Six bills were presented on second reading today. Senate Bill 403 would make supplemental appropriations from the State Road Fund to The Department of Transportation. House Bill 2404 would relate to inmate reimbursement for medical services provided to persons held in regional jails. House Bill 2539 would authorize professional licensing boards to combine administrative staff functions. House Bill 2684 would establish the West Virginia Drug Offender Accountability Act. House Bill 2719 would increase the maximum alcohol level in the state definition of “nonintoxicating beer.” House Bill 2801 would update language and make technical changes and clarifications of the West Virginia Board of Medicine.

In addition, 51 bills were introduced today. This brings the total of bills that have been introduced since the beginning of this session to 1057. House Bill 3007 would implement random drug testing for recipients of federal-state assistance, state assistance and unemployment compensation. House Bill 3019 would relate to obscene, anonymous, harassing and threatening communications by computer. House Bill 3031 would protect academic speech of professional educators. House Bill 3033 would strengthen vehicle emission standards.

Through House Resolution 24, today was designated as West Virginia State Grange Day. It is the state’s oldest agricultural and rural community organization. They have advocated farmers and their agricultural communities since 1873. The organization provides local farmers with the benefits of economic and political cooperation for its members, elevates their character by providing social, cultural and educational programs, and gives them opportunities for personal growth.

The following committees will meet today:
Finance – 1:00 p.m. – 460M
Government Organization – 1:30 p.m. – 215E
Education – 2:00 p.m. – 434M
Finance – 2:30 p.m. – 460M

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Agriculture – 8:30 a.m. – 215E
Veterans Affairs & Homeland Security – 9:00 a.m. – 215E
Natural Resources – 9:15 a.m. – 215E
Banking and Insurance – 10:00 a.m. – 215E
Pensions and Retirement – 10:00 a.m. – 460M
Energy, Industry and Labor, Economic Development and Small Business – 1:00 p.m. – 460M
Political Subdivisions – 1:00 p.m. – 215E
Judiciary – 1:30 p.m. – 410M
Roads and Transportation – 2:00 p.m. – 215E
Senior Citizen Issues – 3:00 p.m. – 215E
Federal Stimulus Utilization – 4:00 p.m. – 460M
Health and Human Resources – 4:00 p.m. – 215E

The House will reconvene Wednesday, March 11 at 11:00 a.m.

Three bills were passed in the House today. House Bill 2421 would distinguish between operable and inoperable fire hydrants by having inoperable hydrants painted black. House Bill 2474 would exempt land-based finfish aquaculture facilities from certain sludge management requirements. House Bill 2701 relates to the escape from custody of the Director of Juvenile Services. Those bills will be taken up for consideration in the Senate in the coming weeks.

Six bills were presented on first reading today. Senate Bill 403 would make supplemental appropriations from the State Road Fund to The Department of Transportation. House Bill 2404 would relate to inmate reimbursement for medical services provided to persons held in regional jails. House Bill 2539 would authorize professional licensing boards to combine administrative staff functions. House Bill 2684 would establish the West Virginia Drug Offender Accountability Act. House Bill 2719 would increase the maximum alcohol level in the state definition of “nonintoxicating beer.” House Bill 2801 would update language and make technical changes and clarifications of the West Virginia Board of Medicine.

Finally, 23 bills were introduced today. This brings the total of bills that have been introduced since the beginning of this session to 1006. House Bill 2984 would relate to the hiring of substitute service personnel by county school boards. House Bill 2995 would prohibit text messaging by use of a cell phone or personal digital assistant while driving. House Bill 2996 would require bank transactions involving savings and checking accounts to be posted at the time of the transaction and not the next day.

The following committees will meet today:
Education Subcommittee C – 1:30 p.m. – 434M
Education – 2:00 p.m. – 434M
Judiciary – 2:00 p.m. – 410M
Roads and Transportation Subcommittee A – 2:00 p.m. – 209E
Finance – 3:45 p.m. – 460M
Health and Human Resources Subcommittee A – 4:00 p.m. – 215E

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Finance – 9:00 a.m. – 460M
Judiciary – 9:00 a.m. – 410M
Finance – 1:00 p.m. – 460M
Finance – 2:30 p.m. – 460M

The House will reconvene Tuesday, March 10 at 11:00 a.m.

House Bill 2412 was passed today, which would allow a county commission without an established planning commission to regulate the location of businesses selling sexually-oriented material.

Three bills were presented on second reading today. House Bill 2421 would distinguish between operable and inoperable fire hydrants by having inoperable hydrants painted black. House Bill 2474 would exempt land-based finfish aquaculture facilities from certain sludge management requirements. House Bill 2701 would relate to the escape from custody of the Director of Juvenile Services.

In the House, 11 bills were introduced today. This brings the total of bills that have been introduced since the beginning of this session to 983. House Bill 2974 would abolish the one-vote straight ticket voting in all general and special elections within West Virginia. House Bill 2979 would adopt guidelines to permit pharmacists to prescribe medications.

The following committees will meet Monday, March 9:

Roads and Transportation Subcommittee A – 2:00 p.m. – 209E
Health and Human Resources Subcommittee A – 4:00 p.m. – 215E

The House will reconvene Monday, March 9 at 11:00 a.m.

In the House, 22 bills were introduced today. This brings the total of bills that have been introduced since the beginning of this session to 972. One of the bills was House Bill 2954, which would prohibit discrimination based upon age or sexual orientation. House Bill 2955 would remove West Virginia University of Technology from the merger with West Virginia University. House Bill 2972 would require that not less than 50 percent of the money remaining in the Tourism Promotion Fund be made to West Virginia companies. These bills, and others, have been referred to committees for consideration and discussion.

Three bills were presented on first reading today. House Bill 2421 would distinguish between operable and inoperable fire hydrants by having inoperable hydrants painted black. House Bill 2474 would exempt land-based finfish aquaculture facilities from certain sludge management requirements. House Bill 2701 would relate to the escape from custody of the Director of Juvenile Services.

One bill was presented on second reading today. House Bill 2412 would allow a county commission without an established planning commission to regulate the location of businesses selling sexually-oriented material.

The following committees will meet today:
Finance – 1:00 p.m. – 460M
Judiciary Subcommittee on House Bill 2788 – 1:15 p.m. – 410M
Education – 2:00 p.m. – 434M
Government Organization – 2:00 p.m. – 215E
Judiciary – 2:00 p.m. – 410M
Finance Subcommittee on Legislative Rules – 3:00 p.m. – 460M
Government Organization – 3:30 p.m. – 215E
Select Committee on Stimulus Utilization – 4:00 p.m. – 460M

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Finance – 9:30 a.m. – 460M
Judiciary Subcommittee A – 9:30 a.m. – 410M
Health and Human Resources Subcommittee A – 9:30 a.m. – 215E

The House will reconvene tomorrow, March 6 at 11:00 a.m.