This afternoon, the Senate reconvened in order to accept an amendment to the Governor’s call that adds Senate Resolution 407, which continues the support of the coal industry in West Virginia.

The Senate also passed three bills, Senate Bill 406, Senate Bill 409 , and Senate Bill 410. These bills have completed legislative action and now awaits the Governor’s signature.

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

The House received a message from the Governor this afternoon that amended and added a resolution to the call.

The House adopted House Resolution 402, showing its support for the coal industry and vowing to help coal remain a viable industry in West Virginia.

The House then completed legislation on four bills, passing Senate Bill 4001, Senate Bill 4002, Senate Bill 4003 and Senate Bill 4007, which relates to retirement benefits of professional police officers and professional firefighters.

The House also passed four bills to the Senate for their consideration. Those bills include House Bill 405, House Bill 406, House Bill 406, House Bill 409 and House Bill 410.

The House will reconvene tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.

State Senators met, received committee reports and suspended rules on the floor of the Senate in order to pass nine of the 11 introduced bills from this session in a afternoon floor session.

Senate Bill 4009, Senate Bill 4010, and Senate Bill 4011, all relating to supplemental appropriations of state funds, were passed and have been sent to the House for their consideration.

The Senate also advanced to the House of Delegates Senate Bill 4002, which relates to Federal Recovery Zone bonds, Senate Bill 4006, which would establishing an absentee voting pilot program for uniform services members and certain other citizens and Senate Bill 4007, which relates to the retirement benefits of professional police officers and professional firefighters, among other bills.

Senators also adopted Senate Resolution 403, honoring Senator Robert C. Byrd as the longest serving U.S. Congressman in our nation’s storied history.

The following committees will meet today:

Confirmations – 2:00 p.m. – 219M

Judiciary – 2:30 p.m.- 208W

The Senate will reconvene today at 5:00 p.m.

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Evening Update
This evening, the Senate met briefly to accept the report for Confirmations and consented to all appointees.
The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.

After recessing earlier in the day the Senate reconvened briefly this evening to receive a committee report from the Senate Pensions Committee. Senate Bill 4007, which relates to the retirement benefits of professional police officers and professional firefighters, was reported with the recommendation that it do pass and referred to the Senate Finance Committee for further discussion.

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Finance – 9:30 a.m.- 451M
Judiciary- 9:30 a.m.- 208W

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.

Senators called into the 4th Extraordinary Session began deliberations regarding the issues placed on the Governor’s call .

Eleven bills were introduced during the floor session, all of which were read a first time before they were referred to their appropriate committees.

Three of the bills, Senate Bill 4009, Senate Bill 4010, and Senate Bill 4011, relate to supplemental appropriations of state funds.

Other bills which were introduced and read a first time included Senate Bill 4004, which relates to the motor fuel excise tax and Senate Bill 4007, which relates to the retirement benefits of professional police officers and professional firefighters.

The Senate Pensions Committee is scheduled to meet immediately following the floor session in the Senate President’s Conference Room, Room 219M.

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