HB4192 H GO AM 2-16
Thompson 3192

The Committee on Government Organization moved to amend the bill on page one, line fifteen, by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §29-29-1, §29-29-2, §29-29-3, §29-29-4, §29-29-5, §29-29-6 and §29-29-7, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 29. WEST VIRGINIA SKI RESORT INDUSTRY COMMISSION.
§29-29-1. Findings; West Virginia Ski Resort Industry Commission established.

(a) The Legislature finds that the ski resort industry plays an important role in West Virginia's tourism economy and has significant potential for even greater growth and economic impact on the state's economy if properly developed and made subject to public policies designed to assist the ski industry in sustaining its growth.
(b) The Legislature further finds that if its full potential is reached, West Virginia cold see the addition of several hundred million dollars per year into its economy.
(c) There is created the West Virginia Ski Resort Industry Commission to encourage expansion of existing downhill and Nordic ski facilities and the development of new facilities to foster the continued development of the state's ski resort industry.
§29-29-2. Membership; terms; filling vacancies; election of chair and vice chair.

(a) The Governor shall appoint nine members as follows:

(1) The Secretary of the Department of Commerce, or a designee; and
(2) Four members with knowledge or expertise in the existing ski resort industry;
(3) One member recommended from a list of four submitted by the West Virginia Environmental Council; and

(4) Three citizen members.
(d) The members shall serve from July 1, 2010 until June 30, 2011.
(e) Appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
(f) The commission shall elect a chair and a vice chair from among its members.
§29-29-3. Expense reimbursement.
(a) Members shall serve without compensation.
(b) Commission members may be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of duties as a commission member, in a manner consistent with the guidelines of the travel management office of the Department of Administration. The Department of Commerce shall pay the travel expenses, if any, incurred by the Secretary of the Department of Commerce, or a designee, or by the commission's citizen members.
§29-29-4. Quorum; meetings.
(a) A simple majority of the members serving on the commission at a given time constitutes a quorum.
(b) Meetings shall be held in accordance with the provisions of article nine-a, chapter six of this code.
§29-29-5. Advisory council.
The commission may establish an advisory council composed of citizens at large who have interest in the state's ski resort industry.
§29-29-6. Powers; duties.
(a) The commission shall, in consultation with the Department of Commerce:
(1) Identify policies to encourage economic growth of the ski resort industry, including policies to assist growth of existing Nordic and downhill ski facilities.
(2) Identify promising locations for geographical and development opportunities in the ski resort industry; and
(3) Report to a legislative interim meeting of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance during or before the June 2011 legislative interim meetings with recommendations to facilitate the directives of this article.
(b) The Department of Commerce shall provide administrative support to the commission where needed to enable the commission to carry out its responsibilities under this article.

§29-29-7. Termination of the commission.
The commission terminates on June 30, 2011.