H. B. 3173
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates
Campbell, Michael, Border, Canterbury and Staton)
[Introduced March 30, 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.
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 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 consists 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 must be
a member of the minority party. The speaker and president shall
designate one of their respective members to cochair 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 committee 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 to technology and science. 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 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 for purchasing, the
committee shall establish 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 article is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.