Blog – Page 344

House Passes Six Bills

House Floor Session

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June 2, 2009

The House met this morning and passed a total of six bills. Those bills passed by the House were:

House Bill 102, relating to the allocation of adjusted gross receipts from pari-mutuel racetracks with West Virginia Lottery racetrack table games;
House Bill 103, creating the Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Act;
House Bill 104, relating to the Motor Fuel Excise Tax Shortfall Reserve Fund;
House Bill 105, relating to the issuance of retail licenses for the sale of liquor;
House Bill 109, relating to the School Innovation Zones Act;
House Bill 113, relating to revenue bonds for tourism and education and providing a procedure for the selection of projects to receive moneys resulting from such bonds;

These bills will now move to the Senate for further consideration.

The House will reconvene this afternoon at 2:30 p.m.

House Receives Senate Messages, Moves 13 Bills to Third Reading

House Floor Session

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June 1, 2009

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This evening, the House received messages from the Senate stating that the Senate had passed six bills. Each of these bills were then read a first time in the House.

The House also advanced 13 bills to third reading,with the right to amend, including House Bill 107, relating to critical skills instruction programs for students in grades three and eight and House Bill 112, ensuring the post-mine development of reclaimed surface mine property.

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

Senate Passes Six Bills in Afternoon Floor Session

Senate Floor Session

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June 1, 2009

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The Senate passed six bills in their afternoon floor session, reading all of the bills a second time and then suspending the constitutional rules and reading them a third time to speed up the legislative process. The following bills passed this afternoon:

Senate Bill 1001 creates critical skills instructional support programs for third and eighth grades.
Senate Bill 1002 relates to recruitment and retention of certain employees at Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital and William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital.
Senate Bill 1003 creates the High-Technology Business Property Valuation Act.
Senate Bill 1006 relates to hiring, terminating, transferring and reassigning teachers and school personnel.
Senate Bill 1010 provides county commissions with authority to regulate location of exotic entertainment businesses.
Senate Bill 1011 relates to post-mine land use development.

These bills will now move to the House for consideration.

The Senate Finance Committee will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 451M.

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

Senate Meets on Day Two of the First Special Session

Senate Floor Session

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June 1, 2009

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During a morning meeting of the Senate five bills were reported out of their respective committees. Three of the bills were reported out of the Education Committee and were read a second time prior to being referred to the Finance Committee for its consideration.

Senate Bill 1001 would create critical skills instructional support programs for third and eighth grades.
Senate Bill 1006 relates to the hiring, termination, transferring and reassigning of teachers and school personnel.
Senate Bill 1008 would create the School Innovation Zones Act.

Two other bills were reported out of the Judiciary Committee after being amended. They are:

Senate Bill 1004 which relates to the allocation of adjusted gross receipts from pari-mutuel racetracks with racetrack table games; and, Senate Bill 1007 which relates to the issuance and classification of retail liquor licenses. These bills were referred to the Finance Committee for further evaluation.

The Senate Finance Committee meets today, Monday, June 1st, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. in Room 451M.

The Senate is in recess until 3:00 p.m. today.

Legislature Begins First Special Session of 2009

Senate Floor Session

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May 31, 2009

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Following the conclusion of the Regular Session, the Legislature convened for the First Special Session of 2009. The agenda consists of 13 bills in each chamber with each the Senate and the House having their own versions.

To expedite the process, lawmakers read all 13 of the bills for a first time prior to the legislation being referred to committee.

The following House committees will meet tomorrow:

Finance- 11:00 a.m – 462M
Judiciary – 10:00 a.m. – 434M
Government Organization – 1:00 p.m. – 215E

The following Senate committees will meet tomorrow:

Economic Development – 9:00 a.m. – 451M
Judiciary – 10:00 a.m. – 208W

The Senate will reconvene at 11 a.m. tomorrow and the House will reconvene at 5 p.m.

House and Senate Pass Budget Bill

House Floor Session

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May 31, 2009

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Having met on Sunday, May 31st at 4 pm and 6 pm respectively, the House of Delegates and the Senate took up the FY 2010 budget conferee report and ultimately approved the state budget, concluding the 2009 Regular Session.

Initially presented in February, the governor’s budget contained a total General Revenue appropriation of $3.9 billion. During mid-session of the 60-Day Session, the budget was revised with a reduction of $197,493,639 leaving the total General Revenue to be $3,788,000,000.

Reductions were across the board and ranged from 2 percent to 10 percent.

Some expenditure reductions included the elimination of the OPEB (Other Post Employee Benefits), freeing up $51 million; reduction of the Medicaid appropriation, freeing up $47 million (this amount will be backfilled with enhanced federal funding resulting in no reduction); and, the Governor’s Civil Contingency Fund appropriation, the Legislature’s Traffic account and the Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) were eliminated, freeing up $38 million in savings for the coming fiscal year.

Eighty-one million from the Federal stabilization dollars will replace immediately the reduction of $23 million for public education, $11 million for higher education and $47 million for the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) restoring the Medicaid appropriation.

Some highlights of House Bill 2010 include:

$175,000 added to the Secretary of State’s office for technology and equipment upgrades
$25,000 restored back to the I-79 Development Council
$15,000 restored to the Coal Mine Safety and Technical Review Committee Coal Forum
$145,000 added for the Coal Mine Safety Technology Task Force
$15,000 restored to the WV Commission for Holocaust Education
$93,350 restored to the State Department of Education’s Personal Services
$1,500,000 restored to the Mountaineer Challenge Academy’s own line

The House and Senate adjourned Sine Die.

Senate Receives Budget Bill Conference Report

Senate Floor Session

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May 30, 2009

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Members of the Senate met briefly today and were told of the availability of the Budget Bill Conference Report.

The Senate will reconvene for passage of the Budget Bill tomorrow, Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.

Members of the Legislature also have been notified of the Governor’s Call regarding a special session the Legislature will be called into following the conclusion of the Extended Budget Session.

Work Complete on Six Bills Vetoed by the Governor

Senate Floor Session

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May 30, 2009

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Throughout the week, lawmakers have amended and passed six Senate bills that were vetoed by the Governor due to technical errors.

The bills, which have been passed by both the House of Delegates and the State Senate, now go back to the Governor for his consideration. These bills include:

Senate Bill 239, allowing majority vote for certain metro government approval; Senate Bill 414, creating Governor’s Office of Health Enhancement and Lifestyle Planning; Senate Bill 528, relating to certain fees collected by county clerks; Senate Bill 501, prohibiting animal gas chamber euthanasia; Senate Bill 695, relating to payment for certain state employees’ unused sick leave; and, Senate Bill 715, establishing Chesapeake Bay Restoration Initiative

During a brief meeting this morning, the House made available the Budget Bill Conference Report.

The House will reconvene tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.

Senate Passes Amended Animal Gas Chamber Euthanasia Bill

Senate Floor Session

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May 29, 2009

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The Senate passed Senate Bill 501 which was amended and passed in the House earlier this week after originally being vetoed by the Governor due to technical errors. The bill prohibits animal gas chamber euthanasia.

Members of the Senate were also given an update on the Budget Bill from the Budget Conference Committee. The bill is in the process of being finalized and the members should be able to review it tomorrow.

The Budget Bill Conference Committee will meet today at 2:00 p.m. in room 451M.

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

House Passes Amended Chesapeake Bay Restoration Initiative Bill

House Floor Session

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May 29, 2009

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The House passed Senate Bill 715 which was amended and passed in the Senate earlier this week after originally being vetoed by the Governor due to technical errors. The bill establishes the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Initiative.

Members of the House were also given an update on the Budget Bill from the Budget Conference Committee. The bill is in the process of being finalized and the members should be able to review it tomorrow.

The Budget Bill Committee will be meeting today at 2:00 p.m. in room 451M.

The House will reconvene tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.