Members of the state legislature will begin meeting in Charleston Monday to wrap up interim committee meetings and prepare for the Feb. beginning of the 60-day regular session.
Some of the interim committees will meet Monday and Tuesday to finalize draft legislation to be considered during the session. The committee that focuses on jails and prisons may discuss a judge’s recent order calling for serious consideration of closing the Salem Industrial Home for Youths. That committee meets Monday morning. Other meetings are scheduled on health care, education and other issues.
Wednesday is called the Opening Day of the legislative session even though the session won’t actually begin for another five weeks. The formal re-elections of House of Delegates Speaker Rick Thompson and Senate President Jeff Kessler will take place Wednesday along with the swearing-in of House and Senate members who were elected last Nov. Republicans now have control of 46 of the House’s 100 seats. Committee appointments could also be announced this week.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin will be sworn-in to office next week followed by a break that will allow him to work on his legislative agenda. The 60-day regular session will begin Feb. 13.