The Senate advanced 36 bills on second reading to third reading. Senate Bill 248 would provide that West Virginia will not participate in the “REAL ID Act of 2005” enacted by the United States Congress in Public Law 109-13. In addition, Senate Bill 286 would provide personal immunity from civil liability for adult protective services workers and child protective service workers for acts, errors or omissions that occurred during the course of their official duties.

Senate Bill 667 was read a third time and passed this evening. This bill relates to policemen’s and firemen’s pension and relief funds. Senate Bill722 was amended and read a third time. This bill passed the Senate and would require that the Board of Pharmacy have oversight over free clinics that provide pharmaceutical services. Senate Bill 758 was laid over one day.

Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 693 was read for a first time and would create a senior resident lifetime hunting, fishing and trapping license.

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Energy, Industry and Mining – 9:00 a.m. – 208W
Finance – 9:30 a.m. – 451M
Energy, Industry and Mining – 10:00 a.m. – 208W

Pensions – 1:00 p.m. – 451M
Judiciary- 3:00 p.m. – 208W

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

In the afternoon session, the Senate passed an additional 20 bills and sent them to the House for consideration. Among these bills, Senate Bill 653 would permit the sales of life, accident or sickness insurance over the Internet. In addition, Senate Bill 779 would prohibit the spending of hotel occupancy proceeds between February 1, 2008 and July 1, 2009 to those convention & visitor’s bureaus and regional travel councils not in existence and engaged in business in West Virginia as of February 1, 2008. This brings the total bills passed by the Senate today to 37.

Senate Bill 667, Senate Bill 722 and Senate Bill 758 were placed at the foot of the bills on second reading. Also, Senate Bill 680, which would reduce the Corporation Net Income Tax rate effective January 1, 2009 was laid over one day.

The following committees will meet today:
Judiciary – 3:30 p.m. – 208W
Natural Resources – 5:00 p.m. – 208W

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Finance – 9:30 a.m. – 451M
Energy, Industry and Mining – 10:00 a.m. – 208W
Pensions – 1:00 p.m. – 451M
Government Organization – 2:00 p.m. – 208W

The Senate is in recess until 5:30 p.m.

Two communications received from the House of Delegates, House Bill 4074 and House Bill 4368, were taken up for immediate consideration and read a first time. The Finance Committee reported six bills that were read a first time, the Judiciary Committee reported one bill taken up for immediate consideration and the Interstate Cooperation Committee reported one bill read a first time.

The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 24 which honored Jack L. Miller, former member of the House of Delegates (1960-62) as well as former Senator (1962-69). He also served as Commissioner of Finance and Administration from 1969-1970.

17 Senate bills on third reading were passed and sent to the House for consideration thus far with Senate Bill 594 being laid over one day. One of the bills advanced, Senate Bill 101, would exempt nonprofit companies who provide electricity from paying property tax. In addition, Senate Bill 287, would establish directed research endowment funds at Marshall University and West Virginia University to help promote research, scholarship and economic development. This bill would provide that private donations are matched by the allocation and distribution of money from the new West Virginia Research Trust Fund.

The Senate is in recess until 1:00 p.m.

In the evening session of the Senate, 37 bills on second reading were advanced to third reading. One of these bills, Senate Bill 65, would create a school uniforms incentive pilot program that would allocate $100,000 to the state board to provide funding for up to 10 public elementary schools that meet certain criteria and adopt school uniform policies. This funding would be used to benefit the school and the students in ways such as school safety, new playgrounds, school equipment purchases and other beneficial ways. Senate Bill 680 would reduce the Corporation Net Income Tax rate beginning after December 31, 2008.

The Senate received additional committee reports this evening. The Finance Committee reported out seven bills that were taken up for immediate consideration and read a first time. The Finance Committee also reported out Senate Bill 248 on its second reading.

The Judiciary Committee reported out eight bills that were taken up for immediate consideration and read a first time. Senate Bill 316 was re-referred to the Judiciary Committee. Four bills reported out of the Government Organizaton Committee were read a first time.

The Energy, Industry and Mining Committee reported out Senate Bill 706 on its second reading.

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Finance – 9:30 a.m. – 451M
Transportation and Infrastructure – 10:00 a.m. – 451M
Education – 2:00 p.m. – 451M
Judiciary – 3:00 p.m. – 208W
Finance – 3:30 p.m. – 451M
Education – 5:00 p.m. – 451M

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

The Finance Committee reported seven bills to the Senate with four taken up for immediate consideration. These bills included Senate Bill 88, Senate Bill 235, Senate Bill 702, Senate Bill 786. Two bills, Senate Bill 659 and Senate Bill 696, were reported from the Finance Committee on second reading. The Judiciary Committee reported three bills with all three being taken up for immediate consideration and read a first time. These bills included Senate Bill 286, Senate Bill 501 and Senate Bill 781.

The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 21, honoring Brian William Linn who was a former member of the United States Army, former West Virginia State Trooper and dedicated public servant. In addition, Senate Resolution 22 and Senate Resolution 23 were adopted and recognize February 25, 2008 as Corrections Day and Law Enforcement Appreciation day, respectively.

Of the 36 bills listed on the Senate Calendar, Senate Bill 239 and Senate Bill 779 were moved to the Rules Calendar while Senate Bill 507 and Senate Bill 772 were laid over until tomorrow. The other 32 bills on third reading were passed and sent to the House for consideration. Senate Bill 456 would gradually phase out the business franchise tax by January 1, 2013.

The following committees will meet today:
Government Organization – 2:00 p.m. – 208W
Finance – 3:00 p.m. – 451M

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Transportation and Infrastructure – 10:00 a.m. – 451M

The scheduled Pensions and Natural Resource Committee meetings are cancelled for today. The scheduled Economic Development Committee meeting is cancelled for tomorrow.

The Senate will recess until 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 25.