The Senate passed five education bills during this evening’s floor session, suspending the constitutional rules requiring a bill be read on three separate days for each bill.

Senate Bill 2004 relates to compulsory comprehensive health screens for students, and Senate Bill 2006 relates to school committees and school teams. Senate Bill 2008 relates to annual professional personnel evaluations in public schools.

Senate Bill 2009 relates to pilot programs to increase academic achievement and Senate Bill 2010 relates to pilot programs for alternative schools in elementary and middle schools.

These bills will now advance to the House for consideration.

The Senate has adjourned until 1 p.m. tomorrow.

The Senate reconvened briefly this evening and received word that the House refused to concur with the Senate amendments for House Bill 201.

The Senate refused to recede from its amendment. Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin then appointed Michael Oliverio (D – Monongalia), Herb Snyder (D – Jefferson) and Clark Barnes (R – Randolph) to serve on conference committee charged with working on the bill.

The House then reconvened to appoint its conferees. Speaker Richard Thompson (D – Wayne) appointed Tim Miley (D – Harrison), Linda Longstreth (D – Marion) and Patrick Lane (R – Kanawha).

The House is adjourned until 4:00 p.m. tomorrow

The Senate is adjourned until 6:00 p.m. tomorrow

Also, the House Education Committee will meet tomorrow at 2 p.m. in room 434M

This evening the Senate amended and passed House Bill 201, which deals with U.S. Senate succession. The amended bill will now move to the House for consideration.

Three education measures also passed this evening. Senate Bill 2003 extends sunset provisions relating to foundation investments by Marshall University and West Virginia University, Senate Bill 2005 relates to improving performance of schools and school districts and Senate Bill 2007 deals with alternative training and certification of principals and teachers.

These bills now advance to the House for consideration.

The Senate is is in recess until 6:15 p.m.

The Senate reconvened at 1 p.m. to receive the Governor’s Amended Call, which adds 10 bills to the Special Session Agenda, including eight that relate to education. They then introduced all 10 bills. The eight education bills now head to the Senate Education Committee for consideration.

The two that do not pertain to education include Senate Bill 2011, which amends deadlines relating to participation in Uniformed Services and Overseas Voter Pilot Program and Senate Bill 2012,which removes sunset provisions regarding the family court appeals. These two bills now move to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The Senate will reconvene at 3:00 p.m.

The Senate Education Committee is currently meeting in room 451M

The Senate met this afternoon and passed Senate Bill 2001, which deals with filling vacancies in the office of U.S. Senator. In order to proceed quickly, the Senate suspended the constitutional rules that require a bill to be read on three separate days. The bill now heads to the House for consideration.

The Senate will reconvene at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Finance – 451M – 2:30 p.m.
Education – 208W – 3:00 p.m.