The Senate passed six bills during the morning floor session. Passed bills include: Senate Bill 54, which would prohibit minors under the age of 16 from obtaining a tattoo; Senate Bill 191, which would provide for the protection of nonfamily or nonhousehold members who do not otherwise qualify for protection under the domestic abuse statute; Senate Bill 253, which would authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to promulgate a legislative rule relating to Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants; Senate Bill 414, which would expand the definition of “medical services applicant” under the Volunteer for Nonprofit Youth Organizations Act; Senate Bill 427, which would conform state administrative remedies for prisoners with Department of Justice standards; and Senate Bill 434, which would provide that a suggestion and suggestee execution shall contain the date of birth and last four digits of the social security number of the judgment debtor in order to identify the debtor in proceedings in aid of execution on judgments.

Nine bills were introduced today. Among the introduced bills is Senate Bill 537, which would create the WV Sustainable Wealth Fund.

Charleston resident Eric Blankenship sang for the Senate at the beginning of the session.

The following committees will meet today:

Judiciary 3:15 p.m. – 208 W

Natural Resources 1 p.m. – 208 W

Finance 3 p.m. – 451 M

Senate/House Pensions Joint Public Hearing 4 p.m. – 208W

The following committees will meet tomorrow morning:

Finance 9 a.m. – 451 M

Judiciary 10 a.m. – 208 W

The Senate is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

In celebration of the 35th anniversary of the West Virginia Women’s Commission, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 24, recognizing Feb. 7, 2012 as Women’s Day in the West Virginia Legislature.

Senate Bill 222 was laid over and will maintain its position on third reading tomorrow. The bill would create a criminal offense for interfering with an emergency service call.

Bills read for the second time and advanced to third reading include: Senate Bill 54 , which would prohibit minors under the age of 16 from obtaining a tattoo; Senate Bill 191, which would provide for the protection of nonfamily or nonhousehold members who do not otherwise qualify for protection under the domestic abuse statute; Senate Bill 253 , which would authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to promulgate a legislative rule relating to Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants; Senate Bill 414 , which would expand the definition of “medical services applicant” under the Volunteer for Nonprofit Youth Organizations Act; Senate Bill 427 , which would conform state administrative remedies for prisoners with Department of Justice standards; and Senate Bill 434 , which would provide that a suggestion and suggestee execution shall contain the date of birth and last four digits of the social security number of the judgment debtor in order to identify the debtor in proceedings in aid of execution on judgments.

Nine bills were introduced, including Senate Bill 528 , which would create the Scrap Metal Theft Prevention Act.

The following committees will meet today:

Health & Human Resources 1 p.m. – 451 M

Judiciary (Joint Meeting) 2 p.m. – House Chamber

Education 2 p.m. – 451 M

Banking & Insurance 2 p.m. – 208 W

Judiciary 3:30 p.m. – 208 W

The following committees will meet tomorrow morning:

Labor 9 a.m. – 208 W

Energy, Industry and Mining 10 a.m. – 208 W

The Senate is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

The Senate concurred with House amendments and passed Senate Bill 165, which would create criminal offense of sexual contact on incarcerated persons by correctional employees, with or without consent.

This afternoon, the Senate voted to approve Senate Bill 211, which would create a secondary offense of operating a motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device without hands-free technology, and a primary offense of texting while operating a motor vehicle.

House Bill 4078, which would extend certain deadlines mandated actions regarding higher education personnel, was passed by the Senate with amendments and has been referred to the House for concurrence. An additional four bills were passed by the Senate today. Those bills include: Senate Bill 360, which would grant the purchaser of personal property at a foreclosure sale the right of disposal provided notice has been given to the original owner; Senate Bill 429, which would expand the definition of Class A vehicles; Senate Bill 436, which would facilitate and encourage collaboration between the public school system and public higher education to promote programs of study and seamless curricula; and Senate Bill 470, which would require a medical examination performed by a member’s selected physician showing the member is mentally or physically totally incapacitated for service and that the disability is likely to be permanent.

Senate Bill 222 was read for the second time today and advanced to third reading. Senate Bill 191 was laid over for one day and will maintain its position on second reading tomorrow.

Five bills were read for the first time today. Among them is Senate Bill 54, which would prohibit minors under the age of sixteen from obtaining a tattoo. In order for minors age 16 or older to obtain a tattoo, the bill would require that a parent or legal guardian be present at the tattoo studio and provide photo identification as well as written consent. Other bills on first reading included: Senate Bill 253, Senate Bill 414, Senate Bill 427, Senate Bill 434.

Fourteen bills were introduced, including Senate Bill 524, which would require annual Controlled Substance Monitoring Program database search by prescriptive authorities.

The following committees will meet today:

Judiciary (Joint Meeting) 2 p.m. – House Chamber

Agriculture- 2:15 p.m. 415- M

Finance 3 p.m. – 451 M

The following committees will meet tomorrow morning:

Economic Development 9 a.m. – 451 M

The Senate is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin paid a visit during the Senate floor session this morning.

In a brief session, six bills were introduced, six were read for the second time and two were read for the first time.

Among the bills introduced was Senate Bill 513, which would exempt DNR police officers’ pension benefits from state income tax.

Senate Bill 211, which would create a secondary offense of operating a motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device without hands-free technology, and a primary offense of texting while operating a motor vehicle, was read for the second time and advanced to third reading. Additional bills on second reading today included: Senate Bill 429, Senate Bill 436, Senate Bill 470 and House Bill 4078.

Bills read for the first time today include: Senate Bill 191 and Senate Bill 222.

The Senate is adjourned until 1 p.m. Monday.

The Senate read four bills for the first time today, including Senate Bill 211, which would create the secondary offense of operating a motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device without hands-free technology, and a primary offense of texting while operating a motor vehicle. Senate Bill 429, Senate Bill 436 and Senate Bill 4078 were also on first reading.

Senate Bill 360 and Senate Bill 470 were laid over and will maintain their position on second reading tomorrow.

Thirty-four bills were introduced by the Senate, among them was Senate Bill 487, which would create the Coalbed Methane Gas Distribution Fund.

The following committees will meet today:

Health and Human Resources 1 p.m. – 451 M

Education 2 p.m. – 451 M

Finance 3 p.m. – 451 M

Judiciary 3 p.m. – 208 W

The following committees will meet tomorrow morning:

Economic Development 9 a.m. – 451 M

Military 10 a.m. – 208 W

Transportation and Infrastructure 10 a.m. – 451 M

The Senate is adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow.