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
On February 12, House Bill 4298 passed the House Education Committee. The bill 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 House Judiciary Committee decided not to take up the bill this year. We therefore believe that campus carry will not pass during this legislative session. Our Government Relations Team will continue to engage with the Legislature on this issue and advocate for the best interests of the University.
PEIA and Pay Raises
The House passed the Governor’s five percent pay raise bill by 98-1 on February 28. On March 1, the Senate received the bill and sent it to the Finance Committee for review. That committee debated the bill on Saturday and amended the bill to change the pay raise from five percent to four percent. Speaking in favor of the changes, some senators noted that they wish to provide a four percent pay raise for all State employees. The bill was reported to the Senate floor Saturday evening, and the Constitutional provision that it be read on three separate days was suspended. It passed.
Because the bill was amended by the Senate, it went back to the House on Saturday night. The Senate refused to concur with the changes. Because no agreement was reached, the Senate and House appointed three conferees each to negotiate a resolution. Senators Ferns, Blair and Plymale will meet with their House counterparts Delegates Anderson, Espinosa and Boggs.
The teacher and school service personnel work stoppage is expected to continue until the pay raise issue is resolved.
What does this mean for WVU faculty and staff?
In this video, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Rob Alsop talks about a recommended three percent pay increase for all State employees as part of the FY 2019 budget and how proposed measures might affect University faculty and staff. It outlines ways that you can monitor the progress. He also describes how WVU’s Government Relations Team is engaged with the Legislature on this issue.
An FAQ is available on the Government Relations website.
PEIA Task Force
As part of his proposal to resolve the work stoppage by teachers and school service personnel, the Governor signed an Executive Order creating a task force to deal with issues related to PEIA.
Members of the task force would include the Governor’s chief of staff; a current member of the PEIA Finance Board, three members from the State Senate (two Republicans and one Democrat), three members from the House of Delegates (two Republicans and one Democrat), a representative of the American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia, a representative from the West Virginia Education Association and a representative from the West Virginia School Service Personnel Association.
In addition, five more representatives would be appointed by the Governor. Those members would include three full-time State employees, to be appointed in consultation with various public employee associations, and two retired State employees, one of whom should be a retired educator.
Our Government Relations Team will continue to engage with the Governor’s Office and Legislature on PEIA and advocate for the best interests of the University and higher education.
WV Forward Resolution
On March 1, Senate Resolution 58 was introduced and passed recognizing the guiding principles and collaborative partnership of West Virginia Forward’s initiatives to advance West Virginia’s economic future. The resolution applauded the efforts of West Virginia University, Marshall University and the West Virginia Department of Commerce for their work.
Legislative Calendar and Important Dates
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 98 – Creating Incentives to Consolidate Local Governments
- 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 272 (HB 4154) – Relating Generally to Drug Control Policy
- SB 273 – Reducing Use of Certain Prescription Drugs
- 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 375 (HB 4295) – Relating to Farmers Markets
- SB 415 (HB 4396) – Permitting Wagering on the Results of Certain Professional or Collegiate Sports or Athletic Events
- SB 426 – Modernizing Certain Alcohol Laws
- SB 479 – Establishing Local Government Monitoring by the State Auditor
- 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 4304 – Creating the Board of Nursing
- 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 4431 – Establishing the Mountaineer Trail Network Recreation Authority
- HB 4457 – Relating to Designation of Hospitals for Stroke Treatment
- HB 4458 – The Citizen and State Accountability Act
- 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