The Senate reconvened today and introduced 48 bills as well as adopting Senate Resolution 4, which declared today Disability Advocacy Day.
The introduced bills included Senate Bill 234, which would increase penalties for correctional employees engaging in sexual relations with an inmate, and Senate Bill 236, which would create the Aquaculture Development Act. Bills 239 – 281 are rules bills.
The following committees will meet today:
Judiciary-3 p.m. 208W
Finance-3 p.m. 451M
The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Economic Development-9 a.m. 208W
Judiciary-3 p.m. 208W
The following committee will meet Friday:
Military-9:30 a.m. 208W
The Senate will reconvene at 11 a.m. tomorrow.
The House of Delegates passed its first bill of the 2010 Regular Session,
Next year’s budget, with all of the proposed reductions, will be balanced with a combination of cuts and an influx of one-time federal stimulus package money of $119 million, which will be used to “backfill” some of the cuts. The federal funds will go primarily to public and higher education. All states are required to spend most of their stimulus share by 2011, meaning West Virginia will have to look for other funding sources if the state’s revenues continue to feel the effects of the economic downturn. Cuts of five percent have been made to the budgets of the Legislature, Constitutional Offices, and executive agencies.
The House also recognized the General Federation Women’s Club of Beckley for 100 years of involvement in the community. (pictured) 
Majority Leader Sen. Chafin (D – Mingo) addressed the chamber and asked Senators to encourage their constituents to testify for Senate hearings regarding the power outages that affected 220,000 people around Christmas. Sen. Chafin said West Virginia is paying approximately $75 million to repair damaged power lines and he would like to develop the record in order to ensure it is money well spent.
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, a ceremony was conducted on the North side of the Capitol building. The lawmakers in attendance were accompanied by members of the West Virginia Supreme Court and the Governor, as well as the members of West Virginia’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission to mark this National Day of Service.
Speaker of the House, Richard Thompson, said, “We should be honoring not just Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but also the leaders, activists, educators and legislators who strive to follow in Dr. King’s footsteps.”
He also called for everyone to “re-dedicate themselves to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s purpose.” He said that Dr. King wanted freedom to ring throughout the country which is why they honor him through the annual ringing of the bell.
The Senate Chamber was buzzing with activity this morning as the Senate reconvened for the sixth day. 
Five bills, including