In Review
Under the Dome delivers a review of the issues being considered by the 83rd Legislature during its Second Session and provides information on matters that affect WVU and higher education.
Campus Carry
House Bill 4298 would prohibit our Board of Governors, except in three defined instances, from banning individuals with a concealed weapon permit from carrying a concealed weapon on our campuses or in our buildings. Current law authorizes the Board of Governors and administration to make those decisions.
Under the proposed legislation, the only instances in which the Board of Governors could prohibit concealed weapons on campus would be in: (1) a stadium or arena with a capacity of more than 5,000 spectators; (2) a daycare facility located on the property of the State institution of higher education; or (3) in the secure area of any building used by a law enforcement agency on the property of the State institution for higher education.
The bill has passed the House Education Committee and will next be considered by the House Judiciary Committee. Our University government relations team is engaged with the Legislature on this issue and will continue to advocate for the best interests of the University.
PEIA and Pay Raises
During his State of the State address, Governor Justice proposed increasing pay for teachers and school service personnel by one percent a year for five years. Additionally, raises are expected for State Police and correctional officers, as well as other State employees.
The State Senate passed the Governor’s proposal, but the House of Delegates changed the percentage to a two percent increase for next year, followed by one percent a year for three years.
Representatives of teachers and school service personnel have objected to the proposals, asking for larger increases and further improvements to PEIA.
In response, the State Senate and House of Delegates passed a bill providing a $29 million transfer to PEIA to fully fund the program to avoid increases in deductibles, co-pays, premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for next year.
Many teachers and school service personnel are participating in work stoppages across the state to protest the current proposals. Hundreds rallied at the State Capitol last Friday, while a bigger rally took place over the weekend.
Starting this week, on Thursday and Friday, the union representatives announced a statewide work stoppage for all county school systems.
WVU Day at the Legislature – CANCELED
After monitoring events in Charleston and anticipating large crowds at the State Capitol next week, the University made the decision to cancel the WVU Day at the Legislature event scheduled for Tuesday, February 20. The University will look at other opportunities to host an event for 4-H’ers, students and others at a future date.
Legislative Calendar and Important Dates
| Last Day to Introduce Bills in the Senate | February 19, 2018 |
| Bills Due Out of Committee in Chamber of Origin | February 25, 2018 |
| Last Day to Consider a Bill on Third Reading | February 28, 2018 |
| Last Day of Regular Session | March 10, 2018 |
Bill Tracking
More than 1,700 bills have been introduced at the Capitol this legislative session. Some of the bills that are gaining high-profile attention or relate to WVU and higher education include:
- SJR 3 – Judicial Budget Oversight Amendment
- SJR 9 (HJR 106) – Just Cut Taxes and Win Amendment
- SB 83 – Relating to Higher Education Student Success
- SB 111 – Enacting Forming Open and Robust University Minds Act
- SB 152 (HB 4019) – Budget Bill
- SB 269 (HB 4154) – Establishing 2018 Regulatory Reform Package
- SB 284 (HB 4267) – Increasing Access to Career Education and Workforce Training
- SB 287 (HB 4170) – Creating and Maintaining Centralized State Vehicle Inventory System
- SB 330 – Relating to Exemptions from Mandated Immunizations
- SB 341 – Creating an Intermediate Court of Appeals
- SB 415 (HB 4396) – Permitting Wagering on the Results of Certain Professional or Collegiate Sports or Athletic Events
- SB 492 (HB 4390) – Eliminating Certain Special Requirements for DHHR Provisionally Licensed Social Workers
- SB 510 (HB 4457) – Designating Hospitals for Stroke Treatment
- SB 542 – Creating Four-Year Middle High School Pilot Program as Part of Upper Kanawha Valley Resiliency and Revitalization Program
- HJR 103 – Election of West Virginia Board of Education Members Amendment
- HB 2335 – Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education
- HB 2887 – Relating to Retirement and Separation Incentives
- HB 3001 – Abolishing the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
- HB 3045/HB 4344 – Modifying the Tax on Soft Drinks to Only Cover Sugary Drinks/Relating to the Tax on Soft Drinks
- HB 4002 – Providing That All Delegates Shall Be Elected from 100 Single Member Districts Following the 2020 U.S. Census
- HB 4187 – Business Liability Protection Act (Allowing Guns in Employer Parking Lots)
- HB 4198 – Adding One Additional Magistrate to Serve Monongalia County
- HB 4203 – Campus Free Speech Act
- HB 4268 – Co-tenancy Modernization and Majority Protection Act
- HB 4298 – Campus Self-Defense Act
- HB 4311 – Making All Work Product by State Government to Be in the Public Domain and Not Subject to Copyright Protection
- HB 4374 – Independent Evaluation of Revenue Estimates by West Virginia and Marshall Universities’ Business Colleges
- HB 4558 – Establishing the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Investment Fund in the West Virginia Development Office
To review bills that have been introduced, please visit the "Bill Status" page on the West Virginia Legislature website.
WVU at the State Capitol
Travis Mollohan and Rocco Fucillo, both from WVU’s State and Local Relations team, represent WVU at the State Capitol during the legislative session. They can answer questions about any issues addressed by the Legislature. Contact info: Travis Mollohan ( tmolloh1@mail.wvu.edu) or Rocco Fucillo ( rsfucillo@mail.wvu.edu).
More Information
To learn more about the Legislature, including district maps, bill tracking, committee assignments and a summary of legislative activities, please visit the West Virginia Legislature website. You may also find contact information for your legislators on that website.
To learn more about WVU’s legislative initiatives, please visit WVU's Government Relations site.
For questions or more information, contact Travis Mollohan, director, State and Local Relations, email: tmolloh1@mail.wvu.edu; phone: 304-400-4963