The House of Delegates received a proclamation from the Governor this afternoon extending the budget session until no later than Friday, March 14. In addition, the Committee on Enrolled Bills reported the enrollment of several House bills, which have now been officially sent to the Governor.
The House will reconvene at 4 p.m. tomorrow
The Budget Conference Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. today in 451M
The Senate met briefly this afternoon to establish a quorum and to receive a proclamation from Governor Manchin extending the session which is not to exceed three days for the purpose of working on the Budget Bill.
The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 6:00 p.m.
Senate Conferees will meet today and tomorrow at 4:30 p.m in 451M
Members of the Senate met briefly this evening to establish a quorum and will be meeting throughout the week to work on Senate Bill 150, the Budget Bill.
The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.
Senate Conferees will meet tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. in 451M
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
