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West Virginia Senate advances dozens of bills to third reading; adopts technical amendments to DEP and rulemaking measures
Summary
During a floor session, the West Virginia Senate advanced numerous committee substitutes toward third reading, adopted technical amendments clarifying DEP penalty deposits and criminal-indictment language, laid over several bills for one day, and received multiple committee reports and House messages for referral.
The West Virginia Senate spent its floor session advancing a large number of committee substitutes and House messages, adopting several technical amendments and referring multiple House-passed measures to committee. Several bills were engrossed and advanced to third reading, while others were laid over for one day to retain their calendar positions.
The session opened with second readings of multiple committee substitutes, including the Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 505, “Ensuring Reliable and Affordable Electricity Act,” and the Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 529, relating to liability insurance coverage for boards of education; both were ordered to be engrossed and advanced to third reading. The chamber also took up Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 570, concerning economic-impact statements for certain legislative rules; Senator Rucker moved an amendment on page 2, section 11, line 21 and the amendment was explained on the floor by the senator representing Jefferson, who said the change was technical and did not change the bill’s meaning: "The agency is required to file with a proposed rule. Technical changes to the bill and does not change the meaning or impact of the bill as it was reported from committee. I urge adoption of the amendment." The bill was ordered engrossed in advance of third reading.
The Senate adopted an amendment to Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 823, which clarifies and separates duties between the Division of Emergency Management and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Senator Recker moved the amendment and the senator speaking for Jefferson explained that the amendment specifies that civil penalties imposed by DEP for well and pipeline accidents are to be deposited into the same fund as civil penalties for mine and industrial accidents. The presiding officer announced: "The ayes do have it. I declare the amendment adopted." The bill was ordered engrossed in advance of third reading.
Senate action also included adoption of an amendment to Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 864. The senator from Brooke explained that the amendment removes subsection (e) from the bill because the provision could create confusion between what must be charged in an indictment and what must be proven at trial; after debate the presiding officer declared the amendment adopted and the bill was ordered engrossed in advance of third reading. The senator from Brooke urged adoption, saying the amendment was offered "to do so" to avoid confusion and volunteered to answer questions.
Several bills were temporarily laid over for one day while retaining their place on the calendar at the request of the senator from Lewis. Those included Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 690 (authorizing county commissions to increase compensation of elected county officials), Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 763 (creating a public electrical savings act) and Engrossed House Bill 2402 (relating to access to minors’ medical records), among others. The Senate received and referred multiple House messages, including House Bill 2646 (allowing eighth- and ninth-grade students to attend summer school to raise grades) to the Committee on Education and House Bill 2960 (allowing the Division of Highways to contract out snow removal on certain secondary roads) to the Committee on Finance.
Floor leaders also presented numerous committee reports recommending committee substitutes or engrossed bills be read for the first time and advanced; committee chairs who signed reports included Jason Barrett (Finance), Craig A. Hart (Agriculture), Michael T. Azinger (Banking and Insurance), Bill Hamilton (Natural Resources) and Brian Helton (select committee on substance use disorder and mental health). Several committee reports were received and the clerk read those bills for first reading, after which the bills were advanced.
The Senate concluded the day's business by agreeing to stand adjourned until the next scheduled session at 11 a.m. the following day after a motion to adjourn was made from the floor and carried.
