Legislative Sessions Recap: 2008

Independent Living Funding

Congratulations Advocates! After three years of traipsing the marbled halls of our state capitol, we were victorious - our legislators heard us and funding for independent living services was increased from $24,000 to $500,000.

Legislative Summary

The 2008 Legislative session ended at midnight on March 8, 2008. Governor Manchin immediately called for a special session to deal with the 2009 Budget as well as the Teacher's Pension Bill.

Of the 2,134 bills introduced during the Session, 246 completed Legislation. 234 bills were signed by the Governor. Some of these bills include:

SB 185: Authorizing disclosure of certain records to National Instant Criminal Background Check System
SB 224: Creating Joint Emergency Services Act of 2008
SB 481: Authorizing physician assistants to conduct mental health hygiene process examinations
SB 535: Modifying certain penalties for DUI
SB 590: Protecting Health Care Workers
HB 3056: Authorizing pharmacists to administer immunizations
HB 4023: Provide for the denial or suspension of a driver's license for any student who withdraws from school or fails to receive passing grades
HB 4059: Relating to medical qualifications for school bus operators
HB 4069: Requiring vision screening for renewal of a driver's license
HB 4139: Relating to licensing persons using bioptic telescopic devices to operate a motor vehicle
HB 4368: Reducing acts of student violence and disruptive behavior and increasing penalties for chronically disruptive students
HB 4404: Discount Medical Plan Organizations and Discount Prescription Drug Plan Organizations Act

Visit the WV Legislature's Web site to view all bills signed by the Governor

Budget Bill

The approved budget ($10.4 billion) begins July 1, 2008. Some of the budget provisions include:

Increase for public school teachers and school service personnel annual salaries
Increase State Police Compensation
Increase in compensation and expenses of our legislators
Increase for independent living funding - $24,000 to $500,000
Increase for Ron Yost Personal Assistant Services Program - $340,000 to $400,000
Increase for WVDRS Employment Attendant Care Program - $179,000 to $229,000

On March 21, 2008, the Governor utilized his veto power and cut more than $8 million dollars from the budget. One of his 35 line-item vetoes impacted our Title XIX MR/DD Waiver program. The MR/DD waiver program empowers people with developmental disabilities to access services in their community that enables them to stay home as opposed to an institutional setting. Language in the budget would have enabled over 300 individuals with developmental disabilities to participate in the waiver program within 90 days of application.

Governor Manchin also vetoed:

a $500,000 increase in funding for senior citizen centers
$1.5 million for teaching hospitals
a $1 million increase in funding for grants to public libraries

For more information