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Human Rights Commission member urges opposition to state "home rule" bill SB 579
Summary
Annie Cronin Yorrick of Morgantown's Human Rights Commission told the council she opposed state Senate Bill 579 because she said it would limit local human rights protections; she reported local senators voted against the bill in the Senate and urged continued local vigilance
Annie Cronin Yorrick, a member of the Morgantown Human Rights Commission, used the public comment period at the Committee of the Whole meeting on March 25 to warn council about Senate Bill 579, a state-level "home rule" measure she said could remove local human-rights protections.
"I was particularly concerned about the Home Rule bill that was before the senate, SB 579, because it looks to take away any human rights rules that we have made," Yorrick said. She criticized the Senate discussion and said portions of the debate singled out Morgantown’s ordinances, adding: "We are the evil beings here. However, we did something right apparently because even people who are most vehement about eliminating all the important elements of home rule were okay with protecting veterans' rights."
Yorrick said she had contacted legislative offices and that, in the Senate vote, "the two local senators, Mister Alvaro and Garcia, both voted no," which she said was encouraging. She urged continued attention because the bill was expected to move to the House.
Her remarks were presented during the public-comment portion of the Committee of the Whole; council did not take any formal action on the topic during the meeting.
