West Virginia House Bill 4085 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-2)
Status: Introduced on January 16 2012 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2012-01-16 - To House Judiciary
Pending: House Judiciary Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]

The purpose of this bill is to implement mining safety reforms to address the tragic deaths that occurred on April 5th, 2010 at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia, by implementing comprehensive reforms recommended by mine safety teams investigating causes of that disaster intended to prevent future mining fatalities; establishing toll-free number for miners to make anonymous tips on mining violations; increasing penalties for violating underground mining safety requirements; enhancing penalties for intentional violations of mine safety laws; encouraging miners to withdraw from unsafe working conditions; establishing additional miner safety training, including additional training related to repeated violations; extending miners pay for periods of being idled by mining companies failure to remediate hazardous safety violations; providing opportunity for miners families to participate in mine accident investigations; providing for shut-off of underground equipment when dangerous methane levels are detected; allowing miners discretion in allowing company representatives and others from participation in accident investigation interviews; establishing the Underground Mining Accident Investigation Panel to be constituted following a serious mine accident; and providing that a study be conducted to assess the need to revise administrative enforcement processes and policies to promote timely and effective enforcement of mining safety laws.

Relating to miners health and safety

Del. Larry Barker [D]	Del. Brent Boggs [D]	Del. Greg Butcher [D]	Sen. Michael Caputo [D]
Sen. Bill Hamilton [R]	Del. Virginia Mahan [D]	Del. Charlene Marshall [D]	Del. Tim Miley [D]
Del. Ricky Moye [D]	Del. Linda Sumner [R]	Del. Richard Thompson [D]

Date	Chamber	Action
2012-01-16		To House Judiciary
2012-01-16		Introduced in House
2012-01-16		To Judiciary
2012-01-16		Filed for introduction

Chapter	Article	Section	Citation Type	Statute Text
15	5B	6	New Code	See Bill Text
22A	1	15	Amended Code	Citation Text
22A	1	21	Amended Code	Citation Text
22A	1	22	Amended Code	Citation Text
22A	1	40	New Code	See Bill Text
22A	12	1	New Code	See Bill Text
22A	12	2	New Code	See Bill Text
22A	2	12	Amended Code	Citation Text
22A	2	16	Amended Code	Citation Text
22A	2	2	Amended Code	Citation Text
22A	2	43	Amended Code	Citation Text
22A	2	78	Amended Code	Citation Text
22A	7	5	Amended Code	Citation Text

Type	Source
Summary	http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4085&year=2012&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill
Text	http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb4085%20intr.htm&yr=2012&sesstype=RS&i=4085