Session Shorts, Day 57

CELL PHONES & DRIVING: Amending a bill that would ban (some) drivers from talking or texting by cell, "Senate Transportation Committee members voted Tuesday to remove a provision that would have exempted federal, state, county or municipal government vehicles," The Charleston Gazette reports. The Register-Herald of Beckley also has a story, while MetroNews has audio.

ELEVATOR SAFETY: Supporters of a House-passed bill proposing licensing requirements for elevator workers include both major players in that industry and their employees. One elevator firm has led the charge against the bill. As The Associated Press reports, that firm has also hired a West Virginia contractor with a troubled track record with the state.

HUNTING ED: A House Education subcommittee has endorsed a Senate-passed bill that aims to promote hunting and gun safety in public schools, but after making such coursework optional instead of mandatory, The Register-Herald reports.

LOW VISION DRIVERS: The Journal of Martinsburg tracks the Senate progress of a House-passed bill that would allow residents with poor vision "to drive with the aid of specially designed bioptic lenses." The Register-Herald also reports.

MUNICIPAL PENSIONS: Volunteer firefighters have an ally in Gov. Joe Manchin as they oppose a pending bill aimed at helping pension funds for police and paid firefighters . The governor told MetroNews that he agrees with them that they should be receiving revenue from the insurance policy surcharge that the bill earmarks for the municipal pensions.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: The House Chamber hosted a public hearing Tuesday that featured sharply divided speakers on the question of "a Senate-passed bill that would add sexual orientation to the classes protected under the state’s Human Rights and Fair Housing acts," AP reports. MetroNews also covered the hearing, and has audio.

STREAMS: The Gazette delves into a Tuesday debate on the House floor which culminated in the adoption of a tweak by its Judiciary Committee of the Senate-passed bill "that did away with the Tier 2.5 level of protection for streams."

TEACHER PENSIONS: The Senate passed its version of Manchin's pension merger proposal Tuesday, 31-2. A House-Senate conference committee must now seek a compromise from among the differing versions, AP reports. AP also caught the Senate's floor debate, as did MetroNews (with audio), The Gazette, and the Beckley newspaper.