By Delegate David Kelly
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Phone: (304)-340-3226
Week Five
Weekly Wrap-up
Many of the priorities of the House of Delegates have already passed through the House and are being debated by the Senate.
HB 2002, the Broadband Bill, passed the full house this week. The bills design is make it easier to do three specific things:
- For telecommunications providers to attach fiber optic lines to poles.
- Provide right of way access to state rights of ways
- Defines broadband service in West Virginia
House Speaker Roger Hanshaw said, “The pandemic and the situations that have grown out of it in the past 11 months have made it clear that broadband service is a critical component of overall educational opportunities, healthcare services and business expansion here in West Virginia. The purpose of this bill is to make sure West Virginia is heading into the 21st Century as prepared as we can possibly be.”
The Intermediate Court of Appeals, SB 275, is moving through the legislative process again this year. Following a virtual public hearing, the House Judiciary Committee offered amendments that would cut the number of judges from six to three. Additionally, the committee ensured that the Supreme Court would maintain some discretion as to where hearings would be heard. The Bill directs that the fees collected are to be sent to the Ryan Brown Addiction and Recovery Fund.
“When this bill clears the House next week, West Virginia will join a majority of states in guaranteeing an intermediate and full and meaningful right of appeal to all litigants in civil and criminal cases,” Hanshaw said.
HB 2024 is the Telehealth Bill. This bill permits out of state Healthcare workers to practice in West Virginia. They must be properly registered with the appropriate West Virginia board. The hope is to get government out of the way so more services can be made available to West Virginians.
We were also able to pass SB 459 which is designed to address an unintended loophole that existed in the West Virginia retirement system. The problem was brought to the attention of lawmakers by Delegate Philip Diserio. The issue involved a 17 year old high school student who had tragically lost both of his parents. Both parents were part of West Virginia retirement system. Under current law a minor can receive retirement benefits but only until age 18. This young man would have lost the benefits after three months.
Diserio said, “I’m happy we could step in and work to help this family in this specific situation, because the young man’s father was a local firefighter who had died after falling ill with COVID. But overall, this is something that needed to be done for all our first responders so we can be sure we protect those who protect us.”
The bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature.