bill 4007, Relating generally to appointment of attorneys to assist the Attorney General.
Senator Carmichael then moved that in accordance with Section 14, Article VII of the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, the Senate reconsider the bill (Enr. Com. Sub. for H. B. 4007), heretofore disapproved and returned by His Excellency, the Governor, with his objections.
The question being on the adoption of Senator Carmichael's motion that the Senate reconsider Enrolled Committee Substitute for House Bill 4007, the same was put and prevailed.
On page two, section three, line thirteen, after the word “them” by changing the period to 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, lines seventy-six and seventy-seven, by striking out all of subdivision (1) and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision, designated 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;”;
On page five, section three-a, lines eighty and eighty-one, by striking out all of subdivision (3);
And by renumbering the remaining subdivision;
On page eight, section three-a, after line one hundred fifty, by adding the following: (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.
On motion of Senator Trump, the following amendment to the House of Delegates amendments to the bill was reported by the Clerk:
Enr. Com. Sub. for House Bill 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 motion of Senator Carmichael, the Senate concurred in the House of Delegates amendments to the bill, as amended.
The question being on the passage of the bill, disapproved by the Governor, as amended.
On the passage of the bill, the yeas were: Ashley, Blair, Boley, Boso, Carmichael, Cline, Ferns, Gaunch, Hall, Karnes, Kessler, Leonhardt, Maynard, Mullins, Palumbo, Plymale, Prezioso, Snyder, Stollings, Sypolt, Takubo, Trump, Walters, Woelfel, Yost and Cole (Mr. President)—26.
The nays were: Beach, Facemire, Kirkendoll, Laird, Miller, Romano, Unger and Williams—8.
So, a majority of all the members elected to the Senate having voted in the affirmative, the President declared the bill (Enr. Com. Sub. for H. B. No. 4007) passed with its title, as amended, as a result of the objections of the Governor.
Whereupon, Senator Ashley, from the committee of conference on matters of disagreement between the two houses, as to
Your committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two houses as to the amendments of the Senate to Engrossed 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:
(c) The provisions of subdivisions (9) through (16), inclusive, subsection (a) of this section do not make subject to the provisions of this chapter any evidence of an immediate threat to public health or safety unrelated to a terrorist act or the threat of a terrorist act which comes to the attention of a public entity in the course of conducting a vulnerability assessment response or similar activity.;
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 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, Chair, Roger Hanshaw, Steven Shaffer, Conferees on the part of the House of Delegates.
Bob Ashley, Chair, Robert Karnes, Michael A. Woelfel, Conferees on the part of the Senate.
Senator Ashley, Senate cochair of the committee of conference, was recognized to explain the report.
Thereafter, on motion of Senator Ashley, the report was taken up for immediate consideration and adopted.
Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 2800, as amended by the conference report, was then put upon its passage.
So, a majority of all the members present and voting having voted in the affirmative, the President declared the bill (Eng. Com. Sub. for H. B. 2800) passed with its conference amended title.
On motion of Senator Carmichael, the Senate adjourned until tomorrow, Friday, March 4, 2016, at 11 a.m.