CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The House of Delegates convened Tuesday with Delegates getting to work advancing multiple bills through the House.
Those passed included House Bill 2509, which establishes the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act. The bill, filed for introduction January 12, 2023, affords parties the opportunity to undergo a marriage contract prior to marriage with respect to property rights, actions to be taken upon potential dissolution of marriage, rights to insurance proceeds upon the death of either party, choice of controlling law, and any other matters not in violation of criminal statutes or public policy.
The bill’s lead sponsor is Delegate Brandon Steele (R-Raleigh, 42,) and the bill passed overwhelmingly to 92 yeas, 4 nays, and 4 absent voters before being communicated to the Senate.
An amendment was made to the bill on Monday to clarify that no one under the age of 18 would be able to enter into a contract of this nature.
House Bill 2850, introduced January 20, 2023, clarifies entitlements for general education teachers that provides academic support for students identified as having an exceptionality whose least restrictive environment remains the general education classroom.
The bill saw three readings before being passed unanimously to 96 yeas, 0 nays, and 4 voters absent.
House Bill 2569 established the Motorsport Responsibility Act, setting forth liabilities and duties of motorsport participants and motorsport operators and passed unanimously through the House.
Outdated code provisions relating to the WV Graduate College and Marshall University were removed with the passage of House Bill 2835, which additionally saw unanimous passage.
House Bill 2890 modifies teacher and other school personnel authority as pertaining to student discipline requiring the removal of a student from the classroom area.
This bill requires each county school board to implement a tier system policy, with teacher input, to the end of providing a framework in which student behaviors and punishments may be assessed. Each of the five amendments presented to the bill were rejected.
House Bill 2017 and House Bill 2510 were moved by the House Rules Committee from the House Special Calendar (active) to the House Calendar (inactive.)
Two bills were amended on the second reading, including House Bill 2596, which clarifies reasons transfers to other schools may be denied by county education boards. Tuesday’s amendment removes ten total unexcused absences and suspension of level three or four offenses as a reason a nonresident student may be denied transfer to another county. The lead sponsor on the bill is Delegate Christopher W. Toney (R-Raleigh, 43.)
The authority of the foster care ombudsman was updated with House Bill 3061, for which an amendment was adopted Tuesday stating that the foster care ombudsman may protect anonymity of staff through official foster care investigations, relating to work notes, products, and case files.
However, it should be noted that the ombudsman may not exercise said authority over other types of investigation relating to employment. The lead sponsor for House Bill 3061 is Delegate Amy Summers (R-Taylor, 073.)
The House is adjourned until Wednesday, February 1, 2023.
Additional LOOTPRESS coverage of the WV Legislative Sessions can be found here.
