Legislation relating to the state’s budget and foster care system were passed by the Senate during an extensive floor session, Friday.  

In a message sent by the House, Senate Finance Chair, Sen. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, rose to discuss a comprised version of House Bill 2020, which features recommendation from both houses. Of the most notable compromises in this budget was a 5 percent pay raise to the state’s teachers and service personnel, resulting in a $67 million appropriation to the fiscal year 2020 budget.  

Blairalso announced plans for a special session which would review the state’s educational system’s impact on the state budget.  

Overall, the total appropriations for the bill rests at $13,818,886,210. After highlighting the main compromises and totals, Blair addressed the body to state that he supported the revised budget which he believed “had something for everyone.”  For more information pertaining to the compromised budget click here.  

Prior to arrival of the message, the body revived and passed legislation relating to the state’s foster care system with a 33-1 one.  

The vote to pass the proposed legislation marks House Bill 2010’s second passage by a body, ultimately relying on the House of Delegates’ review of Senate messages to decided whether or not the bill will complete legislation. If passed the bill will create a multilayer reform to the state’s foster care system, most notably through a privatization of the system through Managed Care Organizations.  

Lengthy discussion over the bill opened Friday’s third reading where multiple Senators rose to urge passage of the proposed legislation.  

Following passage the body, members undertook a lengthy calendar with resulted in the passage of 32 bills.  A majority of these bills received unanimous decisions from Senators after minimal discussion among members.  

Two bills relating to education were motioned to have amendments withdrawn from education Chair, Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson. According to the Chair, House Bills 2378 and 2662 no longer needed the amendments adopted in education following the House’s revisions. Both pieces of legislation had amendments withdrawn before the bills were passed.  

House Bill 2831, which would find and declare certain claims against the state to be moral obligations, received two amendments while on third reading. Prior to the bill’s passage, the body motioned to amend changes from the finance committee and from Sen. Dave Sypolt, R-Preston.  

Passage of the bill was followed by a lengthy review of bills on second reading, resulting in nearly every bill receiving an amendment. For more information relating to Friday’s legislation calendar click here.