CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The House of Delegates is getting itself in position for the final two weeks of the 60-day legislative session.
Delegates passed several bills Friday and sent them to the Senate and lined up a few dozen others for passage next week before Wednesday’s cross-over day.
Mine Safety bill
Much of Friday’s floor session was dominated by a debate over HB 4840 which makes significant changes to the state Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training.
The bill, which was originated Thursday in the House Government Organization Committee, would point the agency more toward training than enforcement.
Democrats attempted a procedural move Friday to send the bill to the House Judiciary Committee for further discussion.
“Most of these laws—they’re written in blood. They’re written because there was a disaster and there was something that happened that we need stricter laws,” Del. Kayla Young, D-Kanawha, said. “I don’t know why we wouldn’t give this (HB 4840) more serious consideration in the committee process.”
But Government Organization Committee Chairman Brandon Steele, R-Raleigh, stood by the bill. He said there are currently 83 mines in West Virginia with 120 state inspectors. He said there needs to be a refocusing.
“What the purpose of this bill is to get our mine inspectors back in the business of training and inspecting mines and helping miners out,” Steele said.
The move by the Democrats was defeated. The bill will be taken up by the full House next week.
Cable company bill
HB 4773, which deals with cable companies, easily passed the House on a 94-1 vote Friday.
The measure takes aim at cable companies with franchise agreements. It mandates, among other things, that customer call-in centers be established in the state.
Lawmakers and others have heavily criticized Suddenlink for its service in West Virginia. The state Public Service Commission recently handed down an order that included a $2.1 million fine.
Del. Daniel Linville said it’s past due to take these steps.
“We’re at a fork in the road, you either get free market competition or you’ve got to regulate. It’s one of the two,” Linville said.
Del. Mick Bates, R-Raleigh, said the House bill also says a cable company can’t charge customers for a paper bill.
“This fixes that. It says you cannot do it. So our of your constituents’ bills are going to go down by one dollar next month,” Bates told fellow House members.
Transportation agencies combined
The House passed HB 4492 Friday that creates a new division of the Department of Transportation.
The Division of Multimodal Transportation which would combine the Public Port Authority, the West Virginia State Rail Authority and the state Aeronautics Commission into one division.
Political contributions to state party
Delegates agreed to an amendment Friday to HB 4419 which allows for candidates to contribute to his or her state party executive committee.
The original bill had no set limit. Delegates agreed with an amendment from Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, Friday to set the limit at $75,000.
Family Court judges retirement
Earlier Friday, the House Finance Committee agreed to a bill that would switch Family Court judges to the more lucrative judicial retirement system.
Those judges have been part of the public employees retirement system (PERS) since the Family Court system was created.
HB 2300 will be on the floor of the House next week for a vote.
Cameras in work zones
Delegates also lined up HB 4595 for passage next week in a procedural move Friday.
The bill would allow for enforcement cameras in work zones. Delegates removed a second committee reference that was originally attached to the bill.
The bill, which is backed by the Contractors Association of West Virginia, generated a lot of discussion when it was before the House Judiciary Committee.
Senate delays action on House resolution
The Senate decided to delay action Friday on the House passed resolution that proposes a vote on a constitutional amendment that would require all state Board of Education policies to come before the legislature for review.