First bills given favorable recommendation by the Ways and Means Committee

The first bills given favorable recommendation by the Ways and Means Committee crossed over to the Senate today after being passed by the full House of Delegates.

HB120 – Task Force to Study How to Improve Financial Literacy in State

This bill adds members to the task force and extends the reporting date to December 1, 2009.  This task force was established last year in light of the foreclosure crisis in housing.  With the downturn of the stock market and banking crisis, the task force will extend its focus into improving the financial literacy of citizens in understanding basic financial concepts and how various financial institutions work.

HB169 – Tax Sales – Fees

This bill alters the types of expenses for which a holder of a certificate of sale may be reimbursed.  If an action to foreclose the right of redemption has not been filed, and the property is redeemed more than four months after the date of the tax sale, the holder of the certificate may be reimbursed for costs for recording the certificate of sale, a title search fee up to $250, and reasonable attorney’s fees up to $500.

HB244 – Joint Committee on Children, Youth and Families – Repeal of Sunset

The Joint Committee was created in 1999 and this bill would continue the committee indefinitely. Among the issues reviewed by this committee are:  child abuse and neglect, juvenile arrests, domestic violence, infant mortality, child immunizations, child substance abuse, quality of childcare, early childhood education, school safety, and access to health care.