HB5424 - Relating to eligibility for and amount of unemployment benefits

11 Co-Sponsors

The purpose of this bill generally relates to eligibility for and amount of unemployment benefits. The bill modifies the methodology for calculating maximum benefit rate. The bill modifies benefit table consistent with adoption of indexing. The bill requires the Workforce West Virginia Commissioner take certain actions to verify unemployment insurance claim program integrity. The bill requires commissioner to review suspicious or potentially improper claims under certain circumstances. The bill defines "state average unemployment rate". The bill limits the maximum duration of unemployment benefits based on the state average unemployment rate. The bill requires Workforce West Virginia to promulgate legislative rules. The bill establishes an internal effective date. The bill reduces the maximum benefit for each wage class. The bill requires work search activities to qualify for unemployment benefits. The bill defines what constitutes work search activities. The bill mandates submittal of proof of work search activities. The bill provides for verification of work search activities. The bill grants the commissioner of Workforce West Virginia discretion in verification of work search activities. The bill mandates the establishment of a process to refer individuals seeking unemployment benefits to job opportunities. The bill requires individuals receiving referrals to suitable work to apply for and accept that work. The bill mandates employers to report refusal of offer of employment to commissioner. The bill allows individuals who accept part-time non-suitable employment to receive unemployment benefits without reduction for wages under certain circumstances. The bill makes certain individuals applying for or receiving unemployment benefits exempt from work search requirements. The bill establishes a process for notification of work search activity requirements. The bill requires rulemaking. The bill sets an internal effective date.

HR9 - Reaffirming the longstanding sisterhood partnership between West Virginia and Taiwan

74 Co-Sponsors

HB5304 - Creating the Small Business Payroll Tax Credit

11 Co-Sponsors

The purpose of this bill is to create the Small Business Payroll Tax Credit, a three-year program establishing a tax credit for defined payroll taxes paid on up to 10,400 employee hours at a statutorily designated wage rate for new businesses with 15 or fewer employees, allowing for growth to 25 employees but capping the credit at 10,400 employee hours and eliminating the credit for businesses of 26 employees or greater; establishing a start date and end date; listing the amounts of credits which may be claimed in each year of the program; and requiring the Department of Economic Development to track the progress of this program and present a report.

HB5423 - To allow mentally challenged person to be protected from testifying in an open court

9 Co-Sponsors

The purpose of this bill is to prohibit a cognitively impaired or mentally defective person from being forced to testify in open court, and to increase the penalty for sexual assault of a mentally defective or mentally incapacitated person.

HCR68 - U. S. Army Air Force, Major (Ret.) Willis “Scottie” Adams Memorial Bridge

56 Co-Sponsors

HB5289 - To allow for the implementation of Educational Software in West Virginia public schools.

11 Co-Sponsors

The purpose of this bill is to establish a partnership between Workforce West Virginia through its Division of Workforce Development and the West Virginia Board of Education for the implementation of the Plasma Games teaching program in high schools and technical schools in the state, establishing an implementation plan and reporting.

HB4274 - Renaming the Department of Health and Human Resources

5 Co-Sponsors

The purpose of this bill is to rename the Department of Health and Human Resources.This bill was recommended for passage during the 2024 legislative session by the Legislative Oversight Commission of Health and Human Resources Accountability.

HB5439 - Provide that a person defending themselves or others while at work cannot be terminated

11 Co-Sponsors

The purpose of this bill is to provide that using deadly force against an intruder or attacker in a workplace by person not engaged in unlawful activity if the person reasonably believes that he or she or another is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm; and providing that the person may not result in that person being terminated from employment for this action, regardless of company or employer policy.

HB5443 - Clarifying that electronic data processing services are to be included in the valuation of specialized high-technology property

11 Co-Sponsors

The purpose of this bill is to include in the high-technology property valuation statute the hosting and processing of electronic data as part of a data center operation and high-performance data computing to process data and perform complex computation and solve algorithms at high speeds in connection with digital, blockchain, and/or artificial intelligence technologies.

HB5405 - Providing additional professional development and support to West Virginia educators through teacher and leader induction and professional growth.

5 Co-Sponsors

The purpose of this bill is to provide additional professional development and support to West Virginia educators by utilizing a portion of existing monies from the state aid funding formula for teacher and leader induction and professional growth necessary to support the full implementation of the Third Grade Success Act and other academic initiatives geared toward student achievement. The bill also expands WVDE's regional professional learning cadres program designed to mentor teachers who are less than fully certified for the teaching position in which they are employed on grade-level content, standards driven instruction, research-based instructional strategies, and the West Virginia Professional Teaching Standards.