A sampling of bills introduced Feb. 13 and 14

David Beard, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
·1 min read

Feb. 14—MORGANTOWN — Here is a sampling of bills introduced on Monday, Feb. 13 and Tuesday, Feb. 14. Local sponsors and co-sponsors, if any, are noted. Tuesday was the last day for delegates to introduce bills in the House.

— HB 3380, to allow an owner of Japanese quail (Coturnix Quail and Button Quail) to keep them as pets without having to obtain a license for a private game farm.

— HB 3386, to create the West Virginia National Merit Scholarship Program, to cover the cost of tuition and room and board for scholarship winners ; Delegate Debbie Warner, R-Monongalia, co-sponsor.

— HB 3449, to allow the recording and in some circumstances disclosure of recorded closed public meetings ; Delegate Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, lead sponsor ; Delegate Danielle Walker, D-Monongalia, co-sponsor.

— HB 3468, to set the school calendar to 175 days of instruction to provide for five days of professional development ; Delegate Joe Statler, R-Monongalia, sponsor.

— SB 619, to allow teachers in public schools, including public charter schools, that include any one or more of grades K-12, to teach intelligent design as a theory of how the universe and /or humanity came to exist ; Sen. Jay Taylor, R-Taylor, co-sponsor.

— SB 626, to increase the penalties for operating a house of prostitution from a misdemeanor to a felony in order to provide law enforcement with adequate tools to address human trafficking in the illegal sex trade industries.

— SB 627, to create a community solar program where subscribers can purchase an interest in a solar facility and use credits against their electric utility costs.