WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

SENATE JOURNAL

SEVENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION, 2008

SIXTH DAY

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Charleston, W. Va., Monday, January 14, 2008,

The Senate met at 11 a.m.
(Senator Tomblin, Mr. President, in the Chair.)

Prayer was offered by Dr. Earl Cochran, Bancroft Church of God, Bancroft, West Virginia.
Pending the reading of the Journal of Friday, January 11, 2008,
On motion of Senator Foster, the Journal was approved and the further reading thereof dispensed with.
The Senate proceeded to the second order of business and the introduction of guests.
At the request of Senator Chafin, and by unanimous consent, the provisions of rule number fifty-four of the Rules of the Senate, relating to persons entitled to the privileges of the floor, were suspended in order to grant the Honorable Estil L. Bevins, a former Senate Sergeant at Arms privileges of the floor for the day.
The Clerk presented a communication from the Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses, submitting its report on veteran testing as required by chapter thirty, article twenty-four, section seven of the code of West Virginia.
Which report was received and filed with the Clerk.
The Clerk presented a communication from the Department of Health and Human Resources, submitting its annual report of the James "Tiger" Morton Catastrophic Illness Commission, in accordance with chapter sixteen, article five-q, section two of the code of West Virginia.
Which communication and report were received and filed with the Clerk.
The Clerk presented a communication from the West Virginia State Police, submitting its annual report on its effectiveness in recruiting minorities and females as required by chapter fifteen, article two, section seven of the code of West Virginia.
Which report was received and filed with the Clerk.
The Senate proceeded to the sixth order of business.
On motions for leave, severally made, the following bill was introduced, read by its title, and referred to the appropriate committees:
By Senators Tomblin (Mr. President) and Caruth (By Request of the Executive):
Senate Bill No. 216--A Bill to amend and reenact §11-13A-3d and §11-13A-20a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §11- 13A-3f; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-13V-4a, all relating to natural gas and coalbed methane production; Severance and Business Privilege Tax Act and Workers' Compensation Debt Reduction Act; specifying termination of the severance and business privilege tax exemption for production of coalbed methane and specifying that coalbed methane is taxed as natural gas for purposes of the Severance and Business Privilege Tax Act and for purposes of the taxes imposed by the Workers' Compensation Debt Reduction Act; specifying dedication of tax; providing effective dates; and specifying application of exemption with relation to existing exemption entitlements.
Referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry and Mining; and then to the Committee on Finance.
The Senate proceeded to the seventh order of business.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 18, Requesting Division of Highways name bridge in Martinsburg, Berkeley County, "Dr. C. Vincent Townsend, Sr., Bridge".
On unfinished business, coming up in regular order, was reported by the Clerk and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The Senate proceeded to the eleventh order of business and the introduction of guests.
The Senate then proceeded to the twelfth order of business.
Remarks were made by Senator Chafin.
Thereafter, at the request of Senator Stollings, and by unanimous consent, the remarks by Senator Chafin were ordered printed in the Appendix to the Journal.
Pending announcement of meetings of standing committees of the Senate,
On motion of Senator Chafin, the Senate adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, January 15, 2008, at 11 a.m.
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