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GOVERNOR TOMBLIN Provides State OF THE Condition Tackle
Handle highlights leading priorities and important parts of laws
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (January 13, 2016) – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today shipped the 2016 Condition of the Condition Address in the Residence Chamber at the Condition Capitol Sophisticated.
Gov. Tomblin’s remarks incorporated an overview of new plans and initiatives associated to his top priorities as governor, as properly as a number of new pieces of laws he plans to introduce in the course of the 2016 Legislative Session.
Given that becoming governor in November 2010, Gov. Tomblin has targeted on problems such as workforce improvement, combatting compound abuse, dependable fiscal policies and occupation development. Subsequent are highlights from the Point out of the Point out speech and other legislative initiatives of Gov. Tomblin.
Financial Improvement
Gov. Tomblin has labored to create a optimistic business weather now and for many years to appear, and he remains committed to working with business and sector leaders from a range of industries to develop new investments and provide jobs to West Virginia. Firms from throughout the country and about the planet are noticing the adjustments the condition has created, and nationally and internationally regarded firms – like Macy’s Amazon, Quad Graphics, Hino Motors, Diamond Electric, Toyota and Procter and Gamble – have picked to find, broaden and make investments in West Virginia.
Tonight, Gov. Tomblin extra yet another company to the checklist of individuals that have dedicated to West Virginia. In the course of the deal with, Gov. Tomblin announced polymer additive manufacturer Addivant has made the decision to keep and grow operations in Morgantown, preserving virtually a hundred work and introducing at the very least $twelve million in new investments and additional chances for employment.
Even though these massive investments are a essential portion of West Virginia’s long-phrase achievement, Gov. Tomblin is also fully commited to ensuring tiny company owners have a chance to excel and increase. Tonight, Gov. Tomblin released the Self-Work Assistance Act, created to make it easier for unemployed West Virginians to get the support they need to open a business. The act allows business owners to continue receiving unemployment positive aspects even though developing their new business. This helps homeowners reinvest in their new venture and staff, whilst also supplying a regular supply of fiscal assistance for their family members.
WORKFORCE Advancement
In functioning to bring new investments and produce jobs, Gov. Tomblin has also made it a best priority to ensure these jobs are crammed by skilled and effectively-trained West Virginians. With the aid of his Workforce Arranging Council, Gov. Tomblin has established new workforce growth programs and strengthened existing initiatives to satisfy the needs of enterprise and market functioning right here. The condition has received much more than $forty million in federal grant funding to assistance Workforce West Virginia functions throughout the point out, assisting coal miners, their family members, and people who have fatigued their unemployment positive aspects uncover occupations in developing industries.
Via a collaborative partnership amid business, business, schooling and labor leaders, Gov. Tomblin has recognized a new Regional Task Matching Database, an on-line resource for each educational program listings and employment possibilities available shut to people’s properties. This database will assist match learners with coaching plans in essential wants places and link them with employers searching for those exact same expertise.
In addition, Gov. Tomblin also plans to introduce laws that will grow the West Virginia Office of Wellness and Human Resources’ (WVDHHR) Short term Assistance to Want Families (TANF) pilot plan. Via a partnership with the WVDHHR and Southern West Virginia Neighborhood and Technical School, the pilot program was designed to support West Virginians currently acquiring TANF rewards enroll in school courses, get obtain to financial help and function with advisors to begin a new profession route to assist them selves and their people. With this system expansion, far more West Virginians will get the support and help they need to have to grow to be productive, productive customers of their local communities.
STRENGTHENING SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA
Gov. Tomblin has committed significantly of his public services to supporting West Virginia’s coal miners and their family members. In current several years, both the condition and nation have experienced unprecedented downturns in this sector, adversely influencing regional operations and devastating the lives of a lot of hardworking West Virginians.
Tonight, Gov. Tomblin highlighted ongoing initiatives to help and strengthen all people affected by the downturn in the coal sector. The state has submitted an application to the National Catastrophe Resilience Competitiveness (NDRC), searching for a lot more than $one hundred forty million in funding from the United States Division of Housing and Urban Growth. This competition has the possible to aid Boone, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, McDowell and Wyoming counties alter, adapt and advance their communities. If effective, funding will be allocated to support repair and rebuild growing older infrastructure, promote land use preparing and hazard reduction initiatives and promote housing and economic advancement in the location.
Gov. Tomblin tonight also announced programs to develop of the biggest industrial web site in West Virginia history – the former Hobet surface area mine in Boone and Lincoln counties. At twelve,000 acres, this home is massive sufficient to fit every single major financial growth task in recent history – with thousands of acres left above. The state is doing work in partnership with nearby landowners, Marshall College, West Virginia University and the Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund to uncover ways to re-build this website and diversify southern West Virginia’s economic climate.
Vitality
In operating to make sure West Virginia’s power sector is powerful and various, Gov. Tomblin has also labored difficult to support growth of West Virginia’s abundant Marcellus, Utica and Rogersville shale formations. Tonight, Gov. Tomblin stressed the require to develop the processing and pipeline infrastructure necessary to ensure this industry’s ongoing expansion now and for several years to come, highlighting key expenditure tasks these kinds of as the Columbia Gas Mountaineer Xpress pipeline.
Gov. Tomblin also introduced that even though the Section of Environmental Security carries on to function on a feasibility examine related to the state’s Clean Energy Strategy Submission, it is very likely that strategy will consist of products this kind of as reforestation and substitute of boilers to enhance the performance of existing coal-fired electricity strategies.
TACKLING Compound ABUSE
Gov. Tomblin has created combatting the state’s substance abuse epidemic a top priority of his administration. As communities and family members throughout West Virginia carry on to struggle material abuse from a number of fronts, Gov. Tomblin has invested a important amount of time and funding to improve local community-based therapy possibilities and applications to give those battling hope and get them on the street to restoration.
Tonight, Gov. Tomblin launched laws to assist ongoing substance abuse efforts. He declared new licensing needs for Suboxone and Methadone clinics, demanding treatment-assisted remedy facilities to supply complete therapies in coordination with medication to support to treat the root causes driving addictions, instead than just providing a limited-phrase resolve.
In addition, Gov. Tomblin released laws to broaden the Opioid Antagonist Act of 2015, producing opioid antagonists, these kinds of as Narcan, available to any West Virginian with out a prescription. This new laws calls for pharmacists to prepare those who obtain this drug on how to administer opioid antagonists and will help the condition keep track of individuals getting Narcan to help far better emphasis point out sources in areas most difficult strike by opioid overdoses.
JUVENILE JUSTICE
Gov. Tomblin’s juvenile justice reforms have also created a significant impact on our state’s youth, as he has worked to boost results for individuals currently in the juvenile justice technique and provide early-intervention treatment to at-danger students to keep them in the classroom and out of the courtroom. In the course of his deal with, Gov. Tomblin touted the success of 2015’s Juvenile Justice Reform, particularly highlighting optimistic outcomes of the truancy diversion plan.
He also introduced the Division of Juvenile Services has diminished the number of little ones becoming sent to out-of-house placements by much more than one particular-3rd and lowered the quantity of detention beds by far more than 40 %. So much the condition has saved $6 million, and the Division of Juvenile Companies is self-assured West Virginia can double that financial savings in coming several years.
Education
Making sure learners continue to be in the classroom for 180 times of finding out is just one particular of Gov. Tomblin’s education priorities, as he is equally dedicated to making sure West Virginia’s training technique stands prepared to give learners with the complete and productive education and learning they are worthy of. In addition, they must obtain new understanding opportunities that supply the expertise and hands-on knowledge they require accomplish extended-time period achievement in West Virginia.
To increase on West Virginia’s educational offerings, Gov. Tomblin has created the Innovation in Education Grant System, which will not only offer learners with unique capabilities and arms-on education, but will also give them the opportunity to contend amid their peers on a nationwide and entire world-vast scale. This new program is designed to reward instructors and educational institutions in West Virginia for innovation and creativeness in the classroom. The reallocation of $2.8 million in current West Virginia Division of Schooling funds will help new classroom choices that are developed to aid students create and acquire these skills in higher-desire fields, these kinds of as science, technologies, engineering, math and entrepreneurship.
FISCAL Duty
Throughout his administration, Gov. Tomblin has manufactured confident to enact and uphold fiscally responsible guidelines. He understands the state is encountering substantial budget issues, but remains committed to creating challenging choices now that will support guarantee West Virginia has a vibrant long term now and for several years to come.
Gov. Tomblin tonight released laws to pay off West Virginia’s aged workers’ payment credit card debt much more than a decade forward of timetable. This also will remove additional severance taxes on coal and normal fuel industries before than anticipated, delivering significantly-needed aid for energy businesses having difficulties with lower charges.
In supporting to make sure West Virginia’s tax base is both secure and diverse, Gov. Tomblin tonight also proposed raising the state’s tobacco tax by 45 cents to a whole of $1 a pack. This boost will not only assist discourage West Virginians from smoking cigarettes or making use of tobacco merchandise, it will also supply $seventy one.5 million annually to help overall health-relevant costs. $43 million of this earnings will aid fund PEIA, ensuring community employees do not see the extraordinary gain reductions to begin with proposed.
Gov. Tomblin also proposed laws to remove a sale tax exemption that will carry our state’s telecommunications tax in line with 41 other states across the place. This legislation will place the exact same six % product sales tax on cell cellphone and mobile phone line usage and generate $60 million each year.
With these proposed modifications, the 2017 budget Gov. Tomblin offered employs no cash from the state’s Rainy Working day Fund and in reality predicts surpluses starting in 2019.
Gov. Tomblin will also introduce the subsequent items of laws:
Workforce Innovation & Possibility Act (WIOA) Reporting Update
Updates recent West Virginia code to mirror 2014 federal law for compliance and continuation of federal funding from the U.S. Division of Labor.
Authorizes information sharing by Workforce West Virginia with the state agencies dependable for vocational rehabilitation, employment and education to far better align the workforce system with schooling and financial growth in an work to develop a collective response to economic and labor industry challenges on the national, condition and neighborhood amounts.
West Virginia Workforce Advancement Board Updates
Updates the composition of the West Virginia Workforce Investment decision Council and alterations its identify to the West Virginia Workforce Growth Board to comply with WIOA.
Borrowing from Wet Day for Unemployment Payment Fund
Authorizes borrowing in volume up to $25 million to provide further money for unemployment payment.
Managed Substances Checking System (CSMP) Update Monthly bill:
Demands practitioners (physicians, pharmacists and other folks) to register for the CSMP to obtain or renew a license.
Produces an administrative fine of $one,000 for failure to register for the CSMP, as properly as an administrative good of $500 for failure to obtain the CSMP as needed.
Certification of Require Exemption for Out-Affected person Behavioral Wellness Community-Based Services
Exempts neighborhood-based behavioral health care amenities, programs or companies from the certificate of require approach contained in W.Va. Code 16-Second-1 et seq.
811 – One Call Program
Helps make underground pipelines of 4" in diameter and higher subject to "call ahead of you dig" reporting if not in any other case necessary by state or federal law. Applies to gasoline, oil or any hazardous material pipelines.
Membership in 811 demands an entity to provide mapping information indicating where their underground pipelines are found and to react within the specified time intervals when notified by the 811 administrator and be capable to mark its underground pipes.
15 Minutes Rule
Calls for that drilling, manufacturing and pipeline actions are topic to the state’s fifteen-moment unexpected emergency notification law (WV Code 15-5B-3a (b)(one)).
Provisions use to unexpected emergency occasions that include a loss of life or severe injuries, unplanned ignitions, fires or explosions and similar significant emergency occasions (verified emergencies) at drilling, manufacturing and pipeline sites.
Notification must be offered in 15 minutes to the West Virginia Division of Homeland Safety and Emergency Management and include preliminary information relating to the character and extent of the crisis function, any existence or non-existence of threats to public overall health, substances associated or unveiled and selected principal contact information.
Transportation Community Firm Invoice (TNC) – Uber/Lyft
Authorizes TNCs to function in West Virginia by acquiring a permit from DMV.
Calls for vehicle insurance policy and uninsured and underinsured motorist protection.
Demands a zero tolerance for drug and alcoholic beverages coverage.
Calls for TNCs to have a nondiscrimination policy and comply with nondiscrimination rules.
Workplace of Coalfield Local community Development Monthly bill
Continues the Place of work of Coalfield Neighborhood Advancement in Commerce (earlier in Division of Vitality)
Air Ambulance Bill
Supplies air transportation or relevant emergency or treatment method companies providers functioning in West Virginia from gathering more for provider from PEIA coated folks than the at present allowable Medicare reimbursement charge.
Repeal Behavioral Well being Severance & Privilege Tax
Gets rid of the behavioral health severance and privilege tax and restrictions the product sales tax exemption on durable healthcare products to people bought for property use only.
The adjust is believed to be income neutral and will help ensure continued federal matching funds for Medicaid and Medicare.
Minimize Needed Yearly Severance Tax Deposit to Infrastructure Bond Fund
Reduces the quantity of severance tax proceeds deposited into the West Virginia Infrastructure Basic Obligation Financial debt Provider Fund for payment of personal debt provider on this kind of bonds from $22.five million every year to an sum equal to annual credit card debt provider, not to exceed $22.twenty five million annually.
Personalized Earnings Tax update
Updates the Personal Revenue Tax code to be in compliance with federal tax regulations
CNIT Update & Revised Filing Day
Updates the Company Internet Earnings Tax code to be in compliance with federal tax rules.
Intermodal
Terminates funding of the Particular Railroad and Intermodal Improvement Fund starting January one, 2016. The resource of funding is corporate web income taxes.
Racetrack and Historic Hotel Modernization Funds Cessation
Ends the Accredited Racetrack Modernization Fund and Historic Resort Modernization Fund and moves all money currently in these kinds of funds to the Standard Revenue Fund.
Cessation of Deposit into Street Fund from Income Tax for FY2016
Removes for fiscal calendar year 2016 the deposit of income tax proceeds into the Point out Road Fund from product sales of development and upkeep components acquired by a second get together for use in the construction or maintenance of a highway task.
Such revenue tax proceeds will be deposited into the General Revenue Fund in lieu of the Point out Road Fund.
Point out Help Formulation Changes
Eradicates the Growth County Faculty Facilities Act, which permitted growth county boards of schooling to designate general fund revenues from new construction (rising home taxes) for placement in a growth county faculty services act fund.
Adjusts the formulation for the basis allowance for equally expert educators and service staff.
Adjusts and eliminates particular adjustments to the basis allowance for transportation fees (escalating bus lifestyle from 12 to fifteen years and mileage from one hundred eighty,000 to 225,000 miles).
Adjusts the calculation for the basis allowance to enhance educational plans.
Eradicates particular constraints in the computation of the regional share applicable to progress county educational institutions.
Infrastructure Fund Extra Lottery Deposit Reduction
Decreases the once-a-year deposit of Excess Lottery revenues to the Infrastructure Fund from $40 million to $30 million for fiscal 12 months 2017.
Raises the proportion of resources that may possibly be disbursed from the Infrastructure Fund in the kind of grants from 20% to fifty% for fiscal calendar year 2017.
SBA Deposit Reduction
Decreases for fiscal calendar year 2017 the annual deposit of revenue tax proceeds into the Faculty Developing Authority’s Faculty Main Enhancement Fund from $5 million to $four million (was diminished for FY16 to $three million).
Decreases for fiscal 12 months 2017 the University Creating Authority’s Faculty Design Fund from $27,216,996 to $24,216,996 (was reduced for FY16 to $21,216,996).
Pictures obtainable for media use. All pictures need to be attributed “Photo courtesy of Place of work of the Governor.”
By Governor Earl Ray Tomblin on 2016-01-thirteen 19:08:21