WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2024 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 5555

By Delegates Howell, Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker), Rohrbach, DeVault, Jeffries, Criss, Riley,  Householder,  Maynor, Smith, and Williams

[Introduced February 09, 2024; Referred to the Committee on Government Organization]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §5B-2-22, relating to creating a legislative oversight committee on aviation development; stating the purposes of the oversight committee; establishing the composition of the oversight committee; establishing duties of the oversight committee; requiring reporting to the Legislature; authorizing the oversight committee to contract with experts; and authorizing cooperation of the oversight committee with the Department of Economic Development and Division of Multimodal Transportation Facilities.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 5B. DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

§5B-2-22. Legislative oversight committee on aviation development.

(a) The Legislative Oversight Committee on Aviation Development is hereby created to oversee the implementation of legislation intended to improve aviation development in the state.

(b) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates shall each designate five members of their respective houses, at least one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, to serve on the legislative oversight committee. This oversight committee shall report regularly at each legislative session on the implementation of the purposes set forth in this section. It shall regularly investigate all matters relating to trends and technologies driving innovation in the field of aviation, comprehensive strategies to promote the research and development of aviation technologies, and the economic impact of aviation development in the state. In the performance of its duties, the oversight committee may contract with aviation and aeronautics experts to study these issues in appropriate depth and perspective.

(c) The oversight committee shall annually recommend to the Legislature the needs of the state relating to aviation and aeronautics development and the funding required to execute these functions. It shall meet regularly with the Department of Economic Development and the Division of Multimodal Transportation Facilities to determine what may be required for implementation of legislation relating to the state's aviation and aeronautics development, establishment of airports. and air navigation facilities, and any other related matters which benefit the state.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish the Legislative Oversight Committee on Aviation Development.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.