Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bulletin_Board/2017/RS/s_journal/sdj2017-03-16-37.htm
Timestamp: 2017-12-13 03:42:07
Document Index: 347888086

Matched Legal Cases: ['§14', '§14', '§18', '§60', '§8', '§8', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§60', '§29', '§11', '§19', '§19', '§29', '§29', '§47', '§47', '§18', '§17', '§15', '§50', '§62', '§15', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§5']

Charleston, West Virginia, Thursday, March 16, 2017
Prayer was offered by Carl Kinder, Lay Pastor from Bible Center Church, Charleston, West Virginia.
Pending the reading of the Journal of Wednesday, March 15, 2017,
The Clerk presented the following communications from a state agency as required by the provisions of law:
Annual Report (§14-2-25)
Crime Victims Compensation Fund (§14-2A-21)
A message from The Clerk of the House of Delegates announced the concurrence by that body in the Senate amendments to the House of Delegates amendments to, and the passage as amended, with its Senate amended title, to take effect July 1, 2017, of
Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill 2618—A Bill to amend and reenact §18-2-7a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to body mass index.
Your Joint Committee on Enrolled Bills has examined, found truly enrolled, and on the 15th day of March, 2017, 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. 2347), Allowing schools licensed to provide barber, cosmetology and related training to hold theory classes and clinical classes at different locations.
Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 290 (originating in the Committee on Economic Development), Authorizing operators of distillery or mini-distillery offer for purchase and consumption of liquor on Sundays.
Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 290 (originating in the Committee on the Judiciary)—A Bill to amend and reenact §60-4-3a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to authorizing operators of a distillery or mini-distillery to offer products produced at the distillery or mini-distillery for retail sale to customers for consumption off the premises on Sundays beginning at one o’clock p.m.; and providing that a distillery or mini-distillery located on a farm shall be required to meet only such state and local building and fire regulations as apply to structures on parcels of land used primarily for agricultural purposes.
Senate Bill 374, Relating to computing retirement benefits for certain members of Legislature.
Senate Bill 608, Clarifying lawful business structures are unaffected by enactment of prohibitory legislation.
Senate Bill 335, Repealing consumers sales and service tax, use tax and personal income tax.
Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 335 (originating in the Select Committee on Tax Reform)—A Bill to amend and reenact §8-1-5a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §8-13C-15; to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §11-13A-26 and §11-13A-27; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §11-13DD-1, §11-13DD-2, §11-13DD-3 and §11-13DD-4; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §11-13EE-1, §11-13EE-2, §11-13EE-3 and §11-13EE-4; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-15-34; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-15A-30; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §11-15C-1, §11-15C-2, §11-15C-3, §11-15C-4, §11-15C-5, §11-15C-6, §11-15C-7, §11-15C-8, §11-15C-9, §11-15C-10, §11-15C-11, §11-15C-12, §11-15C-13, §11-15C-14, §11-15C-15, §11-15C-16, §11-15C-17, §11-15C-18, §11-15C-19, §11-15C-20, §11-15C-21, §11-15C-22, §11-15C-23, §11-15C-24, §11-15C-25, §11-15C-26 and §11-15C-27; to amend and reenact §11-16-13 of said code; to amend and reenact §11-17-4b of said code; to amend and reenact §11-19-1 and §11-19-2 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-21-4g; to amend and reenact §11-21-8a of said code; to amend and reenact §11-21-12 of said code; to amend and reenact §11-24-4 of said code; to amend and reenact §11-24-23a of said code; and to amend and reenact §60-3A-17 of said code, all relating generally to creating the 2017 Tax Reform Act; preserving the municipal sales and use taxes; contingently reducing the rate of the severance tax on certain natural resource production; prospectively balancing of the rate of the severance tax on the production of coal; providing a refundable credit based on the earned income of low-income workers; providing a refundable credit based on the fixed income of low-income senior citizens; prospectively repealing the consumers sales and service tax and the use tax; prospectively increasing the rates of tax on sales of non-intoxicating beer; prospectively repealing the excise tax on e-cigarette liquids; prospectively increasing the rate of tax on sales of soft drinks; reducing, making uniform, contingently phasing down the rate of, and ultimately repealing, the personal income tax; prospectively increasing the personal income tax credit for qualified rehabilitated building investments; prospectively exempting from the personal income tax all social security retirement, survivors’ and disability income, and all retirement income for military service; contingently phasing down the rate of, and ultimately repealing, the corporation net income tax; prospectively increasing the corporation net income tax credit for qualified rehabilitated building investments; prospectively increasing the state’s profits on wholesale liquor sales and enacting the revised sales, service and use tax law; making findings; defining terms; imposing the tax; authorizing exemptions; providing compliance procedures; dedicating portions of the revenue; and establishing effective dates with respect thereto.
The bill (Com. Sub. for S. B. 335), under the original double committee reference, was then referred to the Committee on Finance.
Senate Bill 621—A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §29A-3B-13, relating to providing that at any point after a county board of education provides written notice to the state board that it is considering or in the process of closing or consolidating a school or schools, any revision or supplementation to certain rules is not applicable to the school closing or consolidation project described in the county board’s notification to the state board.
Senate Bill 622—A Bill to amend and reenact §11-10-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating generally to tax procedures and administration; providing for additional circumstances when the Tax Commissioner may withdraw tax liens; and providing for additional circumstances when the Tax Commissioner may issue a certificate of release of lien.
Senate Bill 623—A Bill to amend and reenact §19-23-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to changing the license period for horse and dog racing from a calendar year to a fiscal year basis effective July 1, 2017; to terminate any horse or dog racing licenses issued by the Racing Commission for calendar year 2016 effective June 30, 2017; and removing the requirement that a license applicant apply for not less than two hundred racing dates.
Senate Bill 624—A Bill to amend and reenact §19-23-12b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §29-22A-3 of said code; and to amend and reenact §29-22C-10 of said code, all relating to decreasing the minimum number of live racing days that a horse racing licensee must conduct in order to contract with any legal wagering entity in this state or in any other governmental jurisdiction to receive telecasts and accept wagers conducted by the legal wagering entity; allowing a license applicant to apply for fewer than the minimum number of live racing dates in certain circumstances and to establish the process to be used for determining such an application; allowing a racing licensee to request that it be permitted to reduce the number of live racing days that it conducts after its license has been granted if there are insufficient purse funds or other just cause; establishing that a person authorized to act upon behalf of the group representing the majority of owners and trainers at the requesting track or a person authorized to act upon behalf of the majority of mutuel clerks at the requesting track has standing to file an objection with the Racing Commission to a request from a racing licensee to reduce the number of live racing days after its license has been granted; authorizing the Racing Commission to promulgate rules to govern hearings that it holds to determine the required number of live racing days under; reducing the number of live racing days which a racing licensee shall not be approved by the racing commission unless it meets certain criteria; and requiring a racing licensee to submit a current financial statement pertaining to its racing operations and its purse fund account if it makes a request to conduct fewer live racing days.
Senate Bill 625—A Bill to amend and reenact §47-20-23 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §47-21-21 of said code, all relating generally to charitable bingo games and charitable raffles; and setting forth procedures for appealing administrative sanctions against charitable bingo or charitable raffle licensee by timely petitioning the Office of Tax Appeals.
Senate Bill 626—A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-5A-7, relating to teachers posting online a required calendar of scheduled activities in their classes that can be viewed by the parents of their students.
By Senators Karnes and Facemire:
Senate Bill 627—A Bill to amend and reenact §17C-6-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the establishment of an eighty-mile per hour speed limit on interstate highways and four-lane limited access highways in this state; and providing an exception for those highways passing through city limits.
By Senators Rucker, Boso, Sypolt, Trump and Cline:
Senate Bill 628—A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §15-5-29; to amend and reenact §50-3-2 of said code; and to amend and reenact §62-5-10 of said code, all relating to providing funding for the Statewide Interoperable Radio Network through additional court costs to be imposed in criminal cases.
Senate Bill 629—A Bill to amend and reenact §15-5A-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to collection of Tier II fees for chemical inventories.
By Senators Mann, Hall and Sypolt:
Senate Bill 630—A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-5F-1, §18-5F-2, §18-5F-3, §18-5F-4 and §18-5F-5, all relating to establishing the Accessibility and Equity in Public Education Enhancement Act; setting forth legislative findings and purpose; defining terms; allowing a county board or a multicounty consortium to create a virtual instruction program for one or more schools serving any composition of grades kindergarten through twelve by adopting a policy creating the program and contracting with virtual school providers; requiring students to be counted in the net enrollment of the school district for the purposes of calculating state aid, be subject to the same state assessment requirements as other students in the school district and receive a diploma upon completing the virtual instruction program requirements; exempting, to a limited extent, certain students, parents and school districts from certain laws and state board policies that pertain to requiring the student to be in a school building receiving instruction for any set period of time; providing that a participating student be considered to be attending a certain school; allowing the student to participate in any cocurricular and extracurricular activities of the school under the same requirements imposed on traditional students attending the school; exempting a county board from certain provisions of law or state board rule to the extent any conflict with the delivery of the program; exempting a county board from certain online course restrictions; requiring coursework offered through a program be aligned to certain academic standards; and requiring the assessment results of a student be included in the assessment results of the school in which the student is considered to be enrolled and the school district for purposes of accountability.
Senate Joint Resolution 8—Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, amending article X thereof by adding thereto a new section, designated section thirteen, relating to fair and simple tax reform; repealing sections of article X; repealing the personal property tax; limitations on the personal income tax; authorizing new classes of real property taxes; creating a state infrastructure and equalization fund; providing for block grants to local schools and governments for education and infrastructure; establishing exemptions to the real property tax; limiting the excise tax, sales and use tax, corporate net income tax and other taxes; redirecting bond revenue; limiting reinstatement of taxes; grandfathering tax benefits earned prior to the ratification of this amendment; establishing a supremacy clause; providing for general law implementation; numbering and designating such proposed amendment; and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of such proposed amendment.
Referred to the Select Committee on Tax Reform; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 42—Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 12-48-1.74, EB-WB (12A120,12A121), (39.21219, -79.26886), locally known as US 48 over Stony River Bridge, carrying US 48 over the Stony River in Grant County, the “Five Champ Brothers Bridge”.
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 12-48-1.74, EB-WB (12A120, 12A121), (39.21219, -79.26886), locally known as US 48 over Stony River Bridge, carrying US 48 over the Stony River in Grant County, the “Five Champ Brothers Bridge”; and, be it
Senators Palumbo, Stollings, Beach, Facemire and Plymale offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution 38—Recognizing Karen Donathan for her exemplary service to West Virginia in computer science education and congratulating her for winning the Award for Teaching Excellence in Computer Science.
Whereas, Founded in 2004, the Computer Science Teachers Association has grown into a dynamic and vibrant organization of professionals interested in supporting computer science education in K-12. Today, their membership consists of more than 25,000 members from more than 145 countries; and
Whereas, The Computer Science Teachers Association’s mission is to empower, engage and advocate for K-12 computer science teachers worldwide; and
Whereas, Karen Donathan is a member of the Computer Science Teachers Association and is a computer science teacher at George Washington High School in Charleston, West Virginia; and
Whereas, Computer science teachers shoulder a tremendous responsibility as stewards of our children’s computer science education that will influence and shape our digital future; and
Whereas, For her innovative and enthusiastic approach to teaching computer science at George Washington High School, Karen Donathan was one of only 10 teachers from around the world to be named a winner of the Award for Teaching Excellence in Computer Science; therefore be it
That the Senate hereby recognizes Karen Donathan for her exemplary service to West Virginia in computer science education and congratulates her for winning the Award for Teaching Excellence in Computer Science; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Karen Donathan for her dedicated public service to the children of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Karen Donathan.
Thereafter, at the request of Senator Ferns, and by unanimous consent, the remarks by Senator Palumbo regarding the adoption of Senate Resolution 38 were ordered printed in the Appendix to the Journal.
Senators Palumbo, Stollings, Beach, Facemire, Plymale, Unger, Cline and Prezioso offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution 39—Designating March 16, 2017, as Innovation and Entrepreneurship Day at the Capitol.
Whereas, Research and innovation continue to be bedrocks of the nation’s economic strength and vitality, and facilitating innovation-based economic development and the growth of entrepreneurial companies are critical to our state’s future and prosperity; and
Whereas, Research and development activities being done in both federally funded, university and private laboratories in our state are important for new discoveries, scientific and engineering solutions and potential commercialization opportunities; and
Whereas, Improving access to early stage, seed and risk capital remains a critical need that is being addressed by various programs, such as the West Virginia Capital Access Program, the INNOVA Commercialization Fund, the West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust and other vital lending programs; and
Whereas, More than 130 organizations, agencies and companies are working together to help advance the state’s innovation and entrepreneurship potential and capacity; and
Whereas, West Virginia has developed an integrated ecosystem of public and private organizations, agencies and financial firms working collaboratively to spur entrepreneurship, innovation enterprises and job creation; and
Whereas, Many of these innovation drivers are here at the Capitol today as part of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Day hosted by TechConnect West Virginia and TransTech Energy Business Development Program; therefore, be it
That the Senate hereby designates March 16, 2017, as Innovation and Entrepreneurship Day at the Capitol; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate acknowledges the long-term economic opportunities that an innovation-based economy and entrepreneurial culture can provide our state’s citizens; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the representatives of TechConnect West Virginia and TransTech Energy Business Development Program.
Thereafter, at the request of Senator Ferns, and by unanimous consent, the remarks by Senator Palumbo regarding the adoption of Senate Resolution 39 were ordered printed in the Appendix to the Journal.
Upon expiration of the recess, the Senate reconvened and, at the request of Senator Plymale, unanimous consent being granted, returned to the second order of business and the introduction of guests.
Thereafter, at the request of Senator Ojeda, and by unanimous consent, the remarks by Senators Plymale and Woelfel as to the introduction of the Spring Valley High School football team were ordered printed in the Appendix to the Journal.
Senator Ojeda presented a petition from Margaret Vance and three hundred sixty West Virginia residents, requesting the continuation of the JROTC program in Logan County schools.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 40, Requesting study on available funds for improvements at Beech Fork State Park and Cacapon Resort State Park.
Eng. Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 186, Adjusting date when children become eligible for certain school programs and school attendance requirements.
Senator Unger moved that Engrossed Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 186 be referred to the Committee on Rules.
The question being on the adoption of Senator Unger’s aforestated motion, the same was put and did not prevail.
Pending further discussion,
The question now being “Shall Engrossed Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 186 pass?”
On the passage of the bill, the yeas were: Azinger, Beach, Blair, Boley, Boso, Clements, Cline, Facemire, Ferns, Gaunch, Hall, Jeffries, Karnes, Mann, Maroney, Maynard, Miller, Ojeda, Palumbo, Plymale, Prezioso, Romano, Rucker, Smith, Stollings, Swope, Sypolt, Takubo, Trump, Weld and Carmichael (Mr. President)—31.
The nays were: Unger and Woelfel—2.
Absent: Mullins—1.
So, a majority of all the members present and voting having voted in the affirmative, the President declared the bill (Eng. Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for S. B. 186) passed with its title.
Eng. Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 192, Relating generally to licensed surveyors.
The question being “Shall Engrossed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 192 pass?”
On the passage of the bill, the yeas were: Azinger, Blair, Boley, Boso, Clements, Cline, Ferns, Gaunch, Hall, Karnes, Mann, Maroney, Maynard, Miller, Palumbo, Plymale, Prezioso, Rucker, Smith, Stollings, Swope, Sypolt, Takubo, Trump, Unger, Weld, Woelfel and Carmichael (Mr. President)—28.
The nays were: Beach, Facemire, Jeffries, Ojeda and Romano—5.
So, a majority of all the members present and voting having voted in the affirmative, the President declared the bill (Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 192) passed with its title.
On this question, the yeas were: Azinger, Blair, Boley, Boso, Clements, Cline, Ferns, Gaunch, Hall, Karnes, Mann, Maroney, Maynard, Miller, Palumbo, Plymale, Prezioso, Rucker, Smith, Stollings, Swope, Sypolt, Takubo, Trump, Unger, Weld, Woelfel and Carmichael (Mr. President)—28.
So, two thirds of all the members elected to the Senate having voted in the affirmative, the President declared the bill (Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 192) takes effect from passage.
Eng. Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 413, Relating to bids on government construction contracts.
On the passage of the bill, the yeas were: Azinger, Beach, Blair, Boley, Boso, Clements, Cline, Facemire, Ferns, Gaunch, Hall, Jeffries, Karnes, Mann, Maroney, Maynard, Miller, Ojeda, Palumbo, Plymale, Prezioso, Romano, Rucker, Smith, Stollings, Swope, Sypolt, Takubo, Trump, Unger, Weld, Woelfel and Carmichael (Mr. President)—33.
So, a majority of all the members present and voting having voted in the affirmative, the President declared the bill (Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 413) passed.
Eng. Com. Sub for Senate Bill 413—A Bill to amend and reenact §5-22-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the solicitation for bids for government construction contracts; submitting bids on government construction contracts; defining the term “alternates”; limiting the number of alternates that may be included on any solicitation of bids for government construction contracts; providing that a bid proposal for an alternate shall expire one hundred fifty days after the date of the opening of bids for review; establishing procedures for acceptance of alternate bids and determination of the lowest qualified responsible bidder; and providing procedures for the required submission of a list of subcontractors who will perform more than $25,000 of work on certain projects.
Eng. Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 471, Relating to state ownership of wildlife.
The question being “Shall Engrossed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 471 pass?”
So, a majority of all the members present and voting having voted in the affirmative, the President declared the bill (Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 471) passed with its title.
Eng. Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 474, Exempting names of licensed hunters from public disclosure.
Eng. Senate Bill 495, Relating to regulation of events by State Athletic Commission.
The question being “Shall Engrossed Senate Bill 495 pass?”
So, a majority of all the members present and voting having voted in the affirmative, the President declared the bill (Eng. S. B. 495) passed with its title.
On the passage of the bill, the yeas were: Azinger, Beach, Blair, Boley, Boso, Clements, Cline, Facemire, Ferns, Gaunch, Hall, Jeffries, Karnes, Mann, Maroney, Maynard, Miller, Ojeda, Palumbo, Plymale, Prezioso, Rucker, Smith, Stollings, Swope, Sypolt, Takubo, Trump, Unger, Weld, Woelfel and Carmichael (Mr. President)—32.
So, a majority of all the members present and voting having voted in the affirmative, the President declared the bill (Eng. Com. Sub. for S. B. 531) passed with its title.
Eng. Senate Bill 536, Authorizing tracking of wounded or injured bear or deer.
So, a majority of all the members present and voting having voted in the affirmative, the President declared the bill (Eng. S. B. 536) passed with its title.
Eng. Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 575, Limiting nuisance actions against shooting ranges for noise.
The question being “Shall Engrossed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 575 pass?”
On the passage of the bill, the yeas were: Azinger, Blair, Boley, Boso, Clements, Cline, Ferns, Gaunch, Hall, Karnes, Mann, Maroney, Maynard, Prezioso, Rucker, Smith, Swope, Sypolt, Trump, Unger, Weld and Carmichael (Mr. President)—22.
The nays were: Beach, Facemire, Jeffries, Miller, Ojeda, Palumbo, Plymale, Romano, Stollings, Takubo and Woelfel—11.
On motion of Senator Palumbo, the following amendments to the bill were reported by the and considered simultaneously:
On page two, section three, line seven, by striking out the words “the vacancy occurred” and inserting in lieu thereof the words “of his or her election or, if not elected, at the time of his or her appointment”;
The question being on the adoption of Senator Palumbo’s amendments to the bill, the same was put.
A standing vote being taken, there were fourteen "yeas" and nineteen "nays".
Whereupon, Senator Carmichael (Mr. President) declared Senator Palumbo's amendments to the bill rejected.
The bill (Com. Sub. for S. B. 255) was then ordered to engrossment and third reading.
Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 16, Repealing section related to wind power projects.
Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 308, Clarifying administrative and law-enforcement activities of DNR police officers are important to conservation and management of state’s fish and wildlife.
Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 500, Relating to Medicaid fraud and abuse.
Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 559, Relating to limited video lottery.
Com. Sub. for Senate Bill 581, Relating generally to administration of trusts.
Senate Bill 620, Relating to traffic regulations.
Remarks were made by Senators Woelfel, Mann and Plymale.
Thereafter, at the request of Senator Blair, and by unanimous consent, the remarks by Senators Mann and Plymale were ordered printed in the Appendix to the Journal.
On motion of Senator Ferns, the Senate adjourned until tomorrow, Friday, March 17, 2017, at 11 a.m.