By Bobby Bordelon |
The West Virginia Daily News Jun 27, 2021
6 hrs ago
West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw gavels out of the June Special Session of the legislature on June 24. Photo by Perry Bennett/W.Va. Legislative Photography
CHARLESTON â Gov. Jim Justice called the West Virginia Legislature into session on Thursday and requested $250 million be allocated throughout the state government, including to education, tourism, and more.
âThe special session call requests that the Legislature consider over $250 million in supplementary appropriations that Gov. Justice has divided into over 20 different initiatives, among other considerations. â¦. A few of those initiatives include upgrades and expansions to several West Virginia State Parks, upgrades to the Elk River Trail, allocating initial funding to the Economic Development Authorityâs Closing Fund, upgrades to correctional facilities, replenishing the
increases political oversight and control over rules promulgated by local health boards. The bill requires a 30-day public comment period for new or amended rules and authorizes county commissions to approve, disapprove, and even amend such health rules. Where there is joint control over a health department, such as between a municipality and a county, but only one of those entities approves a new or amended rule, then such rule would be in effect only in the approving jurisdiction. The bill would not affect existing rules, unless such are amended by the health department. Finally, the bill requires local health departments to come under the control of the state health officer during a state of emergency in that county. Certain healthcare related citizens groups, including clean indoor air advocates, have expressed opposition to the bill and may ask the Governor to veto it.
SB 275
would create an Intermediate Court of Appeals whose decisions would be accorded precedential effect by the lower courts. The bill establishes northern and southern districts within West Virginia, each with a three-judge panel to hear appeals arising out of their respective geographical area. The judges are to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to staggered terms of two, four, and six years. The Committees amended the original bill in certain key areas. For instance, after expiration of their initial terms, the judges will run for full 12-year terms in non-partisan elections. Furthermore, the Intermediate Court of Appeals will not have any original jurisdiction. After June 30, 2022, it will have appellate jurisdiction over such matters as final judgments or orders of a circuit court in civil cases, final judgments or orders of a family court, and decisions of an agency or an administrative law judge. Appeals from its decisions to the Supre
WVU Medicine Children s, Morgantown
United Hospital Center, Bridgeport
Berkeley Medical Center, Martinsburg
St. Joseph s Hospital, Buckhannon
Jefferson Medical Center, Ranson