Sen. Vince Deeds

Maddy summarySB 669 clarifies when West Virginia's Public Service Commission (PSC) can approve utility rate increases and requires a biennial review of these increases. It directly affects utilities, particularly small municipal water/sewer systems serving fewer than 4,500 customers or with under $3 million in annual revenue, and their wholesale/resale customers. Key provisions include: a 30-day window for customers to file rate complaints after municipal changes, a 120-day resolution deadline for the PSC, and a requirement that rate increases must be supported by evidence showing costs are fairly matched to benefits received by customers. The bill also restricts the PSC from ordering refunds for rates collected during complaint proceedings unless specific refund conditions apply.

Maddy summarySB 657 creates the Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act, requiring West Virginia high school and middle school athletic programs to adopt concussion safety protocols and use specific safety equipment. The bill mandates schools to implement a Concussion Education, Prevention, and Response Plan by July 2026 and requires student athletes in football practices to wear impact-reducing soft-shell helmet covers attached to their helmets during collision-prone activities. It establishes the Cohen Craddock Memorial Grant Fund to help schools purchase safety equipment and includes protections ensuring helmet covers don’t void helmet warranties if properly attached. The law directly affects all student athletes in West Virginia public schools participating in interscholastic sports, with a specific focus on reducing head injury risks in football.

Maddy summarySB 677 establishes a new licensing framework for genetic counselors in West Virginia, requiring a valid license to practice and mandating criminal background checks for all applicants. It prohibits genetic counselors from representing themselves as licensed physicians, with violations punishable by up to two years in prison or a $2,000 fine. The bill also sets continuing education requirements, defines the scope of practice for genetic counselors, and creates separate disciplinary procedures under the West Virginia Board of Medicine.

Maddy summarySB 540 requires Child Protective Services (CPS) workers in West Virginia to wear body-worn cameras during investigations of child abuse or neglect, but only after obtaining consent from the person being investigated in private settings where privacy is expected. CPS workers may skip using the camera if it would compromise a child's privacy or hinder the investigation, but they must document the reason in the case file. All audio and video recordings must be kept confidential, stored until all appeals are resolved, and treated as part of the official child welfare record, not subject to public disclosure. This bill directly affects CPS workers and individuals involved in child welfare investigations.

Maddy summarySB 1044 requires the West Virginia Board of Education to create uniform graduation requirements for all public high school students. It mandates specific pathways - Academic (college-prep), Workforce, Career and Technical Education/Skilled Trades, and Military - and establishes standardized certificates of proficiency detailing each graduate's skills, readiness for employment, or college readiness. The bill directly affects all West Virginia public high schools and students by replacing inconsistent local requirements with state-mandated standards across these four pathways. It also requires schools to issue certificates of proficiency alongside diplomas, specifying the student's completed program of study and relevant skills.

Maddy summarySB 1061 allows West Virginia school superintendents to reassign surplus school personnel (such as teachers and support staff) without standard notice and hearing requirements when unexpected enrollment changes require it. The reassignment must occur before the last day of the second school month and applies only when enrollment shifts - unforeseen by May 1 - allow fewer teachers than planned under existing student-teacher ratios. The bill mandates that the least senior personnel be reassigned in such cases, prioritizing experience for remaining staff. This change streamlines adjustments to staffing needs during the school year without requiring full transfer procedures.

Maddy summarySB 1029 requires West Virginia child protective services (CPS) workers to provide parents with plain-language statements of their rights at the start of an investigation. The bill mandates two specific documents: a "Plain-Language Statement of Immediate Rights" (covering rights like home privacy, refusing entry, and services) and a "Plain-Language Statement of Ongoing Rights" (covering confidentiality, file access, and appeal processes), both written in clear, 8th-grade level English. These documents must be provided on the first contact during a CPS investigation and documented in the case record. The bill directly affects parents involved in CPS cases by ensuring they receive accessible information about their legal rights throughout the process. It does not change CPS procedures but standardizes how rights are communicated to parents.

Maddy summarySB 141 increases retirement benefits for West Virginia Natural Resources Police Officers who retire on or after January 1, 2029. The bill amends the retirement system to set the accrued benefit at 2.75% of an officer's final average salary multiplied by years of service (up from 2.5% for those retiring after July 1, 2025). This change directly affects active members of the West Virginia Natural Resources Police Officer Retirement System who meet the retirement date criteria. The legislation also requires additional funding for the retirement system to cover this benefit increase. The bill focuses solely on adjusting the calculation method for retirement benefits, without altering other eligibility rules or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 541 requires West Virginia circuit courts to include specific findings of fact and conclusions of law in all orders related to juvenile child abuse and neglect cases. This applies to every court order issued under the state's child abuse and neglect procedures, directly affecting judges, legal representatives, and families involved in these cases. The bill mandates that courts document their reasoning in writing, increasing transparency in decision-making without altering substantive legal standards. It does not change existing rights or procedures but adds a procedural requirement for court orders.

Maddy summarySB 676 would move employees in West Virginia's Division of Protective Services into the state police retirement system. This change directly affects staff currently covered under a different retirement plan, requiring them to participate in the West Virginia State Police Retirement Fund instead. The bill amends existing law to define these employees as "members" of the retirement system, aligning their contribution rates, benefit calculations, and eligibility rules with those of state police officers. This is a procedural policy change affecting retirement benefits for specific state workers.