CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates met on Tuesday for day three of August interim sessions for the West Virginia Legislature, completing action on thirteen bills and amending eight which had gone through the Senate.
One bill which saw passage, Senate Bill 1026, will allocate $150,000,000 in surplus funds to the Division of Highways State Road Fund, While Senate Bill 1027 appropriates surplus funding to the Division of Highways for equipment and maintenance such as paving in the amounts of $50,000 and $100,000, respectively.
Senate Bills 1006 and 1007, pertaining to corrections, saw approval on Tuesday. SB 1006 extends to the period of validity for temporary ID cards which are provided to inmates upon release from incarceration. The period, previously set at 90 days, has been extended to 180 days following approval of the bill. SB 1007 will require reimbursement to counties by municipalities for up to five days of regional jail per diem fees upon incarceration of an individual in a regional jail by municipalities and prosecution in a magistrate when prosecuting could have occurred in a municipal court.
$25 million will be allocated to the Economic Development Authority for the construction of an airline hangar for the Pierpoint Aviation Mechanic Program as part of Senate Bill 1029. The current hanger is reportedly maxed out on class limit, and the proposed hangar will allow for increased class sizes. The hangar will be rented by Pierpoint Aviation from the EDA at a nominal rate before later transitioning to payment at market rate.
While some House members posited that the issue could simply be addressed at a later time during the regular session of the legislature, supporters pointed out need for such an economic investment in the state.
Among the bills which saw amendment in the House were Senate Bill 1003, which increases the surplus allocation to the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation to $5,827,834. The amendment would allow for two bonus payments in the amount of $2,294 to non-uniformed employees.
Another bill which saw amendment was Senate Bill 1009 which prohibits state funds to be utilized in facilitating of medical procedures for inmates deemed to be not medically necessary. With the amendment, the bill makes clear that the determination of medical necessity must be made by a medical professional and that contraceptives may be provided to inmates.
Through Senate Bill 1021, fire protection funds will be created for administration by the Department of Homeland Security Secretary. The All County Fire Protection Fund will be allocated to all West Virginia counties based on population percentage. The County Fire Protection Fund will be allocated among counties with a countywide excess levy or county-wide fee dedicated to fire or emergency services. This fund will also be allocated based on population percentages.
12 million surplus dollars stand to be allocated to the Division of Emergency Management through Senate Bill 1022 for a number of appropriations. These include $3 million to the All County Fire Protection Fund, $3 million toward the County Fire Protection Fund, and $6 to the Fire Protection Fund.
The Senate and House were in agreement regarding amendments proposed by the Senate to Senate Bill 1021, while Senate Bill 1022 was a more contentious issue. The proposed $12,000,000 appropriation for the Division of Emergency Management saw a change in origin through the amendment, pulling funds from the General Revenue Fund for the FY24 Budget rather than the original source of the General Revenue Surplus. Action was ultimately completed on the bill when the House concurred with the Senate.
Additional information on Tuesday’s session and recent developments from the West Virginia Legislature can be found at www.wvlegislature.gov.