Members of the House of Delegates briefly met to establish a quorum and to inform members that the House would be meeting at 4 p.m. throughout the week while working on the Budget Bill.
The House will reconvene tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.
Legislature Begins Extended Budget Session
Shortly after adjourning the 2008 Regular Session, the Legislature reconvened for the extended session for the purpose of passing the budget bill (Senate Bill 150), for which a conference committee was appointed.
The House of Delegates will reconvene at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. The Senate will reconvene at 6 p.m. on Monday.
78th Legislature Completes 2nd Regular Session
At midnight tonight, the 78th Legislature concluded its second 60-day regular session. Of the 2,134 bills introduced this session, 243 completed legislation.
The Legislature will continue to meet for an extended session to consider the budget (Senate Bill 150) over the next week.
Official State Reptile and Fossil Named by 78th Legislature
A resolution naming the Timber Rattlesnake the official state reptile passed on the final night of session. Senate Concurrent Resolution 28 was proposed by an eighth grade class at Romney Middle School in Hampshire County, and makes West Virginia the only state to name the Timber Rattler as its state reptile.
This venomous reptile is the only species of snake in the state with a segmented rattle at the end of its tail. It has brown or black chevron-shaped markings down its back – a pattern the resolution denotes as “reminiscent of West Virginia’s fauna and flora”. The background color may vary from bright yellow to a dull gray, but entirely black specimens have been recorded. Rattlesnakes rarely exceed six feet in length. Usually a docile snake, rattlers usually occur in remote, rocky, mountainous sections of West Virginia.
To learn more, watch a rattlesnake video from the WV Division of Natural Resources.
The resolution also named Megalonyx Jeffersonii, or Jefferson’s Ground Sloth, as the state’s official fossil. This giant prehistoric ground sloth was discovered in Monroe County in the 18th century and named after the third president.
Teacher Pension Bill to be Dealt with in Special Session
House Bill 4496, which would allow the voluntary merger of West Virginia’s two teacher retirement programs did not make it out of its assigned conference committee, but will be ready for a special session to be called next weekend. The House and Senate had reached a compromise earlier today, but Governor Manchin is urging a third party evaluate the proposed legislation to ensure accuracy.
Three bills passed the House and completed legislative action. These bills include Senate Bill 536, Senate Bill 645 and Senate Bill 659. Senate Bill 536 would exempt Supreme Court probation officers’ vehicles from certain registration requirements. Senate Bill 659 would increase the amount of expenses for funerals, cremations and burials from $6,000 to $7,000 for crime victims.
Senate Bill 545 and Senate Bill 606 also passed the House and were communicated to the Senate.
The House received eight reports from the Senate. The House concurred in the Senate amendments for the seven with amendments. A conference committee was created for House Bill 4402.
The House is in recess until 8:00 p.m. today.
Senate Passes Bills to Ease Student Loans of Medical Students
The Senate passed 25 other bills on third reading this evening. House Bill 4433 which will increase the maximum amount of a medical student’s loan that can be canceled was one such bill.
Also among the bill passed was House Bill 4038, which will allow the Division of Labor to promulgate rules relating to the licensing of elevator workers.
The Senate will recess until 8:00 p.m.
Winter Weather Welcomes Lawmakers on the Final Day of Session
As a fresh blanket of snow settles over the State Capitol, lawmakers prepare for a full evening of legislation on the 60th, and last, day of the 2008 Regular Session.
As of 4:30pm today, 158 bills out of the proposed 2134 have completed legislative action this session.
Both chambers will be in full swing this evening when they reconvene at 5:30pm. West Virginia Public Broadcasting will offer complete television coverage of floor debates tonight from 8:00pm till the midnight adjournment.
Bill to Alter County Government Passes in the House
The House passed Senate Bill 481. This bill would authorize physician assistants to conduct mental health hygiene exams. The House also passed Senate Bill 323 which would define stormwater customers of public service districts and allow for the enforcement of municipal pollution control ordinances. In addition, Senate Bill 784,which would create an alternative to a county commission with the creation of a county council consisting of four or more members passed the House.
Senate Bill 503 passed the House today and would require that solid waste facilities permit applicants to furnish fingerprints for criminal background checks.
The House received several reports from the Senate. The House concurred in the Senate amendments for House Bill 4032 and House Bill 4636. The Senate and House also reached an agreement on House Bill 4364 through conference committee and the House voted to pass the bill.
Conference committees were created for Senate Bill 72 and House Bill 4022.
The House is in recess until 5:30 p.m. today.
Combined Reporting Bill Passes In Senate
Members of the Senate received messages from the House and voted to concur and pass 18 bills. This includes Senate Bill 533, which relates to motor vehicle dealer requirements and Senate Bill 722, which grants regulatory power to certain Board of Pharmacy facilities.
In addition, the Senate concurred with House amendments and passed Senate Bill 680, which relates to the corporate net income tax and business franchise tax.
The Senate has agreed to confer with the House on House Bills 3215, 4471, 4482, 4557, 4022, and 4715.
The Senate is in recess until 5:30.
Senate Honors Patrick Reale and Linda Pennington with Resolutions
The Senate met and adopted two resolutions. Resolution 38 honors Patrick Reale as the winner of the 88th State Golf Amateur Champion and for his hard work and dedication to the sport. Linda Pennington, an employee within the Senate, was remembered by members with Resolution 39.
Consideration of executive nominations will take place as a special order of business on the Senate Calendar at 8:00 p.m. this evening.
In addition, members of the Senate received messages from the House and refused to recede on amendments for Senate Bill 72 and Senate Bill 150.
The Senate is in recess until 1:30.