H. B. 4297


(By Delegates Douglas, Butcher, Caputo, Prunty, Willison, Manchin and H. White)

[Originating in the Committee on Government Organization]

[January 28, 2000]




A BILL to amend and reenact section three, article thirteen, chapter twenty of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to continuing the West Virginia stream partners program.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section three, article thirteen, chapter twenty of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 13. WEST VIRGINIA STREAM PARTNERS PROGRAM.
§20-13-3. West Virginia stream partners program created; executive committee identified; program coordination.

There is hereby created the West Virginia stream partners program and within the division of natural resources there is hereby created the West Virginia stream partners program fund. Subject to annual appropriation of the Legislature into the West Virginia stream partners program fund, the program shall be jointly administered by the division of natural resources, the division of environmental protection, the division of forestry and the West Virginia state soil conservation agency. The director or commissioner of each of these administering agencies or his or her designee shall collectively constitute an executive committee to oversee the program. The governor shall designate a member of the executive committee to serve as chair. The committee may designate a staff member from the existing staff of one of the administering agencies to coordinate the program on behalf of the executive committee. Pursuant to the provisions of article ten, chapter four of this code, the stream partners program and stream partners program fund shall continue to exist until the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, to allow for the completion of a preliminary review and to allow for further review by the joint committee on government operations two thousand six, unless sooner terminated, continued or reestablished by act of the Legislature.

 Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates language that would be added.
This bill is recommended by the Joint Committee on Government Operations for passage during the regular 2000 Legislative session.