With a unanimous vote, the House passed House Bill 2612 after reconvening today at 11 a.m. This bill would increase penalities for failing to report child abuse; penalities would include 30 days jail time, $1000 fine or a combination of the two.

Also passed was House Bill 2561, which would provide applicants for a farm use exemption certificates not to be required to appear before any assessor for renewal.

Three bills were advanced to third reading, including House Bill 4133 which would clarify the requirements to practice marriage and family therapy. Two bills were advance to second reading, including House Bill 2503 which would require licensed tattoo artists to inform patrons, prior to performing the tattoo procedure, of the potential problems that the tattoo may cause in relation to magnetic resonance imaging studies.

The House also introduced 42 bills. Introduced bills included House Bill 4264, which would require manually counting ballots in five percent of the relevant precincts in contested elections, and House Bill 4271 which relates to spped restrictions.

The following committees will meet today:
Judiciary- 1 p.m. 410
Government Organization- 1:30 p.m. 215E
Joint Education- 2 p.m. House Chamber
Joint Judiciary- 4 p.m. House Chamber

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Agriculture- 8:30 a.m. 215E
Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security- 9 a.m. 460
Natural Resources- 9:15 a.m. 215E
Banking and Insurance- 10 a.m. 215E
Pension and Retirement- 10 a.m. 460
Political Subdivisions- 1 p.m. 215E
Roads and Transportation- 2 p.m. 215E
Senior Citizen Issues- 3 p.m. 215E
Health and Human Resources- 4 p.m. 215E

The House will reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m.

The House reconvened today at 11 a.m. and passed House Bill 4018, which would make it illegal to possess salvia divinorum when it is intended for human consumption. Salvia divinorum is a leafy plant that is being used as a hallucinogenic drug. For this reason, possession would result in a fine, up to six months jail time, or a combination of the two.

Two additional bills were passed. House Bill 2485, would allow pharmacy interns to vend pseudoephedrine and other chemical prescursors of methamphetamine. Pharmacy interns are defined as those who have graduated from pharmacy school, but are working with a licensed pharmacist while they are not yet licensed. House Bill 4139 relates to professional licensing boards.

The House also advanced two bills, House Bill 2561 and House Bill 2612, on to third reading. House Bill 4133, House Bill 4142 and House Bill 4171 were advanced to second reading.

The following committees will meet today:
Finance Subcommittee- 1 p.m. 460
Finance- 1:45 p.m. 460
Joint Judiciary- 3 p.m. House Chamber

The following committees will meet tomorrow:
Finance – 9 a.m. – 460M
Finance – 1 p.m. – 460M
Government Organization – 1:30 p.m. – 215E
Constitutional Revision – Public hearing – 2 p.m. – House Chamber – concerning House Joint Resolution 101 and a proposed committee substitute submitted by the Governor

Federal Stimulus Utilization- 3 p.m. – 460

The House will reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m.

The House reconvened today, passed one bill, introduced 26 bills and presented a citation.

The House suspended the constitutional rule that states a bill has to be read on three separate days to pass House Bill 4039 from the House Local Calendar. This bill would increase the number of people who can be appointed to the Marshall County Park and Recreation Board.

Bills introduced included House Bill 4237, which relates to the West Virginia State Police Career Progression System, House Bill 4243, which would require the licensure of pharmacy benefit managers and establish the related regulatory requirements, and House Bill 4246, which would create a tax credit for new or converted qualified plug-in electric cars.

The House presented a citation to Alverta Wiggins, in honor of her life achievements. She raised 10 children as a single mom and went to school to become a nurse. She has 22 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. All of her children and grandchildren have a post-secondary education.

The following committees will meet Monday:

Finance-1 p.m. 460M
Finance, Budget Hearing-1:45 p.m 460M
Health and Human Resources-4 p.m. 215E

The House will reconvene Monday at 11 a.m.

The House reconvened today and introduced 16 bills and adopted two resolutions.

The introduced bills included House Bill 4207, which would make it illegal to send obscene, anonymous, harassing and threatening digital communication, House Bill 4211, which would provide funding for programs geared toward students with limited English skills, and House Bill 4222, which would exempt antique motor vehicles from personal property taxes.

The House also adopted House Resolution 9, which recognizes the public service of the AARP.

The item sparking the most conversation was Senate Concurrent Resolution 9. After being adopted by the Senate yesterday, it was adopted by the House with a vote of 82-7, with 11 members absent or not voting.

The following committees will meet today:

Finance, Budget Hearing-1 p.m. 460M

Judiciary-1 p.m. 410M
Government Organization-1:30 p.m. 215E
Education-2 p.m. 434M

The following committees will meet tomorrow:

Finance-9 a.m. 464M
Education-9:30 a.m 434M
Government Organization-10 a.m. 215E
Roads and Transportation-2 p.m. 215E

The House will reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m.