WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
SENATE JOURNAL
SEVENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION, 2008
SEVENTH DAY
____________
Charleston, W. Va., Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Senate met at 11 a.m.
(Senator Tomblin, Mr. President, in the Chair.)
Prayer was offered by the Honorable Mike Hall, a senator from
the fourth district.
Pending the reading of the Journal of Monday, January 14,
2008,
On motion of Senator Minard, 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.
The Senate then proceeded to the third order of business.
A message from The Clerk of the House of Delegates announced
the adoption by that body and requested the concurrence of the
Senate in the adoption of
House Concurrent Resolution No. 7--Supporting the efforts of
the Town of Matewan to obtain National Park status for the Matewan
National Historic Landmark District.
Whereas, Matewan, West Virginia, is a small town nestled in
the Tug River Valley, rich in its history of coal mining and ties
to its past through the legacies of the infamous Hatfield & McCoy
Feud and the Matewan Massacre, both of which furthers the folklore
and history of the State of West Virginia; and
Whereas, The Battle of Matewan Study Act which directed the
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special study of the sites
and resources at Matewan, West Virginia, to determine if these
areas are suitable for designation in the National Park System; and
Whereas, United States Senators Robert C. Byrd and Jay
Rockefeller and United States Congressman Nick Rahall worked
diligently to pass America's Historical and Natural Legacy Study
Act which appropriated funds for the Battle of Matewan Study Act;
and
Whereas, Matewan, West Virginia, will be greatly enriched by
federal funding and see more tourism by a designation as a National
Park; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature of the State of West Virginia supports
the efforts of the Town of Matewan to obtain National Park status
for the Matewan National Historic Landmark District; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is
hereby requested to forward a certified copy of this resolution to
the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce President, Rod Smith, the mayor of the Town of Matewan, Sheila Kessler, and the members of the West
Virginia congressional delegation.
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
The Senate proceeded to the sixth order of business.
On motions for leave, severally made, the following bills were
introduced, read by their titles, and referred to the appropriate
committees:
By Senators
Jenkins and Guills:
Senate Bill No.
217
--
A Bill to amend and reenact §17B-3-3a of
the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to failure to
respond to traffic offenses or the terms and conditions of traffic
convictions; and reducing the time period for nonresidents to
comply with the terms of the citation before the court sends notice
to the Division of Motor Vehicles.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Senators
McCabe, Guills and Jenkins:
Senate Bill No.
218
--
A Bill to amend and reenact §3-1-16 and
§3-1-17 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend
and reenact §3-4A-11a of said code; to amend said code by adding
thereto two new sections, designated §3-5-6a and §3-5-6b; to amend
and reenact §3-5-7, §3-5-13 and §3-5-13a of said code; to amend
said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §3-6-2a; and
to amend and reenact §51-2-1 of said code, all relating to the
nonpartisan elections of justices of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and circuit court judges; timing and frequency of
election; ballot design and printing; separation from partisan
ballot; filing announcement of candidacies; withdrawal of
announcement of candidacies; refund of paid filing fees; and ballot
content.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
By Senator
Hunter:
Senate Bill No.
219
--
A Bill to amend and reenact §7-20-3,
§7-20-6, §7-20-11 and §7-20-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931,
as amended, all relating to fees and expenditures for county
development.
Referred to the Committee on Economic Development; and then to
the Committee on Finance.
Senators Deem and Boley offered the following resolution:
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 19--
Requesting the Division
of Highways name bridge number 54-50-0.01 located on Corridor D
near the city of Parkersburg, Wood County, the "Blennerhassett
Island Bridge".
Whereas, Blennerhassett Island has played an important role in
Ohio Valley history for over 200 years; and
Whereas, Local media and residents have referred to the bridge
as "Blennerhassett Island Bridge" since the planning and
construction of the bridge began; and
Whereas, The Board of Directors of the Blennerhassett Historical Foundation have voted unanimously that such naming of
the bridge would pay deserving homage to Blennerhassett Island and
acquaint travelers with the site's historical importance;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name
bridge number 54-50-0.01 located on Corridor D near the city of
Parkersburg, Wood County, the "Blennerhassett Island Bridge"; and,
be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested
to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the
"Blennerhassett Island Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of
the Department of Transportation and the Wood County Commission.
Which, under the rules, lies over one day.
Pending announcement of a meeting of a standing committee of
the Senate,
On motion of Senator Chafin, the Senate adjourned until
tomorrow, Wednesday, January 16, 2008, at 11 a.m.
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