WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

SENATE JOURNAL

SEVENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION, 2006

SEVENTH DAY

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Charleston, W. Va., Tuesday, January 17, 2006

The Senate met at 11 a.m.
(Senator Tomblin, Mr. President, in the Chair.)

Prayer was offered by Pastor Franklin D. Thomas, Living Faith Church, Marmet, West Virginia.
Pending the reading of the Journal of Monday, January 16, 2006,
On motion of Senator Jenkins, the Journal was approved and the further reading thereof dispensed with.
The Senate proceeded to the second order of business and the introduction of guests.
The Senate then proceeded to the sixth order of business.
On motions for leave, severally made, the following bills and joint resolution were introduced, read by their titles, and referred to the appropriate committees:
By Senator Deem:
Senate Bill No. 176--A Bill to amend and reenact §18B-10-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to tuition and fees at institutions of higher education; and authorizing each higher education governing board to increase fees of students taking more hours of course work than the number of hours of course work defined as full time.
Referred to the Committee on Education; and then to the Committee on Finance.
By Senators Bowman, Caruth, Jenkins and Love:
Senate Bill No. 177--A Bill to amend and reenact §29-21-16 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring circuit judges to order repayment of the costs of representation provided by the public defender system under certain circumstances; and requiring State Auditor to report on amounts repaid.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance.
By Senators Oliverio, McKenzie and Prezioso:
Senate Bill No. 178--A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §30-41-1, §30-41-2, §30-41-3, §30-41-4, §30-41-5, §30-41-6, §30-41-7, §30-41-8, §30-41-9, §30-41-10 and §30-41-11, all relating to establishment of the Athletic Training Licensure Act of 2006; providing for licensure of athletic trainers; defining the practice of athletic training and athletic injury; establishing the Athletic Training Licensure Board; providing for operation of the board; providing fees and costs associated therewith; setting forth the powers and duties of the board; providing for educational and licensing requirements for practice as an athletic trainer; providing continuing education; providing enforcement powers and procedures; providing penalties; and providing exemptions, including provisions exempting licensed medical practitioners, student athletic trainers and state-certified athletic trainers practicing in secondary school settings.
Referred to the Committee on Government Organization; and then to the Committee on Finance.
By Senator Love:
Senate Bill No. 179--A Bill to amend and reenact §5-10-15a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to allowing state employees who were unable to convert accumulated sick leave into credited service for retirement, due to having to use it during times of illness, to have the option to purchase it back by having withholdings taken from future pay.
Referred to the Committee on Pensions; and then to the Committee on Finance.
By Senators Deem and Barnes:
Senate Bill No. 180--A Bill to amend and reenact §17-24A-1 and §17-24A-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to abandoned motor vehicles; definitions; exceptions; and penalties.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Senator Deem:
Senate Bill No. 181--A Bill to amend and reenact §5A-4-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §29-1-1 of said code, all relating to placing the West Virginia Cultural Center under the authority and control of the General Services Division of the Department of Administration.
Referred to the Committee on Government Organization; and then to the Committee on Finance.
By Senators Tomblin (Mr. President) and Sprouse (By Request of the Executive):
Senate Bill No. 182--A Bill to amend and reenact §5A-1-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §5A-3-4, §5A-3-10, §5A-3-10a, §5A-3-11, §5A-3-19, §5A-3-33d and §5A-3-45 of said code; and to amend said code by adding thereto seven new sections, designated §5A-3-10b, §5A-3-10c, §5A-3-11a, §5A-3-11b, §5A-3-11c, §5A-3-11d and §5A-3-11e, all relating to the Purchasing Division of the Department of Administration; providing for power and duties of the Director of the Purchasing Division; defining certain terms; providing for annual vendor fee; describing qualifications of state buyers; providing requirements for competitive bids; authorizing Director of the Purchasing Division to conduct compliance reviews of spending units; providing for bids by electronic transmission; providing for bid solicitation requirements; prohibiting contract awards to debtors of state; providing for best value procurement; providing for sole source procurement; providing requirements for open market purchases; providing requirements for contract awards; providing requirements for delivery of bids to the Purchasing Division; providing for special purchases; authorizing the Director of the Purchasing Division to engage in competitive negotiations and discussions with responsible bidders and to obtain best and final offers; providing for contract awards to multiple vendors; authorizing multiyear contracts; providing criteria for multiyear contracts; authorizing the Director of the Purchasing Division to participate in, sponsor, conduct or administer cooperative purchasing agreements or consortia; providing grounds for debarment of vendors; and providing for disposition of surplus state property by means of an internet auction site.
Referred to the Committee on Government Organization; and then to the Committee on Finance.
By Senators Facemyer, McKenzie, Jenkins and Love:
Senate Bill No. 183--A Bill to amend and reenact §17A-3-14 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to motor vehicle registration generally; providing for the issuance of a special Lions International membership license plate; and assessing a special initial application fee and a special annual fee therefor.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and then to the Committee on Finance.
By Senators Chafin and Hunter:
Senate Bill No. 184--A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §3-12-1, §3-12-2, §3-12-3, §3-12-4, §3-12-5, §3-12-6, §3-12-7, §3-12-8, §3-12-9, §3-12-10, §3-12-11, §3-12-12, §3-12-13, §3-12-14, §3-12-15, §3-12-16, §3-12-17, §3-12-18, §3-12-19, §3-12-20 and §3-12-21, all relating generally to providing a pilot project for the public funding of election campaigns for two Senate districts and three single-member House of Delegates districts; setting forth a short title and certain legislative findings and declarations; defining terms; specifying that the provisions of said article are applicable to candidates for seats in the Legislature, including two Senate districts and three single-member House of Delegates districts; establishing a Public Campaign Financing Fund and sources of revenue for the fund; requiring an applicant for public campaign funding to complete a declaration of intent and setting forth the manner in which application for funding may be made; setting forth eligibility criteria for a qualifying party and independent candidates; allowing participating candidates to raise from private sources and spend seed money contributions; requiring candidates seeking public campaign funds to collect a required number of qualifying contributions; requiring participating candidates to comply with all provisions of the article; requiring the State Election Commission to certify eligible candidates and setting forth the procedure for certification; providing that qualified candidates receive funding for election campaigns from the Public Campaign Financing Fund; specifying the amount of funds available for each office and when the funds become available; setting forth restrictions on participating candidates' contributions and spending; prohibiting participating candidates from accepting private contributions other than as specifically set forth in said article; prohibiting the use of personal funds for certain purposes; requiring certain disclosures; setting forth provisions in the event of insufficient public funds; requiring candidates to keep records and report to the State Election Commission; providing for matching public campaign funds when an opponent spends in excess of the participating candidate's spending limits; setting forth certain duties of the State Election Commission; providing for the deposit of certain revenue into the fund; requiring repayment of excessive expenditures by candidates; providing both civil and criminal penalties for violations of provisions of said article; establishing the West Virginia Citizens' Publicly Financed Elections Commission and setting forth its duties; and setting forth an effective date and termination date of the pilot project.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance.
By Senators Minard, McKenzie and Hunter:
Senate Bill No. 185--A Bill to amend and reenact §46A-6-102 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §46A-6-111, all relating to defining "consumer reporting agency"; requiring consumer reporting agencies to notify consumers of negative credit reports in advance of their release; and providing a cause of action and civil penalties for violations.
Referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Senator Jenkins:
Senate Bill No. 186--A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §55-7-18A, relating to providing employer immunity for disclosure of information regarding former employees; and providing that information provided is presumed to be in good faith.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Senator Chafin:
Senate Bill No. 187--A Bill to amend and reenact §18-2-35 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring county boards of education to implement a dress code requiring students to wear uniforms by the year two thousand eight.
Referred to the Committee on Education.
By Senators Love, Sharpe and Dempsey:
Senate Bill No. 188--A Bill to amend and reenact §15-2-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to providing a salary increase for civilian employees of the State Police.
Referred to the Committee on Finance.
By Senators Love and Barnes:
Senate Bill No. 189--A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-2-8a, relating to making it illegal to transport a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion without written consent from both parents; and providing for a penalty.
Referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Senator Love:
Senate Bill No. 190--A Bill to amend and reenact §5-16-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-15-4i; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-16-3s; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-24-7i; and to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §33-25-8g and §33-25-8h, all relating to insurance coverage for acupuncture treatment generally; and providing insurance coverage under the Public Employees Insurance Act and certain other insurance policies for acupuncture treatment performed by a licensed acupuncturist.
Referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance; and then to the Committee on Finance.
By Senator Love:
Senate Bill No. 191--A Bill to amend and reenact §5B-2-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to providing for a small grants program for the Tourism Promotion Fund; and providing flexibility for direct advertising projects costing under ten thousand dollars.
Referred to the Committee on Finance.
By Senator Sharpe:
Senate Bill No. 192--A Bill to amend and reenact §11-15-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the definition of "commercial laundry" and "linen and garment rental service"; and including commercial laundry and linen and garment rental service establishments into the class of persons, firms and corporations included in the definition of manufacturing for consumers sales and use tax purposes.
Referred to the Committee on Finance.
By Senators Minard and Dempsey:
Senate Bill No. 193--A Bill to amend and reenact §46A-7-115 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to consumer credit and protection generally; requiring persons engaged in making consumer credit sales and certain other consumer-related activities to register with the Commissioner of Banking instead of filing a notification with the Tax Division; setting forth the provisions of a registration form; providing for a registration fee; and exempting certain other organizations and individuals from the registration requirements.
Referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance; and then to the Committee on Finance.
By Senator Minard:
Senate Bill No. 194--A Bill to amend and reenact §33-31-1, §33-31-2, §33-31-4, §33-31-6 and §33-31-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto three new sections, designated §33-31-26, §33-31-27 and §33-31-28, all relating to captive insurance companies; providing for sponsored captive insurance companies; requiring qualifications of sponsors; and providing who may participate in sponsored captive insurance companies.
Referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance; and then to the Committee on Finance.
By Senators Minard and Sharpe:
Senate Bill No. 195--A Bill to amend and reenact §50-1-9a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the number of allowable magistrate court deputy clerks; and designating an additional deputy clerk for Braxton County.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance.
By Senator Minard:
Senate Bill No. 196--A Bill to amend and reenact §31-17-5, §31-17-8 and §31-17-14 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to mortgage license provisional approval; disclosure of fees in a mortgage loan; and administrative hearing, appeal and scheduling procedure.
Referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Senator Minard:
Senate Bill No. 197--A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-2-15b, relating to violence against public employees.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Senator Minard:
Senate Bill No. 198--A Bill to amend and reenact §33-6A-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to deleting the ninety-day mandatory reinstatement period existing under current law for persons who allow their automobile insurance policies to lapse due to nonpayment of the premium.
Referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Senator Chafin:
Senate Joint Resolution No. 7--Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, amending sections one and four, article VII thereof, all relating to the executive department; eliminating the succession of the Governor; providing for one term of six years; designating such proposed amendment; and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of such proposed amendment.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Senator Chafin offered the following resolution:
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 22--Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the feasibility and attendant legal ramifications, part and parcel of any proposed legislation designed to stringently restrict and suppress the current perimeters within which lawyers advertise.
Whereas, Since the opening of a proverbial Pandora's Box, which gave license to lawyers for seemingly unrelenting and increasingly bawdy, misleading and objectionable advertisements, the legal profession's public image, once perceived as honorable and noble, has eroded into a carnival-like thing, akin to a blue- light special, touted on a used car lot; and
Whereas, The general public's current perception of the legal profession, quite contrary to the once-held view of a noble endeavor, has over the decades sunk into a doleful chasm wherein lawyers are equated with used car salesmen, moneygrubbers and shysters. This unfortunate state of affairs has regrettably occurred due to the sheer and continual increase in the number of lawyers per capita, and the resulting massive aggregation of tasteless, unprofessional and gaudy advertisements that lawyers apparently are compelled to publish in an effort to compete with one another while clinging to the ultimate dream of hitting the grand prize of the injury lottery; and
Whereas, Since this once indomitably noble profession has been allowed to descend into the ooze of its increasingly unprofessional and ignoble state of affairs (antithetic to its original and honorable callings), a state of affairs that beckons the public with the ever-so-familiar banner query of "injured?", while promising monetary jackpot recoveries that appeal to the basest of human instincts, a cancerous growth has materialized which begs for substantial containment, if not outright excision; and
Whereas, In the eyes of the public, the legal profession's intended virtues of promoting public justice, upholding the rights of citizens and resolving conflicts without resort to violence have been relegated to the annals of history, while being replaced by catchy limericks, jingles and punch-lines, endemic in the massive advertising budgets (once the exception - now the rule) extolling the self-appointed "heavy hitter", "won't-take-no-for-an-answer" and "lawyer-who-will-fight-for-you" wannabes; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the feasibility and attendant legal ramifications, part and parcel of any proposed legislation designed to stringently restrict and suppress the current perimeters within which lawyers advertise; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2007, regarding its findings, conclusions and recommendations, along with drafts of any proposed legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
Which, under the rules, lies over one day.
Senator Chafin offered the following resolution:
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 23--Requesting the Division of Highways name the bridge intersecting Farley Avenue in Delbarton, Mingo County, the "Dr. J. R. 'Bob' Farley Memorial Bridge".
Whereas, J. R. "Bob" Farley was born on March 24, 1902, in Delbarton, Mingo County, the son of the late James A. and Mary Farley; and
Whereas, Dr. Farley was educated in the public schools in Mingo County where he was a member of the Burch High School basketball team that lost only one game in three years; and
Whereas, Dr. Farley graduated from the College of Dentistry at the University of Louisville in 1927 and soon returned to his native Delbarton where he practiced dentistry for 43 years; and
Whereas, Dr. Farley served with distinction on numerous community-based organizations, including as Chairman of the Delbarton Volunteer Fire Department, President of the Delbarton Kiwanis Club, President of the Parent-Teacher Association in Delbarton, President of the Burch High School Band Boosters and member of the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce; and
Whereas, Dr. Farley, a life-long Democrat, was a successful political figure and served his community as a member of the Mingo County Board of Education, Mayor of Delbarton and Mingo County Commissioner; and
Whereas, Dr. Farley passed away on April 26, 1970, leaving behind his three loving children, Lohoma Lee Schuler, Rebecca Jean O'Dell and James David Farley; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the bridge intersecting Farley Avenue in Delbarton, Mingo County, the "Dr. J. R. 'Bob' Farley Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the "Dr. J. R. 'Bob' Farley Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and to the children of Dr. Farley, in care of James David Farley.
Which, under the rules, lies over one day.
The Senate proceeded to the seventh order of business.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 21, Requesting Joint Committee on Government and Finance study repealing current corporate license tax.
On unfinished business, coming up in regular order, was reported by the Clerk and referred to the Committee on Rules.
The Senate proceeded to the eleventh order of business and the introduction of guests.
Pending announcement of meetings of standing committees of the Senate,
On motion of Senator Chafin, the Senate adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, January 18, 2006, at 11 a.m.
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