WEST virginia legislature

2022 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

House Bill 4742

By Delegates Steele, Criss, Rowan, Rohrbach, Skaff, Capito, Howell and Young

[Introduced February 15, 2022; referred to the Committee on Government Organization]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-1-15, relating to the restoration of the Holly Grove Mansion; providing for legislative findings and the background of the Holly Grove Mansion; explaining the restoration; providing for funding in a separate appropriations bill; providing for the establishment of a commission to oversee the restoration and designating representatives; providing for the disbanding of the commission upon completion of the project; and shifting control of the Holly Grove Mansion from General Services to the Division of Arts, Culture, and History upon completion of the restoration.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1. DIVISION OF CULTURE AND HISTORY.

§29-1-15. Holly Grove Mansion restoration project.

(a) Legislative findings and background. - There is hereby created the Holly Grove Mansion restoration project for the purpose of restoring the Holly Grove Mansion in Charleston, West Virginia.  The Holly Grove Mansion was originally constructed in 1815 as the home of Daniel Ruffner, one member of a family which helped develop the early salt industry in the Kanawha Valley. The mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. A $3 million renovation project was approved in 2014 to make the home safe for tours, make the first floor accessible as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and to create a public conference space inside the home, but the renovation was canceled, except for stabilization work, due to budgetary concerns.

(b) Funding. - Funding for the restoration project shall be made possible through a separate appropriations bill.

(c) Purpose. - The Holly Grove Mansion is intended to be used for two purposes:

(1) The first floor of the Holly Grove Mansion is intended to be used as an addition to the State History Museum, as well as a potential conference area and event space;

(2) The second and third floors of the Holly Grove Mansion are intended to be used to house the State Historic Preservation Department.

(d) Completion of project. - The restoration is intended to bring the Holly Grove Mansion to its original interior and exterior appearance. The restoration shall be completed by the architectural firm that was awarded the bid in the 2014 study. In the case the architectural firm is no longer in existence, the contract shall be rebid to another architectural firm.

(e) Commission. - A commission shall be established to oversee the completion of the project. The commission shall be established on July 1, 2022, and shall include the following seven people:

(1) Curator of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, or his or her designated representative;

(2) Secretary of Administration, or his or her designated representative;

(3) Historic Preservation Director, or his or her designated representative;

(4) State Museum Director, or his or her designated representative;

(5) A designee as appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(6) A designee as appointed by the Senate President; and

(7)  West Virginia State Archivist, or his or her designated representative.

(f) Chair of commission. – The Curator of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History shall serve as the Chair of the Commission.

(g) Disbandment of commission. - The commission shall disband after the completion of the Holly Grove Mansion restoration project.

(h) Control. - The Holly Grove Mansion shall move from the control of General Services to the control of Department of Arts, Culture, and History after the restoration is complete.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide for the restoration of the Holly Grove Mansion. The bill provides findings relating to the Holly Grove Mansion. The bill establishes a commission to assist with the renovation of the structure. The bill notes that funding will be provided in a separate appropriations bill. The bill establishes members of the commission. The bill notes that the commission will disband after completion of the renovation. Finally, the bill moves control of the Holly Grove Mansion from General Services to the Division of Arts, Culture, and History upon completion of the restoration.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.