The 1st Regular Session of the 79th Legislature convened today for opening day to swear in the newly elected members of the Senate and House of Delegates. Members of the Senate were sworn in by the Honorable West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justice Robin Jean Davis. Members of the House were sworn in by the Honorable Circuit Judge Robert Chafin from Wayne County.

The House and Senate re-elected House Speaker Richard Thompson and Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, respectively. House and Senate officers were also re-elected.

House members took a moment of silence to remember the late Delegate Proudfoot and his dedicated service to the state of West Virginia.

The House also adopted House Resolution 1 , which make changes to various standing committees.

Both the West Virginia House of Delegates and Senate have adjourned until Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 at 12:00 p.m.

House Finance has announced a meeting for February 11th at 9:30 a.m. in the House Chamber.

During its Friday evening session, the Senate concurred in the House’s changes to Senate Bill 2019 and passed the bill.

Consideration of Senate Bill 2010, currently on third reading, was laid over one day. House Bill 219, originally the same as Senate Bill 2010, was amended on second reading and advanced to third.

The Senate adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Senators reconvened in the afternoon to receive House Bill 219, which was passed by the House earlier today. The bill was taken up for immediate consideration, read a first time and advanced to second reading.

Senate Bill 2010, which was originally the same as House Bill 219, was advanced to third reading with the right to amend.

The Senate adjourned until 6 p.m. tomorrow.

During its 11 a.m. session, the Senate amended and passed House Bill 210 after suspending the constitutional rule requiring a bill be read on three separate days. This bill deals with the transfer election of pensions from the Teachers’ Defined Contribution system to the Teachers Retirement System. The House must now concur in the Senate amendments before the bill can become law.

Senators also concurred in a House amendment to a Senate amendment to House Bill 212. The bill, which relates to the creation of a testing schedule for school bus drivers, was then passed again and sent to the Governor for his approval.

The Senate is in recess until 12:15 p.m.

The Senate met this evening to accept House reports regarding the passage of nine bills by that body. The Senate took those reports up for immediate consideration and read them a first time. The constitutional amendment requiring a bill be read on three separate days was then suspended and the bills were read a second and third time.

Six bills were read three times and passed without amendments and have now completed legislative action. These bills are: House Bill 211, House Bill 214, House Bill 215, House Bill 216, House Bill 217 and House Bill 218.

Three bills were read three times and passed with amendments by the Senate and must now go to the House for their approval. These bills are: House Bill 210, House Bill 212, and House Bill 213.

The Senate also took up and passed a supplemental appropriation bill, Senate Bill 2014, which would make an appropriation to various state accounts from the General Revenue Fund. This bill now advances to the House for their consideration.

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