The Senate convened this morning to complete legislation on 17 bills, pass 14 bills, and adopt three Senate Resolutions.

Bills that completed legislation in the Senate today include House Bill 2548 , increases the fine and jail time for an assault or battery against an athletic official who is acting in an official capacity. Previously the fine for an assault was between $50 and $100; now, the fine is no more than $500. The jail time has been increased from between 24 hours and 30 days to not more than 6 months. The offender can be charged a fine, jail time, or both.

The bills that passed in the Senate today include House Bill 2453 , also know as “Skylar’s Law”, expands the Amber Alert Plan. Previously, the plan only included abducted children. This bill will activate Amber Alerts for children who are believed to be missing.

Senate Resolution 66 was one of three resolutions adopted today. It recognized West Virginia’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan.

UPDATE:

The Senate reconvened this afternoon to concur and complete one bill and advance 54 bills to third reading.

The only bill to complete legislation this afternoon in the Senate was Senate Bill 243 , which modifies an existing Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) rule which establishes an air quality operating permits program for sources of air pollution consistent with the requirements of Title V of the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) and the underlying federal regulation. The rule includes requirements relating to obtaining a permit, submitting an application, paying fees, issuing a permit, and reporting and monitoring information.

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow morning at 11am.

The Senate convened this morning to concur and complete four bills, pass three bills, advance 28 bills to second reading, and 25 to first reading.

Bills that completed legislation today include House Bill 2471 , prohibiting the restriction or otherwise lawful possession, use, carrying, transfer, transportation, storage or display of a firearm or ammunition during a declared state of emergency.

House Bill 2497 , one of three bills that passed unanimously today, relates to broadband deployment projects. The bill will increase the minimum data rates & other minimum services required in broadband service.

Bills advanced to third reading today include House Bill 2357 , relating to sexting by minors.

Finally, the Senate received a proclamation from the Governor extending the Legislative Session by six days to solely consider the budget bill.

The following committees will meet today:

The Committee on Education will meet today at 2:00 p.m. in 451M.
The Committee on Finance will meet today at 3:00 p.m. in 451M.
The Committee on Judiciary will meet today at 3:00 p.m. in 208W.

The Senate is in recess until today at 5:00 p.m.

UPDATE

The Senate reconvened this evening to receive committee reports and read several bills a first time.

Bills read a first time include House Bill 2265, relating to the school access safety act.

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.

The Senate convened today to complete 10 bills, pass seven bills, advance six bills to second reading, six to first reading, and adopt two Senate Resolutions.

The bills that completed legislation today include House Bill 2361 , which relates to the definition of “eligible veteran” for certain state training and employment preference benefits and Senate Bill 458 , which will permit PEIA health plans to operate on calendar-year basis.

Bills passed in the Senate today include House Bill 2471, which would prohibit the restriction or otherwise lawful possession, use, carrying, transfer, transportation, storage or display of a firearm or ammunition during a declared state of emergency.

The Senate adopted two Resolutions this morning congratulating Cabell Midland High School Show Choir for their West Virginia Music Educators Association 2013 Large Mixed Group Show Choir State Champion Title and Cabell Midland High School Marching Band for their many accomplishments this past year.

The following committees will meet today:

UPDATE:

The Senate reconvened briefly this evening to receive committee reports and read several bills a first time.

Bills read a first time and advanced to second reading include House Bill 2470 , which would provide sign support specialists or educational sign language interpreters in the education of exceptional children.

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

The Committee on Judiciary will meet tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in 208W.

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.

The Senate convened this morning to pass seven bills, advance 15 bills to third reading, six bills to second reading, and adopt two Senate Resolutions.

The Senate concurred and passed seven bills that were sent back to the Senate from the House with amendments.

Bills passed to third reading include House Bill 2463, which would repeal the article of the WV Code that permits the sterilization of persons deemed to be mentally incompetent.

House Bill 2108, which would make the failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense, was one bill passed to second reading today.

Finally, the Senate adopted two Senate Resolutions congratulating Tug Valley High School’s Boys’ Basketball Team on their State Championship win and recognizing April 8, 2013 as Jefferson County Day.

The following committees will meet today:

The Select Committee on Children and Poverty will meet tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in 208W.
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will meet tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in 451M.
The committee on Military will meet tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in 208W.

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.