ENGROSSED
H. B. 2977
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Campbell,
Staton, Michael, Douglas, Border and Canterbury)
[Introduced March 22, 2001; referred to
the Committee on Government Organization then Finance.]
A BILL to amend chapter four of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding
thereto a new article, designated article six, relating to
creating the joint committee on advanced communications and
information technology; providing for appointment of members
of the senate and house of delegates to the committee;
meetings, periods of function, powers and duties of the
committee; and the recommendation of guidelines.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That chapter four of the code of West Virginia, one thousand
nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto
a new article, designated article six, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 6. JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS
AND TECHNOLOGY.
§4-6-1. Creation of a joint legislative committee.
(a) There is created a joint legislative committee of the
Senate and House of Delegates, named the joint legislative committee on advanced communications and technology, for the
purpose of studying and investigating all matters relating to
technological advancements pertinent to the state.
(b) The committee shall consist of an equal number of members
of the House of Delegates and of the Senate to be appointed by the
speaker of the House of Delegates and president of the Senate,
respectively. At least one member from each of the houses shall be
a member of the minority party. The speaker and president shall
designate one of their respective members to co-chair the joint
legislative committee on advanced communications and technology.
(c) The joint legislative committee on advanced communications
and technology shall function during the regular legislative
session and during the interim, between the sine die adjournment or
the extended recess of the regular session of each regular
legislative session, until the convening of the next regular
session of the Legislature, or reconvening of the Legislature.
§4-6-2. Powers and duties of the committee generally.
(a) The joint legislative committee on advanced communications
and technology shall study all aspects of technology and endeavor
to stimulate, encourage, promote, and assist in the development of
technology in the state, and related public policies. In addition,
the committee shall:
(1) Review the annual reports and work plans submitted by the
governor's office of technology and the West Virginia science and
technology advisory council concerning the development of access to
a statewide public telecommunications network for distance learning, telemedicine, and universal access for governmental
entities, e-government, e-commerce and other issues relating to
technology, either initiated by those agencies or the committee, or
referred to it by either house of the Legislature for study or
review;
(2) Exercise leadership to coordinate for the various
committees of the Legislature the various activities, studies, and
planning activities of the Legislature which relate to any aspect
of technological development;
(3) Evaluate the impact of existing statutes and proposed
legislation related to technology in the state;
(4) Utilize the governor's office of technology and other
resources to investigate, research, and consider issues related to
technology as may be requested by the Legislature and make
recommendations to the Legislature; and,
(6) Encourage research and development in technology.
(b) Working in cooperation with the governor's office of
technology and the department of administration, the committee
shall recommend guidelines to be used by the Legislature, state
government, and state political subdivisions for technology related
purchasing.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.