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Thursday, March 18, 2004

     The House of Delegates met at 5:00 p.m., and was called to order by the Speaker.
     Prayer was offered and the House was led in recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
     The roll being called (Roll No. 770), and 85 members having answered to their names, the Speaker declared the presence of a quorum.
     The Clerk proceeded to read the Journal of Wednesday, March 17, 2004, being the first order of business, when the further reading thereof was dispensed with and the same approved.
Committee Reports
     Chairman Spencer, from the Joint Committee on Enrolled Bills, submitted the following report, which was received:
     Your Joint Committee on Enrolled Bills has examined, found truly enrolled and, on the 16th day of March, 2004, presented to His Excellency, the Governor, for his action, the following bill, signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates:
     (H. B. 4097), Clarifying those persons or entities responsible for paying certain fees assessed by the clerk of the circuit court for processing of criminal bonds and bailpiece.
     Chairman Spencer, from the Joint Committee on Enrolled Bills, submitted the following report, which was received:
     Your Joint Committee on Enrolled Bills has examined, found truly enrolled and, on the 18th day of March, 2004, presented to His Excellency, the Governor, for his action, the following bills, signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates:
     (S. B. 100), Prohibiting state and political subdivisions from contracting with vendors owing debt to state,
     (Com. Sub. for S. B. 181), Permitting retired state police to carry concealed weapon for life,
     (S. B. 469), Continuing interstate commission on uniform state laws,
     (S. B. 470), Continuing real estate appraiser licensing and certification board,
     (S. B. 506), Permitting use of "bank" in name of licensed insurance company,
     (S. B. 563), Relating to public employees retirement act,
     And,
     (S. B. 576), Continuing state rail authority.
Messages from the Executive
     Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, presented a communication from His Excellency, the Governor, advising that on March 12, 2004, he approved H. B. 4484; on March 16, 2004, he approved H. B. 4108, Com. Sub. for H. B. 4273, H. B. 4286, H. B. 4449 and H. B. 4560; and on March 17, 2004, he approved Com. Sub. for S. B. 52, S. B. 268, S. B. 269, S. B. 324 and Com. Sub. for S. B. 500.
Leaves of Absence
     At the request of Delegate Staton, and by unanimous consent, leaves of absence for the day were granted Delegates Caruth, Ellem, Ferrell, Frederick, Hamilton, Hartman, Houston, Long, Manchin, Manuel, Perdue, Renner, Talbott, Trump and Wakim.
Miscellaneous Business
     Delegate Carmichael asked and obtained unanimous consent that the remarks of Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, regarding Delegate Coleman be printed in the Appendix to the Journal.
     Delegate Carmichael asked and obtained unanimous consent that the remarks of Delegate Armstead regarding the war in Iraq be printed in the Appendix to the Journal.
     At 5:30 p.m., on motion of Delegate Staton, the House of Delegates adjourned until 11:30 a.m., Friday, March 19, 2004.