WEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 525

By Senators Tarr and Swope

[Introduced January 17, 2020; referred
to the Committee on Economic Development; and then 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 §5B-1-9, relating to requiring the Secretary of Commerce to present certain information to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance during the 2020 legislative interim sessions.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.

§5B-1-9. Additional duties of the secretary.

The Secretary of Commerce shall present to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance during the 2020 legislative interim sessions:

(1) A list of the foremost challenges for being competitive in attracting businesses to West Virginia.

(2) Draft legislation necessary to affect a minimum level of funding relating to subdivision (1) of this section, that includes:

(A) Site certification funding;

(B) Closing funding; and

(C) Any other considerations.

(3) A vision and Mission Statement for the West Virginia Development Office.

(4) A list of what the West Virginia Development Office is doing now that should be a function of government.

(5) A list of what the West Virginia Development Office is doing now that should be done by private enterprise.

(6) A list of what the West Virginia Development Office is mandated to do now that should not be a function of the West Virginia Development office.

(7) A plan for the Legislature’s consideration of a public-private structure to replace the current West Virginia Development Office that comprehensively considers the items identified in subdivisions (1) through (6) of this section, and a date certain that the  office can be transitioned to a public-private structure should legislation be passed to make it possible in the 2021 legislative session.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the Secretary of Commerce to present certain information to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance during the 2020 legislative interim sessions.

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