H. B. 506
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegate Trump)
[By Request of the Executive]
[Introduced September 10, 2001]
A BILL to amend and reenact section two, article three, chapter
five-b of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred
thirty-one, as amended, relating to the joint commission on
economic development; and providing for the appointment of
members of the commission by the President of the Senate and
the Speaker of the House of Delegates.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section two, article three, chapter five-b of the code of
West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 3. WEST VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY: A VISION
SHARED.
§5B-3-2. Creation of the joint commission on economic development.
(a) The joint commission on economic development is hereby
established. The commission shall be composed of sixteen members as follows:
(1) The chairs of the Senate and House of Delegates finance
committees;
(2) The chairs of the Senate and House of Delegates judiciary
committees;
(3) The chairs of the Senate and House of Delegates education
committees;
(4) Five additional members of the Senate appointed by the
president of the Senate; and
(5) Five additional members of the House of Delegates
appointed by the speaker of the House of Delegates.
No more than four of the five additional members appointed by
the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of
Delegates, respectively, may be members of the same political
party. In addition, the president of the Senate and the speaker of
the House of Delegates shall be ex officio nonvoting members of the
commission and shall designate the co-chairpersons of the
commission.
(b) Any vacancies occurring in the membership of the
commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment for the position being vacated. The vacancy shall not
affect the power of the remaining members to perform the duties of
the commission continued. Membership of the commission is to be
determined and members are to be appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates.
(c) (b) The commission may explore how West Virginia can:
(1) Invest in systems that build workforce skills and promote
lifelong learning to ensure a competitive workforce;
(2) Enhance the infrastructure, communications and
transportation needed to support the knowledge-based industries and
electronic commerce;
(3) Reorganize government to deliver services more
efficiently, using technology, privatization and partnerships with
the private sector;
(4) Align state tax systems to meet the demands of the
twenty-first century economy;
(5) Develop more uniform regulatory and tax systems to reduce
complexity, eliminate market distortions and better protect
consumers;
(6) Support entrepreneurs by streamlining business
regulations, providing timely decisions and assisting firm firms in
their search for venture capital;
(7) Promote university policies that encourage research and
development and build intellectual infrastructure;
(8) Address quality-of-life concerns to attract new businesses
and workers; and
(9) Accomplish the goals set forth in this article and any
other goal related to economic development or workforce investment that the commission considers important.
(d) (c) The commission may propose legislation necessary to
accomplish its goals.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize the President
and Speaker to determine the membership of, and appoint the members
of the Joint Commission on Economic Development.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.