Hello again from Charleston. It’s great to be writing once again to the great people of the 7th District. The current legislative session is under three weeks from completion but there is still much to be done.

It was great to welcome around 60 4H members from Boone County this week. Seeing the faces of these youths really inspires me to do the best job possible. The decisions we make now will impact whether they can become successful tax paying citizens in the future.

I’m pleased to inform you that President Tomblin, myself, and others had a productive meeting with Dale Humphreys, Director of Juvenile Services, during which we decided that it was in the best interest of the people in our region that the Donald R Kuhn Juvenile Detention Center continue operating as a juvenile center, and not transition into a prison, as was suggested earlier.

This Monday, March 23 was the final day to introduce bills in the Senate and the House. This does not apply to supplemental appropriation bills and bills can still be originated in committees. However, for the most part, bills that have already been introduced will be considered in committees and voted on in both the Senate and the House for the remainder of the session.

Typically, about 1,300-1,500 bills are introduced during the 60-day legislative session, with about 200-300 of these ultimately being passed into law. Next Wednesday, April 1 will mark another important deadline. It is the final day for bills to be considered in house of origin.

Below are a sampling of a few bills passed in the Senate and the House this week:

Senate Bill 293 would specify the unauthorized practice of medicine as a felony. Upon conviction, persons would be fined up to $10,000 or imprisoned up to five years. The bill would also enhance criminal penalties where serious bodily injury results from such unauthorized practice. The bill defines serious bodily injury as substantial risk of death; prolonged disfigurement and impairment of health; or loss or impairment of a bodily organ. Convicted offenders would be fined up to $20,000 or imprisoned up to 10 years.

Senate Bill 399 would create lifetime hunting, fishing, and trapping license for senior citizens. The Class XS license would cost $15 and no other payments or fees would be issued. Persons who are 65 years old before January 1, 2010, are grandfathered in.

Senate Bill 497 would designate the West Virginia Partnership to Promote Community Well-Being, as the single state planning authority for substance abuse prevention, intervention and recovery. The Partnership would establish a data-gathering system to monitor the social and financial impact of substance abuse in West Virginia. The Partnership would review state laws and rules that control drug and alcohol policies and make recommendations for legislation corresponding to the long-term substance abuse strategic plan.

House Bill 2401 would provide for the expiration of the alternative minimum tax. The tax would be nullified and have no further effect for tax years beginning on and after January 1, 2010.

House Bill 2952 would clarify that a terroristic threat is a felony regardless of intent to actually commit the threatened act. "Terrorist act" would be defined as an act that is likely to result in serious bodily injury or damage to property or the environment and intended to intimidate or coerce the civilian population. It would also include attempting to influence the policy of a branch or level of government by intimidation or coercion, affect the conduct of a branch or level of government by intimidation or coercion and retaliate against a branch or level of government for a policy or conduct of the government.

House Bill 2884 would establish a public-private state long-term care partnership program with the purpose of reducing Medicaid costs for long-term care, by encouraging the purchase of private long-term care insurance policies. These private insurance policies would be covered under long-term care insurance partnerships with the state.

House Bill 3086 would permit home incarceration supervisors to carry handguns in the course of their official duties. The bill would require that before such supervisors may carry handguns they must meet specialized qualifications established by the Governor's Committee on Crime, Delinquency and Correction, including the successful completion of handgun training and a minimum of four hours of training in handgun safety. The bill also exempts such supervisors from handgun licensing requirements. The bill additionally states that such supervisors are not law-enforcement officers.

As always, I open my door to questions, comments, and concerns from the people of the 7th District. You can reach me at (304) 357-7939, by e-mail at ron.stollings@wvsenate.gov or ron.stollings@verizon.net , or at my office address at Room 229W, Building 1 State Capitol Complex Charleston, WV 25305.