Government Story Archives - Page 250 of 435 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Senate Passes Nine Bills On Police Training, School Athletics And More

The Senate had nine bills on third reading Wednesday, including a bill to improve law enforcement’s awareness of, and ability to interact with, citizens with certain mental health conditions. Also up for consideration were bills amending school athletics eligibility and new requirements for school board membership.

The Senate had nine bills on third reading Wednesday, including a bill to improve law enforcement’s awareness of, and ability to interact with, citizens with certain mental health conditions.

Also up for consideration were bills amending school athletics eligibility and new requirements for school board membership.

Senate Bill 208 would require all law-enforcement and correction officers to undergo training for appropriate interaction with, and response to, individuals with autism spectrum disorders, Alzheimer’s, and related dementias.

Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, is the bill’s lead sponsor. He said the idea for the training came from a concerned mother.

“It’s very important because you can mistake them for maybe you know, someone who wants to do harm,” he said. “It came to us from an idea from a mother whose child is on the spectrum. He was so excited to see a policeman pull his mother over, that he ran out of the car. It came to her, ‘He could have really been hurt,’ because a policeman could have mistaken him for someone that was wanting to do harm.”

Caputo said the training has been in place for two years, but was initially made voluntary. Senate Bill 208 makes the training mandatory for all officers.

“We’re dealing with a problem in West Virginia that we want to make sure we treat folks kindly and appropriately,” he said.

The bill specifies the course of instruction relating to autism spectrum disorders shall be developed and delivered by Marshall University’s West Virginia Autism Training Center. Training will focus on de-escalation of potentially dangerous situations, provide an understanding of the different manner in which individuals process sensory stimuli and language and language difficulties likely to affect interaction.

Instructors are also required to include adults with autism spectrum disorders and/or a parent or primary caretaker of an individual diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in the course.

“I think it’s pretty simple and upfront, it’s not going to cost anything to folks who are being trained anyway,” Caputo said. “It’s just gonna be part of the curriculum, and I think it’s going to be good for West Virginia.”

Senate Bill 208 passed unanimously and now goes to the House of Delegates for their consideration.

Student Athlete Eligibility

Senate Bill 262 would allow students to transfer between schools inside West Virginia and retain athletic eligibility.

Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, is the bill’s lead sponsor. He said the current rules unfairly punish West Virginia students for moving.

“Students have to sit out for a year because they need this settling in period. They have to get adjusted to their new school and figure it all out.” Weld said in reference to WVSSAC rules. “But it’s very important to keep in mind that that settling in period doesn’t apply if you’re coming from out of state. So if you move here from California, get on that team, get out there and play… For hundreds of other students across the street or the state, if you’re transferring from a public school or from a private school, public to private, you got to sit out.”

Sen. Randy Smith, R-Tucker, opposed the bill. He said schools in rural communities like his already have a hard enough time finding enough students to field sports teams without students being lured away to surrounding schools by athletics.

“When I was a parent, when my children were involved in something, you know, things aren’t always fair,” Smith said. “Sometimes you have to learn to get along with the teacher. You have to learn to get along with a coach. And I just feel that we’re opening it up where if you don’t like your coach, then you look elsewhere. And I just think we’re starting a bad precedent doing this.”

Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, voiced her support of the bill, likening it to school choice measures the legislature has introduced in recent years.

Senate Bill 262 passed 27-5, with two senators absent, and now goes to the House of Delegates for their consideration.

New Requirements For Board Of Education Members

Senate Bill 264 also passed the Senate Wednesday. It would prohibit persons who have been convicted of certain crimes against minors from holding positions on either the state board of education or a county board of education.

Senate Education Committee Chair Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, said the requirement will be enforced with a certificate of announcement.

“These crimes are numerous and include such crimes as distribution and display to a minor of obscene matter,” Grady said. “The bill also requires that candidates for county Board of Education provide a statement on the certificate of announcement that the candidate swears and affirms that he or she has not been convicted of one of the applicable crimes when the victim was a minor.“

The bill passed with a unanimous vote, and now heads to the House of Delegates for their consideration.

The six other bills: SB 4, SB 121, SB 192, SB 244, SB 245 and SB 246 were also passed. All now go to the House of Delegates for their consideration.

Lawmakers Consider Bills To Permit Campus Carry And Limit Governor’s Emergency Powers

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the Senate passed a bill that would allow the concealed carry of handguns on the state’s university campuses. Reporter Chris Schulz has more. Also, a bill that would clarify the authority of governor and legislature to proclaim and declare a state of emergency and preparedness, passed the House 93-3.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the Senate passed a bill that would allow the concealed carry of handguns on the state’s university campuses. Reporter Chris Schulz has more.

Also, a bill that would clarify the authority of governor and legislature to proclaim and declare a state of emergency and preparedness, passed the House 93-3. The Senate passed the bill on the opening day of the state legislative session. Efforts by senators and delegates to limit the governor’s emergency powers began in last summer’s interim sessions.

And, with little discussion, the Senate Education Committee moved forward on a bill that would require posters in all state supported schools to display the U.S. motto of “In God We Trust.” The posters must be donated and could only include images of the West Virginia and United States flags.

Finally, Government Reporter Randy Yohe joins our host Bob Brunner to discuss the Coalfield Communities Grant Facilitation Commission. The commission’s objective is to funnel federal and private dollars to revitalize coalfield communities.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Senior Services And The Coalfield Communities Grant Facilitation Commission On This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, many West Virginians have found themselves caring for an aging parent. News Director found himself in that position with his mom and he didn’t know where to turn for help. So, he got to work and is bringing what he found to our broadcast. In our fourth story in Douglas’ series “Getting Into Their Reality: Caring For Aging Parents,” he talks with Vicky Foster, the CEO of Kanawha Valley Senior Services.

On this West Virginia Morning, many West Virginians have found themselves caring for an aging parent. News Director found himself in that position with his mom and he didn’t know where to turn for help. So, he got to work and is bringing what he found to our broadcast. In our fourth story in Douglas’ series “Getting Into Their Reality: Caring For Aging Parents,” he talks with Vicky Foster, the CEO of Kanawha Valley Senior Services.

Also, in this show, when Gov. Jim Justice signed House Bill 4479 last March, he established the Coalfield Communities Grant Facilitation Commission. The state is obliged to match local grants and help apply for and administer grants. Government Reporter Randy Yohe has been following this story and spent time in Madison, the Boone County seat, where they are looking forward to this commission’s help.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Salary Increase For Protective Service Workers Takes Immediate Effect

State protective service workers are set to receive a 20 percent salary bump with hopes that will fill vacant positions.

The new pay rate will take effect immediately for current and new employees. Current employees will also see a 10 percent increase in retention bonuses for those who have worked for two and four years, and a five percent increase to employees who have stayed on for six and eight years.

CPS workers in the Eastern Panhandle, a region that is severely understaffed, will offer a starting salary of $50,000 to compete with neighboring states.

The announcement was made during Gov. Jim Justice’s regular briefing, with DHHR Interim Director Jeff Coben providing the details.

“It’ll be what we think is a critical first step in our continued efforts to protect and assist West Virginia’s most vulnerable children, youth and adults,” Coben said during the briefing.

The move comes during a statewide childcare crisis. The DHHR reported that the state’s protective service workforce has been understaffed with at least one third of positions being vacant.

It follows other, similar initiatives were put in place last month that also attempt to address this worker shortage, including the addition of hiring bonuses in identified counties, and an executive order allowing retired employees to make a partial return while still benefiting from full retirement.

Senate Passes Campus Carry Law

Senate Bill 10 allows holders of concealed handgun permits to carry concealed on all of the state’s higher education campuses, regardless of existing restrictions.

The bill passed the Senate 29 – 4. Sen. Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, joined the three Senate Democrats in voting against the bill.

The bill advanced quickly through the Senate, passing out of the Judiciary Committee less than a week ago, on Jan. 18.

Judiciary Chair Sen. Charles Trump, R-Morgan, took a moment to clarify what he called misinformation about the bill that had disseminated in the past week.

“This authority applies only to people who have a valid concealed carry permit, or the 18 year old, provisional permit we created for people between 18 and 21,” Trump said.

“In other words, it requires everyone to undergo training, they have to have firearms training, because you have to have that to get the permit. This does not apply to, we created what has been referred to as constitutional carry or a permitless carry a few years ago, where any adult citizen in West Virginia, who has legal right to own and possess a firearm can carry. The provisions of this bill do not apply in that context.”

Trump also laid out the various exceptions from campus carry in the bill including campus daycares, events with more than 1000 spectators and rooms where disciplinary hearings are being held.

In a repeat of the committee meeting, Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, stood in opposition of the bill.

“I rise in opposition to this, Mr. President, I think it’s a bad idea. I think it’s a bad idea to basically encourage folks to carry weapons on campus,” Caputo said. “I just don’t know why we would want to put our youth in an atmosphere such as that. If you look at who doesn’t like this bill, domestic violence advocates hate it. The WVU student government passed a proclamation saying they didn’t want it. I heard from the faculty senate that said they should leave it up to the institutions.”

Later in the floor debate Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood, read a statement from his son and WVU SGA Senator Tommy Azinger expressing his support for the bill. Tommy was joined by At-Large Senator Christian Miller in his dissent from the student government’s proclamation.

Caputo stated that the bill functionally allowed the gun lobby to control the rules and regulations of higher education facilities in West Virginia.

Marshall University and West Virginia University released a joint statement against the bill shortly after the committee meeting last week, but Caputo also cited comments from Concord University, West Virginia State, and Shepherd University.

“They also said, if enacted, this legislation would require our universities to make significant new investments in our public safety and security operations to include the addition of new law enforcement personnel, equipment and infrastructure to ensure compliance with the intent of this legislation, and to safeguard the security of our campus,” Caputo said. “They estimate that it could cost state colleges and universities up to $11.6 million, which we did not provide, in this piece of legislation, as under-resourced institutions that continue to adapt to the economic challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic. We simply do not have the financial resources to implement and administer the requirements of Senate Bill 10.”

The bill’s lead sponsor, Sen. Rupie Phillips, R-Logan, pointed out 11 other states have already passed campus carry laws, and he wants West Virginia to be the 12th.

Phillips said another reason to pass campus carry was to help stop sexual assaults on campus. He said the House of Delegates is eager to receive Senate Bill 10.

The bill now goes to the House of Delegates for their consideration.

Bill Will Require Schools To Display U.S. Motto If Passed

With little discussion, the Senate Education Committee moved forward with Senate Bill 251 to require publicly funded schools to display posters with the U.S. motto of “In God We Trust.”

With little discussion, the Senate Education Committee moved forward with Senate Bill 251 to require publicly funded schools to display posters with the United States motto of “In God We Trust.”

According to the bill, the posters will be paid for using privately donated funds and can only depict the phrase along with images of the West Virginia and U.S. flags.

Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood, is the primary sponsor on the bill. He said he thinks this will help unite people.

“‘In God We Trust’ is in the fourth stanza of our national anthem,” he said. “It was added as a national motto by Eisenhower, the same president who put ‘Under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance. So I just think it’d be a great thing for our state and for our kids.”

Senate Bill 251 moves on to the full Senate for consideration.