Latest news with #HB2033
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A look at bills that died before Crossover Day at the Capitol
Apr. 2—MORGANTOWN — Wednesday was Crossover Day at the Legislature: Day 50 of the 60-day session, the deadline for bills to pass out of their house of origin and cross the Capitol to the other chamber. As it happens every year, many of the bills we follow and report on are left to die without floor action. Here's a look at some we've called attention to. House bills HB 2033 says a foster or adoptive family's sincerely held religious or moral beliefs on sexual orientation or gender identity may not serve as a condition for eligibility to foster or adopt. The Department of Human services may not deny a current or prospective family eligibility based on those beliefs. And the state may not use the family's beliefs that a particular placement is not in the best interests of the child. A House Health subcommittee approved the bill but the full committee never took it up. HB 2376, saying DHS may not require a foster child to be immunized if the foster family objects to immunization based on religious or moral convictions, suffered the same fate. HB 2139 was an attempt to end the tax on income derived from tips. A House Finance subcommittee approved it but it died in the full committee. The House of Delegates and Senate tried advancing bills to require each public school — including charters — to have on campus a wearable panic alarm system. Each employee would be trained how to wear and use the alarm. HB 2394 was approved by the House Education Committee but died in Finance. SB 434 was similarly approved in Senate Education but died in Senate Finance. Senate bills Another tax bill, SB 610, to exempt overtime pay from personal income tax, was approved by a Senate Finance subcommittee but likewise died in the full committee. SB 751, to ban making, selling or distributing lab-grown meat, passed out of Senate Agriculture but died in Judiciary. SB 439 was aimed at raising the property tax on windmills. It passed out of Senate Energy but died in Finance. SB 448 aimed to allow coal companies to take a severance tax credit for road improvements and purchases of production equipment. Senate Energy approved it but Finance let it die.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House committee ponders two foster care bills: vaccines and LGBTQ issues
Feb. 21—dbeard @ MORGANTOWN — The full House Health and Human Resources Committee got a first look at two foster care bills — one regarding LGBTQ issues and one regarding vaccines. The Human Services subcommittee advanced both of them. HB 2033 says a foster or adoptive family's sincerely held religious or moral beliefs on sexual orientation or gender identity may not serve as a condition for eligibility to foster or adopt. The Department of Human services may not deny a current or prospective family eligibility based on those beliefs. The state may not use the family's beliefs that a particular placement is not in the best interests of the child. And the bill allows for a cause of action for a family alleging illegal treatment to sue for an injunction, damages and fees. Delegate Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, offered an amendment to allow a child to be removed from a placement if the child didn't wish to stay or be placed there. DHS Bureau for Social Services interim Commissioner Lorie Bragg Lawrence answered some questions regarding the amendment. She said there is no policy in place preventing a parent from saying they don't want a specific child. But the child may also opt out of a placement by speaking with their case worker ; children meet with their case workers at least monthly. Lawrence said DHS does not do placements, except for blood relative placements. Case workers make referrals to placement agencies. And a child may discuss sexual orientation and gender identity issues regarding any placement. The amendment failed in a voice vote. Bill sponsor Jonathan Pinson, R-Mason, pointed out during amendment debate and discussion before the final vote that West Virginia has no regulations discriminating against foster and adoptive families. "And I'm thankful for that." But other states do, he said, and families have filed suits to defend their rights. Just because a particular child may not be the right placement for a family doesn't mean the family should not be allowed to foster or adopt, he said. The subcommittee advanced the bill in a voice vote. HB 2376 is a single sentence. It says DHS may not require a foster child to be immunized if the foster family objects to immunization based on religious or moral convictions. Under questioning, Lawrence told members that immunization policy is spelled out in legislative agency rules and DHS is in discussions with the governor's office to update the rule pending passage of the bill. The committee advanced this bill in a voice vote without debate.
