Senate Bill No. 102
(By Senators Dittmar, Anderson, Craigo, Sharpe,
Withers, Minard and Burdette, Mr. President)
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[Introduced January 25, 1994;
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.]
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A BILL to amend and reenact sections two and three, article
eight, chapter twenty-nine of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, all relating
to changing the name of Blennerhassett historical state park
to Blennerhassett Island historical state park.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That sections two and three, article eight, chapter twenty-
nine of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred
thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 8. BLENNERHASSETT ISLAND HISTORICAL PARK COMMISSION.
§29-8-2. Blennerhassett Island historical state park commission
established; members; terms; meeting; quorum; compensation;
expenses.
As of the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred
eighty-nine, there is established within the division of commerce
the Blennerhassett Island historical state park commission. Asof said date, all assets, real and personal property, debts,
liabilities, duties, powers and authority of the Blennerhassett
Island historical park commission are hereby transferred to the
division of commerce. The Blennerhassett Island historical state
park commission shall be maintained as an advisory commission as
hereinafter provided. The commission shall be composed of ten
members who shall be citizens and residents of this state,
appointed by the governor for terms of four years, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate:
Provided,
That the terms
of all members previously appointed to the Blennerhassett Island
historical park commission prior to the amendment and reenactment
of this section shall continue for the periods originally
specified, and no such member serving as of the effective date of
such amendment and reenactment need be reappointed.
Each member shall be qualified to carry out the functions of
the commission under this article by reason of his special
interest, training, education or experience.
No person shall be eligible to appointment as a member who
is an officer or member of any political party executive
committee; or the holder of any other public office or public
employment under the United States government or the government
of this state or a political subdivision of this state. Not more
than six members shall belong to the same political party.
At its first meeting, which shall be held within fifty days
after this section takes effect, the commission shall elect from
among its members a chairman who shall preside over its meetingsuntil the second Monday in September of the next year.
Thereafter, the commission shall elect a chairman from among its
members on the second Monday in September of each year.
All members shall be eligible for reappointment once by the
governor. A member shall, unless sooner removed, continue to
serve until his term expires and his successor has been appointed
and has qualified. A vacancy caused by the death, resignation or
removal of a member prior to the expiration of his term shall be
filled only for the remainder of such term.
For the purpose of carrying out its powers, duties and
responsibilities under this article, six members of the
commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. Each member shall be entitled to one vote. The
commission shall meet at a time and place designated by the
chairman at least four times each fiscal year. Additional
meetings may be held when called by the chairman or when
requested by five members of the commission or by the governor.
All meetings shall comply with the provisions of article nine-a,
chapter six of this code. Each member shall be reimbursed for
all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the
performance of his duties under this article.
The commission shall advise the division of commerce in all
matters relating to the development, establishment and
maintenance of the Blennerhassett Island historical state park.
All employee positions in the former Blennerhassett Island
historical park commission are hereby transferred to the divisionof commerce and shall be included in the classified service of
the civil service system pursuant to article six of this chapter.
Any person included in the classified service by the provisions
of this section who is employed in any of such positions as of
the effective date of this amendment and reenactment shall not be
required to take and pass qualifying or competitive examinations
upon or as a condition to being added to the classified service:
Provided,
That no person included in the classified service by
the provisions of this section who is employed in any of such
positions as of the effective date of this section, shall be
thereafter severed, removed or terminated from such employment
prior to his entry into the classified service except for cause
as if such person had been in the classified service when
severed, removed or terminated.
Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary,
the division of commerce shall have exclusive regulatory
authority over watercraft transport of visitors to the
Blennerhassett Island portion of the Blennerhassett Island
historical state park and such watercraft transport shall not be
subject to the provisions of article eighteen, chapter seventeen
of this code.
§29-8-3. General powers of division of commerce with respect to
the Blennerhassett Island historical state park.
The administrator of the division of commerce, with respect
to developing and maintaining Blennerhassett Island historical
state park, may exercise all powers and duties granted to him andhis predecessor in respect to the development and operation of
other state parks, and in addition, is specifically authorized
to:
(1) Establish and maintain an office in the county of Wood;
(2) Exercise his powers in the state of Ohio to the extent
permitted by the laws of the state of Ohio;
(3) Enter into any agreement with the state of Ohio or any
person, firm or corporation therein for the provision of
electricity, water, sewer and such similar services to
Blennerhassett Island as are necessary;
(4) Own or operate, or both, individually or in conjunction
with any other public agency or any private person, firm or
corporation, such facilities and equipment as he considers
necessary or convenient for the implementation of his duties
under this article. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, such facilities and equipment may include boats,
docks, an amphitheatre, parking facilities, the reconstructed
Blennerhassett mansion and other buildings; and
(5) Promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with the
provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to implement
and make effective the powers and duties vested in him by the
provisions of this article and take such other steps as may, in
his discretion, be necessary or expedient for the proper and
effective development of Blennerhassett Island and related
locations in the county of Wood into a major educational,
cultural and recreational attraction.
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(NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to change the name of
Blennerhassett historical state park to Blennerhassett Island
historical state park.)