WEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 799

By Senators Maynard and Cline

[Introduced February 17, 2020; referred
 to the Committee on Government Organization; and then to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §5B-9-1, relating to establishing the West Virginia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Oversight Council; establishing membership of council; providing for the appointment of members; and establishing the council’s duties.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 9. West Virginia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Oversight Council.

§5B-9-1. Establishing West Virginia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Oversight Council; membership; appointment; duties.

(a) The Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Oversight Council is hereby created.  The council is a governmental instrumentality of the state. The exercise by the council of the powers conferred by this article and the carrying out of its purpose and duties shall be considered and held to be, and are determined to be, essential governmental functions and for a public purpose.

(b) The council shall consist of eight members, including:

(1) The Secretary of Commerce or his or her designee;

(2) An employee of the Department of Commerce as appointed by the Governor;

(3) The Director of the Division of Tourism or his or her designee;

(4) An employee of the Division of Tourism as appointed by the Governor;

(5) The President of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau or his or her designee; and

(6) Three members representing the general public: Provided, That there shall be at least one member representing the general public from each congressional district. No more than one member representing the general public may be a resident of the same county.

(c) The Governor shall appoint the public members of the council who shall serve four-year staggered terms.

(d) One member of the West Virginia Senate, appointed by the President, and one member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House, shall serve as advisory members of the council. The advisory members shall be ex officio, nonvoting members of the council.

(e) The Secretary of the Department of Commerce shall serve as chair and the council shall annually appoint a vice chair and shall appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the council and who shall keep records of its proceedings. Four members of the council shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of at least the majority of those members present shall be necessary for any action taken by vote of the council. A vacancy in the membership of the council does not impair the rights of a quorum by such vote to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the council.

(f) A member of the council who serves by virtue of his or her office does not receive compensation or reimbursement of expenses for serving as a member. The public members are reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the service of the council in a manner consistent with guidelines of the travel management office of the Department of Administration.

            (g) The council meets at least monthly. 

(h) The council shall:

(1) Assist the County or Municipal Convention and Visitor’s Bureaus in aligning their efforts with the state’s comprehensive tourism strategy; and

(2) Take all actions necessary to support the efforts of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureaus throughout the state.

(i) The Department of Commerce shall provide office space for the council and each governmental agency represented on the council shall provide staff support for the council in the manner determined appropriate by the council.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish the West Virginia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Oversight Council and its purposes.

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