80th Legislature - 2011 Session – Bills Passed

HB 2464:  updates the Ethics Act to include a year-long prohibition on lobbying by former state officials.  Also requires more detailed financial disclosure, including spouses of officials, high-ranking aides and candidates for office.

HB 2864:  Celena’s Law makes it a crime to hold someone captive through coercion or threats of physical harm.

HB 2001:  violent offenders will not be eligible for parole each year, but only once every three years.

HB 3225:  the definition of harassment, intimidation or bullying will be expanded to include the use of electronic devices.

HB 2362:  increases the penalties for financial exploitation of an elderly person or an incapacitated adult.

HB 3144:  Creates a criminal offense and adds misdemeanor criminal penalties for picketing or disrupting funerals.

HB 2693:  requires insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders.

SB 408:  WV Health Benefit Exchange Act creates an insurance exchange, so that individuals and small businesses can create buying power to purchase health plans offered by private insurers.  Goes into effect in 2014, but this year the state will be eligible for up to $50 million in federal funding to set up and run the exchange.

HB 2971:  drops the food tax from 3% to 2%.

SB 35:  doubles the tax credit for adoption from $2,000 to $4,000.

SB 234:  Municipal Economic Opportunity Development District Act allows small towns to use tax increment financing.

SB 465:  the Marcellus Gas and Manufacturing Development Act, provides incentives for companies to develop gas in state, rather than pipe the gas out of state for processing.

HB 3271:  gives volunteer fire departments subsidies to cover workers' compensation premiums. 

HB 2845:   creates lifetime hunting, fishing and trapping licenses for residents over age 65.  A $25 one-time fee, along with federal matching funds, could provide as much as $500,000 a year for the DNR.

SB 255:  creates a program to help county school boards use federal funds for tutoring, summer school programs and reduction of class size.

SB 228:  Creates a student dropout prevention and recovery program.

SB 238:  makes the Division of Veterans’ Affairs a cabinet-level agency, the Department of Veterans’ Assistance.

HB 3145:  provides a one-time bonus payment of $1,200 for retirees with at least 20 years of experience who currently receive an annual retirement annuity of not more than $7,200.   This is for people who receive their retirement from PERS and TRS.

HB 2879:  gives $1,488 raises to teachers, 2 percent increases for state employees and school service personnel, $970 raises for State Police troopers and $835 for Division of Natural Resources officers.  Judicial raises range from $7,500 for magistrates to $15,000 for Supreme Court justices. The bill also gives the National Guard's adjutant general a $32,500 raise, to $125,000 a year.