As of 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 18, 2009, the eighth day of the 79th Legislature’s 1st Regular Session, 292 bills have been introduced in the Senate. A sampling of bills introduced include:

Senate Bill 5 would further protect whistle blowers for reporting unsafe working conditions in mines. It would protect miners or a representative of a miner from termination or discrimination if he or she notified a director of a violation or testified in court.

Senate Bill 7 would specify that gambling and lottery winnings are taxable and gambling and lottery losses are tax deductible. The bill would require the taxpayer to keep detailed records showing losses.

Senate Bill 29 would allow employees to use paid accumulated sick leave for paid family leave to care for a family member.

Senate Bill 31 would absolve the landowner, tenant or agent of the landowner from any civil liability for injuries to any persons hunting, trapping or fishing on the landowner’s land with or without written permission.

Senate Bill 34 would establish the West Virginia Volunteer Firefighter Length of Service Act, which would provide a retirement pension of $400 a month to volunteer firefighters for length of service.

To be eligible, recipients must be at least 60 years of age and have at least 20 years of active service credit as a volunteer firefighter.

Every fire department or home county would contribute $2,000 to a fund annually for five years, or $10,000 total, before disbursements are made.

Senate Bill 47 would authorize each higher education governing board to increase fees of students taking more hours of course work than the number of hours of course work defined as full-time.

Senate Bill 58 would allow penalties collected under the Department of Environmental Protection’s blasting program to be deposited in the Special Reclamation Fund.

Senate Bill 63 would increase the amount from the State Excess Lottery Revenue Fund to the Higher Education Improvement Fund, increasing it from $10 million to $15 million.

Senate Bill 83 would prescribe minimum requirements relative to tethering or chaining animals, including the length and weight of chains or tethering devices, as well as other requirements, all of which are intended to protect animals from cruel treatment.

Senate Bill 98 would authorize the Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner and certain employees to have arrest powers. The bill would authorize the carrying of a concealed weapon while performing his or her official duties.

Senate Bill 100 would allow school districts flexibility in hiring substitutes for critical need areas and would provide county superintendents with authority over hiring and placement of these substitutes.

Senate Bill 113 would cancel state financial assistance from students who receive two or more citations for an open container violation, DUI, underage consumption, public intoxication or contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Senate Bill 115 would prohibit smoking tobacco products in vehicles if children 14 years old or under are present.

Senate Bill 120 would increase the maximum weight amount for trucks equipped with six axles and two additional brakes to 97,000 pounds.

Senate Bill 131 would prohibit the use of handheld cellular telephones while driving and would provide a penalty for violations. Under the bill, a person may be fined for a violation, but no points may be assessed against his or her driver’s license.

Senate Bill 142 would create the Small Tourism Business Development Act. The act would provide a tax incentive for the creation, construction or enlargement of tourism attractions.

Senate Bill 146 would allow DNA samples to be taken from arrested persons and would provide a database of persons arrested for felonies to aid in solving crimes.

Senate Bill 237 would allow the DEP to establish a program to recycle beverage containers and reduce litter. The bill would require the use of returnable containers for many beverages and would require the use of a ten-cent deposit.

Senate Bill 239 would permit the voters of Kanawha County to decide by majority vote in an election to decide upon a metro government and charter.

Senate Bill 240 would repeal an article in State Code, enacted in 1996, banning the construction of nuclear power plants in West Virginia.

Senate Bill 249 would require the start of the instructional school term on August 21. The bill would provide greater flexibility for county school boards to meet the requirement of 180 instructional days in the annual school calendar. The bill would also provide for the scheduling of an additional non-instructional day prior to the commencement of the instructional term.

Senate Bill 265 would authorize a tax credit for new teachers in critical needs areas. It would require the State Board of Education to define “critical needs areas” in both subject and geographic areas.

Senate Bill 273 would create incentives for West Virginia workers to obtain the GED and incentives for West Virginia employers to allow their employees to study for and obtain a GED.