Blog – Page 370

School Calendar Bill Introduced in the House

House Floor Session

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January 15, 2010

Five bills, including House Bill 4040 , which would require county school boards to adopt contingency plans designed to guarantee one hundred eighty separate days of instruction for students, were introduced to the House of Delegates today.

One local bill, House Bill 4039, was also introduced. Local bills are placed on a special calendar and are taken up on fridays.

The following committees will meet on Monday:
Education – 1 p.m. – 434M
Government Organization – 1:30 p.m. – 215E
Health and Human Resources – 4:30 p.m. – 215E

The House will reconvene 11 a.m. Monday.

Senate Finishes First Week

Senate Floor Session

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January 15, 2010

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The Senate reconvened this morning and introduced six bills.

The six bills included Senate Bill 227, which would establish the Protect Children from Dangerous Lighters Act, and Senate Bill 228, which would ensure all children are able to attend school 180 days per year.

The following committee will meet Monday:
Pensions- 2 p.m.- 208W

The Senate will reconvene 11 a.m. Monday.

Senate Introduces 10 Bills, Honors Mineral County

Senate Floor Session

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January 14, 2010

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The Senate reconvened this afternoon and introduced ten bills and acknowledged today as Mineral County Day.

Bills included Senate Bill 218, which would allow early parole for certain inmates, and Senate Bill 221, which would allow municipalities to register vacant properties.

The Senate also honored Mineral County with a certificate to Mayor James E. Gilmore of Piedmont, commemorating today as Mineral County Day. He was accompanied by RoseAnn Maine, Mineral County assessor, and Janice LaRue, Mineral County commissioner.

The following committees will meet today:

Finance-3 p.m.- 451M

Education-2 p.m.- 451M

The following committee will meet tomorrow:

Economic Development-9 a.m.-451M

The Senate will reconvene 10 a.m. tomorrow.

House Introduces 11 Bills, Honors Musician Don Redman

House Floor Session

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January 14, 2010

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This afternoon, the House of Delegates reconvened and introduced 11 bills, such as House Bill 4033, which relates to the management of motor vehicles and aircraft owned by the state, and House Bill 4036,which establishes the Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission.

The House also adopted House Resolution 2, honoring the life of Don Redman, famous jazz musician and composer, and pioneering jazz arranger from Mineral County.

In honor of Don Redman and Mineral County Day, the Frankfort High School Jazz Band performed in the well area of the Capitol.

The following committees will meet today:
Finance-1 p.m.-460M.
Judiciary-1 p.m.-410M.
Government Organization-1:30 p.m.-215E.

The House stands adjourned until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Governor Gives State of the State Address, Budget Bill Introduced

House Floor Session

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January 13, 2010

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The House and Senate reconvened at 7:00 p.m. this evening for a joint session in the House Chamber for the Governor’s presentation of the 2010 State of the State Address.

Both the House and Senate met briefly following the Governor’s speech in order to introduce the Budget Bill.

Both chambers will reconvene tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.

Joint Finance Committee Briefed on Federal Block Grants

Interim Report

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January 13, 2010

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On Wednesday, members of the Joint Committee on Finance were given several presentations regarding Federal Block grant funds. Presentations were given by the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) Bureau of Preventative Health and Preventative Services, the Bureau of Behavioral Health and Health Facilities and the Department of Maternal Child and Family Health, just to name a few.

The Bureau of Preventative Health and Preventative Services Federal Block grant is awarded annually. These funds will be used to provide technical assistance to local health departments, provide dental sealants for children in West Virginia and to provide quality assurance for public health labs.

The Bureau of Behavioral Health and Health Facilities Federal Block grant is used to provide resources for substance abuse prevention. Among other things, some of the funds will be used for women’s substance abuse treatment services. Members expressed concern regarding funding for substance abuse programs in regard to binge drinking specifically for college students. Certain members would like funding to be made available for these programs.

The Department of Maternal Child and Family Health is awarded funding through Title V. This funding is the only government money awarded to the Department. These funds provide many different services for the department including programs that support family well-being, family planning and newborn metabolic screening.

Senate Begins 2010 Legislative Session

Senate Floor Session

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January 13, 2010

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The West Virginia State Senate convened for the 2010 Legislative Session at noon today. Having ascertained a quorum, 212 bills were introduced.

Among the bills, Senate Bill 24 would prohibit the selling of tobacco in pharmacies, Senate Bill 145 would require insurers to provide full autism coverage and Senate Bill 167 would ban texting while driving.

The following committee will meet today:

Finance-2 p.m.- 460M

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Finance-9:30 a.m.-451M
Judiciary-10:30 a.m.-208W

The Senate will reconvene at 6:45 p.m. tonight.

House Convenes for Second Regular Session of the 79th Legislature

House Floor Session

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January 13, 2010

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The House convened today at noon to begin the Second Regular Session of the 79th Legislature. The first order of business was the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 1 , which extended a formal invitation to the Governor to deliver the State of the State address tonight at 7 p.m.

The House also introduced the first bills of the session such as House Bill 4001 which relates to water pollution control, as well as reintroduced carryover bills from the last regular session.

The official proceedings of the House of Delegates were streamed live on the web for the first time today. Daily floor sessions and committee meetings can be heard at http://www.legis.state.wv.us/live.cfm

The following committee will meet today:

Finance-2 p.m.- 460M

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Finance-9 a.m.-460M
Judiciary-9 a.m.-410M
Government Organization-1:30 p.m.-215E

The House will reconvene at 6:45 p.m. tonight.

Legislature to Cut Current-Year Budget

Around the Capitol

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January 11, 2010

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CHARLESTON – Legislative leaders have approved a 3.4 percent cut to the Legislature’s current fiscal year budget, trimming more than $870,000.

“As we prepared for the 2010 legislative session, we kept in mind the state’s fiscal condition, and were already making some cutbacks,” House Speaker Rick Thompson said. “We’re willing to do our part to ensure a balanced budget.”

Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin added, “Our state government is fortunate to be in much better shape financially than most states, thanks to years of prudent budgeting, but we’re still feeling the pinch.

“Distributing the cuts evenly, across the board, is only fair.”

The leaders have agreed to cut the Legislature’s current budget by 3.4 percent – a total $877,862 decrease this year. That’s a $336,565 reduction for the House, a $230,921 cut for the Senate and a $310,375 cut for the Legislature’s Joint Committee operations.

Both the President and the Speaker said the reductions should not negatively affect the day-to-day operations of the Legislature. There have been several job vacancies that were not filled, and both houses are making changes to reduce the amount of printing that takes place during session.

In addition, they decided not to hold any interim meetings outside of Charleston in 2009 – something the Legislature usually does at least once a year.

Meshea L. Poore Takes Legislative Oath of Office

Swearing-In Ceremony

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January 10, 2010

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Meshea L. Poore of Charleston took the Legislative Oath of Office today within the House of Delegates chamber with dignitaries, friends and family filling the chamber to show their support.

Sworn in by State Supreme Court Justice Margaret L. Workman, Poore replaces Carrie Webster, who resigned her position earlier this month to become a Kanawha County Circuit Court judge.

Poore is an attorney working in Charleston and served as a Kanawha County public defender prior to starting her own law firm. She is a member of the West Virginia and Alabama State Bar Associations, and has served on the board of West Virginia Legal Aid.

Poore received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Howard University in Washington D.C. and a law degree from Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, La.

The Capital High School graduate was born and raised on Charleston’s West Side. Pictured from left to right are Justice Workman, parents Raymond and Gale Poore and Delegate Meshea L. Poore.