The state legislature gave final approval to more bills Saturday, the final day of the 60-day legislative session, than it did during the previous 59 days.
The House and Senate passed approximately 220 bills overall the last two months with about 125 of those during 13 hours on the floor Saturday.
Among the bills approved:
–a bill that would require the state’s health insurance program, PEIA, to pay for maternity services of dependents of those covered by the plan.
–a measure requiring sheriff’s departments to provide bulletproof vests for all county deputies.
–a bill making it a misdemeanor crime for a person on a grand jury to disclose the identity of someone who had been indicted.
–tanning bed regulations aimed at teenagers.
–reducing the amount of money available for a tax credit under the WV Film Office.
–changing water quality standards when it comes to selenium.
–an adjustment in the judicial retirement plan that will reduce what some circuit judges pay into the program, resulting in a take home pay increase of $4,100 for some judges.
–a bill to combine Bridgemont and Kanawha Valley Community and Technical colleges.
–making permanent the Supreme Court Election Public Financing program.
–the governor’s drugged driving bill.
–a bill making it illegal for teenagers to participate in sexting.
It will take several days to get the bills down to the desk of Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and then several more days for his legal staff to review them before he decides to sign them into law or veto the measures.
The state budget conference committee will begin meeting Monday. A budget will likely be agreed on by the end of the week.