2013 Legislative News #4

The following is a list of additional legislative proposals which I have sponsored or cosponsored in the West Virginia House of Delegates:

HJR 28 Taxpayer Bill of Rights (Constitutional Revision Committee) Would amend the West Virginia Constitution to require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to increase the General Fund of the state budget and for excess taxes collected to be returned to the taxpayers.

HB 2489 Elected Officials Accountability (Judiciary Committee) Would provide that elected public officials or public employees found guilty of misconduct while in office or employed to forfeit their positions.

HB 2555 County School Board Elections (Political Subdivisions Committee) Would change the election of county school boards from Primary to General elections (ensuring more voter participation).

HB 2556 Reduction in Small Town Expenses (Political Subdivisions Committee) Would reduce newspaper printing expenses of financial statements for Class IV municipalities (Such as the Town of Hedgesville).

HB 2557 Whistle-Blowers (Energy, Industry and Labor, Economic Development and Small Business) Would give state employees, who "blow the whistle" on wrong-doing in government, the protection of a grievance procedure and also fine those who harass whistle-blowers.

HB 2560 Self-Defense Rights in Schools (Education) Would allow school administrators, who have proper permits, to carry a concealed weapon on school grounds.

HB 2565 Ballot Access (Judiciary) Would enhance the ability of minor political parties to get on election ballots.

HB 2568 Non-Partisan Election of Judicial Officials (Constitutional Revision) Would provide an "advisory only" voter referendum on whether or not judges and magistrates should be elected on a non-partisan basis.

HB 2872 Firearms while Hunting or Fishing (Judiciary) Would protect the rights of hunters and fishers to carry unloaded firearms.

HB 2575 Prevailing Wages Rates Reform (Energy, Industry and Labor, Economic Development and Small Business) Would require "prevailing wage" rates on public construction to be determined solely by wages within the county.

HB 2576 Eliminate Prevailing Wage Law (Energy, Industry and Labor, Economic Development and Small Business) Would eliminate the current West Virginia "prevailing wage" law.

The above are only a few of the bills that have been and will be introduced in the West Virginia Legislature (See other and future entries for more). All bills first must be heard and voted upon in their assigned legislative committees before receiving further legislative consideration (Committee assignments are listed after each bill number and title above). For information on other bills introduced and which legislators are assigned to which committees, click on the "WV State Legislature" link under "Links" on the right hand side of this webpage.