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 article six, chapter four of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by
adding thereto new sections, designated sections one and two,
relating to creating the joint committee on advanced
communications and information technology; providing for
appointment of senate and house of delegates members to the
committee; providing for interim meetings of the committee;
providing committee study jurisdiction relating to the
promotion of efficient government technology related
purchasing; and providing reporting requirements for the
committee.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article six, chapter four of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by
adding thereto new sections, designated sections one and two, to
read as follows:
ARTICLE 6. JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE FOR ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS
AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
§4-6-1. Creation of a joint standing committee.
(a) There is hereby created a joint standing committee of the
Senate and House of Delegates, named the joint standing committee
for advanced communications and information technology, for the
purpose of studying and investigating all matters relating to
telecommunications and 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
standing committee for advanced communications and information
technology.
(c) The joint standing committee for advanced communications
and information 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 commission generally.
(a) The joint standing committee for advanced communications
and information technology shall generally study all aspects of
technology and science and endeavor to stimulate, encourage,
promote, and assist in the development of technology and science in
the state, and sound public policies related thereto. In addition,
the committee shall:
(1) Make continuing studies 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
concerning advanced communications and information technology,
either initiated by the committee or referred to it by either house
of the Legislature for study;
(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 the development of access to a statewide public telecommunications and
information infrastructure;
(3) Evaluate the impact of existing statutes and proposed
legislation related to technology and science in the state;
(4) Advise the governor, state agencies, and institutions of
the Legislature, upon matters related to technology and science;
(5) Investigate, research, and consider such issues related to
technology and science as may be requested by the Legislature or
governor and make recommendations to the Legislature and the
governor;
(6) Encourage research and development in technology and
science;
(7) Solicit input from appropriate entities, public or
private, on issues related to technology and science.
(b) The joint committee on advanced communications and
information technology shall cooperate with the governor's office
of technology, with public secondary and postsecondary institutions
of education, with the appropriate administrative agencies of this
state, with legislative and administrative agencies and
institutions of other states, and with the federal government and
others in the planning and development of access to a statewide
public telecommunications infrastructure linking institutions, businesses, government agencies, schools, hospitals, libraries,
communities, and other public and private entities to the national
information infrastructure.
(c) 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.
Note: The purpose of this bill is to create a new joint
committee named the joint standing committee for advanced
communications and technology and to establish guidelines for its
operations.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.