The Senate reconvened at 2 p.m. and passed 13 bills on third reading. The messages were sent to the House for concurrence.

House Bill 2412 would provide certain county commissions with authority to regulate the location of businesses offering exotic entertainment; House Bill 2485 would allow pharmacy interns to vend pseudoephedrine and other chemical precursors of methamphetamine; and House Bill 2870 would extend the deadline of the buyback provision under the Teachers’ Defined Contribution Retirement System to the State Teachers Retirement System to 90 days.

The Senate created conference committees, one of which relates to House Bill 2832. The bill would create a critical skills instructional support program for students in third and eighth grade. The student assistance team would recommend students who need additional academic help to be successful at the next grade level. The instructional support program would be a condition for promotion, and the county boards would implement the program by July 1, 2010.

Bills are moving back and forth between the two Legislative bodies and will continue until 12 a.m. when the Legislature will go into recess until mid May for an Extended Session.

The Senate is in recess until 5 p.m.

After the prayer and introductions this morning, the Senate recessed briefly to be addressed by three of the interns that have served the Legislature this session. Carlo Sciara, Emily Mervine and Stephen Schelling spoke fondly about their experiences in the past months at the state Capitol. College students have the opportunity to be interns for specific members, for committees or for all members through a journalism internship for the Legislature during regular sessions.

Following the addresses, members adopted two resolutions. The first was to congratulate the Martinsburg High School basketball team for winning the 2009 Class AAA championship, through Senate Resolution 57. Then, through Senate Resolution 58, the Senate memorialized life of Glenn Thomas “Tom” Searls (pictured), a longtime capitol reporter for the Charleston Gazette. Several members rose to recall memories and the Searls family was present on the floor to accept the Resolution.

The Senate received messages from the House regarding 17 bills. Members refused to concur on Senate Bill 249, which would relate to the annual school calendar, and sent it back to the House. For bills like House Bill 2621, which prohibits the use of cell phone and text-messaging devices while operating a motor vehicle except for emergencies, the Senate refused to concur with the House and appointed a conference committee to settle the matter. Nine bills were passed and completed legislative action.

The Senate also heard executive nominations this morning. Members voted to show their consent for nominations within messages 2, 4 and 8.

The Senate recessed until 2:00 p.m.

In the evening session of the Senate, members passed a bill that will bring gaming to the historic Greenbrier Resort. Senate Bill 575 authorizes table games, slot machines, video lottery machines and certain games of chance to be permitted for participation by guests at The Greenbrier Resort. The bill sets the same standards for games at the Greenbrier that are already in affect at other gambling establishments in West Virginia.

Two bills from the Senate Committee on Finance were reported and advanced to second reading this evening. House Bill 2535 would give tax credit to residents for installing a solar energy system on their property.

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Finance – 10:15 a.m. – Rear of Senate Chamber

Rules – 10:30 a.m. – President’s Conference Room

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.

The Senate passed several bills to the House for their approval during the 3 p.m. session.
One of the bills passed, House Bill 2860, would regulate the sequestration and storage of carbon dioxide.

It would allow the injection of carbon dioxide and associated constituents into subsurface geologic formations in order to prevent its release into the atmosphere, reducing the carbon footprint of the state’s many fossil-fueled power plants. Storage of carbon dioxide will be controlled with permits issued through the Division of Environmental Protection (DEP). The Secretary of DEP would monitor these activities. The bill would also establish a working group of industry and governmental experts to study issues related to the activity and report them to the Legislature and the Governor by July 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011.

It is currently against the law to shoot at or kill a bear cub that weighs less than 100 pounds, or any bear accompanied by a cub. House Bill 3063 unanimously passed, and it would prohibit shooting any bear under 75 lbs. or 50 lbs. field dressed.

The Senate will reconvene at 5:30 p.m.

The Senate reconvened this morning to advance bills on Friday’s calendar.

One of the highlights of the morning was the discussion of three of the bills on third reading today: Senate Bill 771, Senate Bill 772 and Senate Bill 773. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, all of these bills appropriate federal funds to agencies in the state in hopes of stimulating the economy. Many members expressed concern and asked questions about how the money will be used throughout the state. These bills have passed and have been sent to the House for consideration.

Seven other bills were presented on third reading today. Among these were House Bill 2419, which provides inmates a reduction in sentence for completion of education and rehabilitation programs and House Bill 2719, which would allow the sale and distribution of craft beers with 12 percent alcohol content in the state. Only House Bill 2695 was sent to the House for concurrence.

Members also heard messages from the House. In this manner, 17 bills were presented. Fifteen passed, have completed legislative action and have been sent to the Governor for his signature. Among these were Senate Bill 600, which relates to coal reclamation tax and Senate Bill 239, which allows a majority vote for certain metro government approval.
House Bill 2819 and House Bill 2968 were both requested to return from the House for the Senate to make changes on title amendments and effective dates. The Senate then sent the bills back to the House for concurrence.

A total of 25 bills completed legislative action this evening and now await the governor’s approval.

Finally, the Senate adopted nine concurrent resolutions. Most of these dealt with the Joint Committee on Government and Finance being requested to conduct studies. Senate Concurrent Resolution 64, for instance, requested the committee to study carbon dioxide cap and trade proposals. The Senate also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 71, which would recognize the importance of the oil and natural gas industry in West Virginia.

The following committees will meet today:

Confirmations – 2:00 p.m. – 208W

Judiciary – 2:45 p.m. – 208W

The Senate is in recess until 3:00 p.m.