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.
____________