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Under the Dome is a weekly update on actions and activities of the West Virginia Legislature, provided for West Virginia University faculty and staff by WVU’s Office of State, Corporate and Local Relations.
Activity on Key Bills
The Senate passed SB 435, which gives WVU, Marshall and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine more authority to invest assets through their respective Foundations. The bill is now under consideration by the House of Delegates.
The Senate Education committee passed SB 455, which provides WVU and Marshall additional flexibility on procurement and payment of expenses. The bill is now before the Senate Finance committee.
The Senate Education committee passed SB 14, which allows for public charter schools in West Virginia. The bill is now being considered by the Senate Finance committee. More than 40 states currently allow public charter schools.
The “open and obvious” legal reform bill passed both the Senate and the House of Delegates. The adopted version of SB 13 reinstates the legal doctrine for suing a property owner when someone is injured by an obvious risk that was reasonably apparent, or was known to the person injured. The bill is headed to the Governor for action.
Additional Bills Under Consideration
Additional legal reform bills, legislation on aboveground storage tanks and the development of a State plan to deal with Section 111 (d) of the Clean Air Act, were all items of legislation under consideration this week.
Final Days to Introduce Bills
Monday, February 23 is the last day to introduce bills in the Senate, and Tuesday, February 24 is the last day to introduce bills in the House of Delegates.
Dr. Gee in Charleston
West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee headlined the Charleston Area Alliance Annual Celebration on Wednesday, February 18. Dr. Gee also made several visits with legislators.
WVU Lunch and Learn
Greg Bowman, interim dean of the WVU Law School, and Matt Harbaugh, WVU’s director of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization, will headline this week’s WVU Lunch and Learn program. Bowman and Harbaugh will discuss law and entrepreneurship at WVU.