Lawmakers finalized the state’s Budget Bill on March 20, 2010. Having accepted the conferees’ report, legislators approved the approximately $3.7 billion general revenue fund.
The Budget Bill breaks down with 0.66% going to the Legislative Branch (approximately $24 million); the Judicial Branch receiving approximately 3.18% (approximately $118 million); the Executive Branch receiving 1.15% (approximately $43 million); the Administration receiving 1.88% (approximately $70 million); Commerce receiving 1.76% (approximately $65 million); and, Public Education receiving 44.98% (approximately $1.6 billion).
Some changes included two new items of appropriation for the Department of Health and Human Resources’ waiver programs. The compromise between the two houses led to funding the waiver programs with $15 million in General Revenue Funds and $5 million of Medicaid Funds, raising the total amount of Medicaid to be backfilled for the upcoming fiscal year to $33 million.
As a result, the Home-Based Care for the Aged and Disabled Waiver increased the number of new participants by 125 individuals per month. This waiver program provides an array of home-based services at a cost equal to or less than that of institutions.
Also the additional funding for the MR/DD waiver, which currently serves over 3800 individuals across the state who have intellectual or developmental disabilities, will allow for the additional of 28 new individuals each month, reducing the waiting list for services.
Update: An $11.6 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 is headed to Gov. Joe Manchin, after the Legislature passed a compromise spending plan. As noted on Saturday, Mar. 20th, the general revenue amounted to $3.7 billion. However, numbers omitted were approximately $1.4 billion from the Road Fund; approximately $1.4 billion from the Special Revenue Fund; approximately $167 million from the Lottery; approximately $394 million from the Excess Lottery; approximately $400 million from the Federal Block Grant; and approximately $4 billion in Federal Funds. These numbers account for the $11.6 billion budget bill passed.
The Enrolled Version of Senate Bill 213 will be available on the Legislative Homepage on Monday, March 22nd.
In addition to finalizing the state budget, lawmakers received veto messages concerning five bills from the Governor. After correcting faulty titles, the bills were passed once again. These bills include Senate Bill 336, House Bill 5555, Senate Bill 376, Senate Bill 483, House Bill 4187, and House Bill 4604.
Both the House and the Senate adjourned Sine Die.
The Senate reconvened this morning to establish a quorum and announce the time of the last 
The Senate reconvened briefly this morning to announce upcoming 
The House reconvened at 10:30 p.m. this evening to receive several conference reports and pass 12 bills.
Members of the Senate reconvened this evening at 5 p.m. and were joined by Governor Joe Manchin to present the Distinguished West Virginian Award to Senator Don Caruth for outstanding public service. Senator Caruth was elected to the Senate in 2004 after serving two years in the House of Delegates.