Rep. Buck Jennings

Maddy summaryHB 5182 authorizes security personnel employed by West Virginia's State Treasurer to carry concealed firearms while performing official duties. To qualify, staff must obtain the Treasurer's written approval, hold a valid concealed handgun license, pass firearms training equivalent to police academy standards, and maintain annual requalification. The State Treasurer may reimburse staff for training costs, and the state assumes liability for security personnel acting in good faith during official duties. This bill directly affects the Treasurer's security team and establishes specific safety requirements for firearm use.

Maddy summaryHB 5212 revises West Virginia's higher education financial aid programs to improve access and align with workforce development goals. It allows part-time enrollment for the higher education grant, combines the adult part-time grant into a new workforce-focused program, and updates medical/health sciences loan repayment programs to require direct payments to federal loan providers. The bill also adjusts eligibility for the PROMISE scholarship and WV Invests grant programs. These changes aim to better connect financial aid with employer needs as outlined in the bill's legislative findings.

Maddy summaryHB 5406 updates West Virginia's DUI laws by shifting authority for chemical testing oversight from the Bureau of Public Health to the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory. It eliminates outdated references to urine testing, removes propoxyphene from drug testing requirements, and permits trained phlebotomists to collect blood samples for analysis. The bill also corrects blood alcohol concentration thresholds for juvenile drivers and clarifies that refusing only a blood test - without refusing a breath test - will not automatically trigger license revocation. These changes streamline DUI testing procedures for law enforcement and ensure current medical standards are reflected in the law.

Maddy summaryHB 5088 amends West Virginia's Natural Resource Police Officer Retirement System to adjust retirement benefit calculations based on retirement date. It specifies that officers retiring after July 1, 2029, will receive 2.75% of their final average salary multiplied by years of service (up from 2.5% for those retiring between 2025-2029). The bill also requires additional funding for the retirement system to support these changes. This directly affects current and future Natural Resource Police Officers in West Virginia who retire on or after July 1, 2029. The changes are part of a broader adjustment to retirement benefits under the system's funding structure.

Maddy summaryHB 5457 allows West Virginia State Police troopers who receive disability benefits to count half of their disability service time toward retirement eligibility. The bill amends retirement system rules to provide one-half service credit for periods when troopers are on disability leave under existing provisions. This change directly affects active troopers and retirees who have periods of disability service but do not qualify for full retirement credit. It ensures these service periods contribute to retirement benefits without requiring full-time employment. The policy applies specifically to disability service under §15-2A-9 or §15-2A-10 of the West Virginia Code.

Maddy summaryHB 4433 amends West Virginia law to create new criminal offenses for human smuggling (transporting undocumented people to evade enforcement) and human trafficking (recruiting or moving people for forced labor or sexual exploitation). It specifically targets individuals who transport adults or minors for these purposes, defining key terms like "coercion" and "forced labor" to clarify illegal conduct. The bill establishes penalties for these crimes, allows asset forfeiture of property used in trafficking, and requires restitution for victims. It also includes an exemption permitting medical, mental health, and legal services for undocumented individuals without criminal liability.

Maddy summaryHB 4437 allows Gold Star parents (mothers or fathers of veterans killed in combat) to receive one free vehicle registration plate for personal use. The bill amends West Virginia law to exempt Gold Star parents from all registration fees for a single Gold Star Family license plate, which is already available to surviving spouses under existing rules. This change directly affects eligible parents who qualify under the definition of "Gold star parent" (per 10 U.S.C. § 1126), waiving standard registration costs for one vehicle. The provision builds on the current Gold Star Family plate program without creating new fees or requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks a state committee to study whether West Virginia should create a flexible respite care program for seniors and their caregivers. The proposed program would allow families to schedule short-term, on-demand assistance for specific needs like medical appointments or personal obligations, rather than being limited to fixed weekly service blocks. The study will examine costs, potential savings from delaying nursing home placement, and how to fund and manage the program, especially in rural areas with fewer resources. If the committee finds the idea feasible, it will recommend new legislation to establish the program.

Maddy summaryHB 4986 amends West Virginia law to clarify when parental abandonment is presumed, especially for incarcerated parents. It states that abandonment is presumed when a parent is jailed for a significant portion of the child's minority (considering the child's age and need for stability) or for serious crimes like sexual assault, murder, or violent offenses. The bill also requires child welfare agencies to seek termination of parental rights when a child has been in foster care for 15 of the last 22 months, or when a court finds the child abandoned, abused, or when a parent committed specific violent or sexual crimes against the child. This directly affects parents facing incarceration for certain offenses and children in foster care or abuse cases.

Maddy summaryHB 5413 creates a Central Abuse Registry managed by the West Virginia State Police to track individuals convicted of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property involving children, incapacitated adults, or adults receiving behavioral health services in specific settings like residential care facilities, day care centers, or home care. It requires registrants to provide personal details (name, DOB, SSN) and pay an annual $125 fee to the circuit clerk, with fees funding mental health services for State Police employees. The registry combines existing requirements, so those already registering as sex offenders only pay one $125 fee instead of separate fees. Failure to pay the fee does not violate supervised release, but unpaid fees may result in a recorded judgment lien.