H. B. 2417
(By Delegates Faircloth, L. White,
Campbell and Canterbury)
[Introduced January 20, 2003; 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 thirteen, relating
to the creation of a joint legislative committee on
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 thirteen, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 13. JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY.
§4-13-1. Joint legislative committee on technology; membership;
compensation and expenses; meetings.
(a) There is created the joint legislative committee on
technology. The committee is composed of five members of the
Senate, to be appointed by the president, no more than three of whom shall be appointed from the same political party and five
members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the speaker,
no more than three of whom may be appointed from the same political
party. In the event the membership of a political party is less
than fifteen percent in the House of Delegates or Senate, the
membership of that political party from the legislative house with
less than fifteen percent membership may be one from that house.
The speaker shall designate one of the appointed members of the
House of Delegates cochairperson. The president shall designate
one of the appointed members of the Senate cochairperson.
(b) Members of the committee serve two-year terms and may be
reappointed to serve an unlimited number of terms. Members serve
until their successors are appointed.
(c) Compensation and reimbursement for expenses for members of
the committee is determined pursuant to sections five and seven,
article two-a of this chapter. Compensation and expenses shall be
paid from an appropriation to be made expressly for the committee,
but if no appropriation is made or the total amount appropriated
has been expended, the compensation and expenses shall be paid from
amounts appropriated to the joint committee on government and
finance, but no expense of any kind whatever payable from amounts
appropriated to the joint committee on government and finance may
be incurred unless first approved by the joint committee on
government and finance.
(d) The committee shall meet upon call of the cochairpersons
or either of them and may meet at any time, both during sessions of
the Legislature and in the interim.
§4-13-2. Responsibilities of the committee.
The committee 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 technology and science. In
addition, the committee shall:
(1) Evaluate the impact of existing statutes and proposed
legislation related to technology and science in the state;
(2) Advise the Legislature, governor, agencies, authorities
and institutions of the state upon matters related to technology
and science;
(3) Investigate, research and consider issues related to
technology and science as may be requested by the Legislature or
determined by the committee;
(4) Make recommendations to the Legislature and the governor;
(5) Consult with appropriate entities, public or private, on
matters related to technology and science under the committee's
consideration;
(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;
(8) Coordinate its efforts with and assist the efforts of
other agencies, authorities and institutions of the state; and
(9) Annually report its findings and recommendations to the
Legislature and governor.
§4-13-3. Advisory committees.
The committee may establish advisory committees composed of
persons with expertise in the matters under consideration by the
committee. Members of advisory committees serve without
compensation, but are entitled to be reimbursed from funds
appropriated or otherwise available to the committee for reasonable
and necessary expenses, including mileage, incurred in the
performance of their duties.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create a Joint
Legislative Committee on Technology.
This article is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.