Sen. Vince Deeds

Maddy summarySB 190 increases the retirement benefit multiplier for deputy sheriffs in West Virginia from 2.5% to 3% of their final average salary, multiplied by their years of credited service. This change directly affects current and future members of the Deputy Sheriff Retirement System who retire on or after July 1, 2018. The bill amends the existing retirement formula to provide a higher benefit percentage without altering contribution rates or eligibility rules. This policy change results in larger monthly retirement payments for qualifying deputy sheriffs based on their salary and service length.

Maddy summarySB 193 clarifies how West Virginia deputy sheriffs earn annual salary supplements based on their years of service. It specifies that deputies receive $5 multiplied by each month of service annually (e.g., $60 after 12 months), with existing more favorable supplements remaining in effect. The supplement is only payable after completing a full year of service and counts toward retirement benefits. This bill directly affects deputy sheriffs in West Virginia by standardizing the calculation method for their service-based pay increases.

Maddy summarySB 195, known as "McKayla, Miranda, and Philip's Law," requires licensed healthcare providers (including doctors, nurses, and specialists) to report to West Virginia's DMV within 10 days when diagnosing patients over 15 with mental or physical conditions that could affect driving safety. The law mandates reports including the patient's full name, date of birth, and address, with confidentiality protections and immunity for reporters. This directly affects healthcare providers who must submit these reports and drivers with qualifying disabilities, as the DMV will use them to assess medical competency for retaining a driver's license. The bill aims to ensure safety by enabling the DMV to review licenses when health conditions may impair driving ability. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 30 requires health insurance plans in West Virginia to cover medically necessary treatment for congenital cleft lip and cleft palate anomalies. This applies to individuals under 19 years old, ensuring coverage for necessary medical services related to these conditions. The bill amends existing insurance mandates to explicitly include this treatment under required benefits, aligning it with other covered care like mental health services. It does not specify particular procedures but mandates coverage when deemed medically necessary by a physician. This policy change directly affects children and young adults with these birth anomalies and their insurance providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends West Virginia Code §5-10-20(c) to clarify retirement eligibility for sheriffs who are members of the public retirement system. It specifies that sheriffs elected to office (and not in another retirement system) may retire at age 62 with eight or more years of actual, contributory service. The change confirms the existing policy without altering the age or service requirements for this specific group of public employees. It directly affects sheriffs in West Virginia’s public retirement system who meet these criteria.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 194 modifies parole eligibility for individuals convicted of second-degree murder in West Virginia. It changes the law to require a minimum of 15 years served before parole consideration, raising the current requirement from a range of 10-15 years. This means people sentenced for second-degree murder must serve at least 15 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole hearings. The bill directly affects incarcerated individuals convicted of second-degree murder under current sentencing guidelines.

Maddy summarySB 189 amends West Virginia law to allow spouses to testify for or against each other in criminal cases, removing the previous restriction that prevented one spouse from being compelled to testify against the other. The bill specifically permits spousal testimony in cases involving crimes committed by one spouse against a child, grandchild, or other close family members (like parents or siblings), as defined in the law. It also clarifies that a spouse’s decision not to testify cannot be used as evidence against the accused or commented on by the court or jury. This change directly affects spouses involved in criminal trials where family violence or harm to dependents is alleged.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends West Virginia law to establish reckless driving resulting in death as a felony offense, rather than a misdemeanor. It directly affects drivers who cause fatal accidents through willful or wanton disregard for safety on roads, parking areas, or other specified public spaces. Conviction carries a prison sentence of 1 to 10 years, or a fine of $5,000 to $10,000, or both. The bill updates existing traffic code provisions (§17C-5-3) to create this felony classification while making technical corrections to the law.

Maddy summarySB 188 increases the prison sentence for voluntary manslaughter in West Virginia by raising the minimum term from 3 years to 5 years and the maximum from 15 years to 25 years. It also requires that individuals convicted under this law serve at least 5 years before becoming eligible for parole, or a longer period as specified by other law. This bill directly affects people convicted of voluntary manslaughter, resulting in longer mandatory prison terms. The change applies to all future convictions under this offense, without altering other legal procedures or sentencing factors.

Maddy summaryWest Virginia's SB 246, the Violent Crime Prevention Act, requires law enforcement agencies to submit ballistics data to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) for specific violent crimes. It applies to cases involving felony crimes of violence against the person, domestic violence, or controlled substance distribution. Agencies must submit this data within one month of charging an individual for these offenses. The bill aims to improve crime linkage identification and community safety through enhanced ballistic data sharing.