As of 4 p.m., Wednesday February 29, 2012, the 50th day of the 80th Legislature’s 2nd Regular Session, 174 bills have passed the Senate and will move on to the House for further consideration. Bills passed by the Senate this week include:
Senate Bill 4 would declare a child’s right to nurse. The bill also authorizes a mother to breast feed a child in any location where the mother and child have a right to be.
Senate Bill 51 would provide for denial of spousal support if it can be proven through DNA evidence a spouse has committed adultery after entry of the divorce decree.
Senate Bill 60 would make it a felony to drive a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance or other drug and recklessly cause serious bodily injury to another person. It would also establish penalties for first and subsequent violations of certain provisions.
Senate Bill 110 would modify and increase the membership of the Broadband Deployment Council. The bill would also expand the powers and duties of the Broadband Deployment Council.
Senate Bill 212 relates to the disruption of communications and public utility services. The bill would also define terms and establish criminal penalties for disrupting the communications or public utility equipment.
Senate Bill 340 would require the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission (WVSSAC) to promulgate rules that address concussions and head injuries in interscholastic athletes. The bill would set forth minimum provisions to be included in the rules and exempt volunteer health care providers from liability in certain instances.
Senate Bill 421 would regulate deer farming as an agricultural enterprise in this state. The bill would also state the powers and duties of the Department of Agriculture, establish the duties and obligation of the commissioner and create an application process.
Senate Bill 437 would address the regulation of opioid treatment programs in West Virginia. The bill would also update rules for opioid treatment program facilities to require clinical guidelines, recovery models, education and training requirements for treatment facility staff and treatment limitations and requirements.
Senate Bill 564 would create the Aviation Fund and the Fleet Management Office Fund. The fund requires the moneys in these funds do not expire, the funds be used for aviation and fleet management purposes, and costs and expenses muse be borne by the agency or department using the aviation or fleet services.
Senate Bill 566 would authorize the Commissioner of Corrections to contract with nonprofit and charitable organizations for work-release and inmate reentry services. It would also allow circuit courts to directly place convicted defendants in such facilities.
Senate Bill 624 would provide a method of collection of motor fuel excise taxes when liquefied natural gas or compressed natural gas are used as motor fuel.
A typical day for a lawmaker may begin with a committee meeting. Legislators collaborate to form 19 Senate Committees and 18 House committees. Legislation is considered within these committees and amendments and recommendations are presented to the bodies at large. Each Delegate is a member of at least one major committee and each Senator is typically among the membership of two major committees. These committees, including the Judiciary, Education, Finance and Government Organization of either chamber, meet nearly every day, often twice a day, to discuss bills at length.
This afternoon’s floor session began with the adoption of Senate Resolution 46 which honored and affirmed sister-state relationship between West Virginia and Taiwan Province, Republic of China.
Today marks the 50th day of the 80th regular session. This day has been labeled “cross-over day,” which means today is the last day legislators can consider bills or joint resolutions on third reading in the house of origin, excluding the budget bill and supplementary appropriation bills. Legislators endured a lengthy floor session discussing and debating a total of 35 bills read on third reading during the morning session.
Several Delegates including the Speaker of the House were moved to speak in favor of the bill regarding mine safety during the floor session this morning. After many heartfelt remarks, 
The House passed several bills on 3rd reading today with one bill in particular considerable debate. 
In today’s floor session, the Senate passed 13 bills and read 45 for a second time. One of the bills that was passed is 
During today’s floor session, the Senate recognized