2024 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 5603

By Delegate Linville

[Introduced February 12, 2024; Referred to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §5A-6-8, relating to creating the West Virginia Infrastructure Deployment Clearinghouse.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 6. OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY.

§5A-6-8. West Virginia Infrastructure Clearinghouse; created; requirements.

(a) The Office of Technology and the West Virginia GIS Technical Center shall establish the West Virginia Infrastructure Deployment Clearinghouse as a statewide, map-based data hub to further economic development, serve the needs of the citizens of the state, state agencies and other governmental entities by facilitating infrastructure installations in an economic and timely manner.

(b) The Chief Information Officer and the director of the West Virginia GIS Technical Center shall set standards for the acquisition, management, and reporting of geospatial information and the acquisition, creation or use of applications employing such information by any executive branch agency. In establishing such capacity, policies, or standards they shall consult with state agencies, local governments, and other users of geospatial information system technology. The purpose of the Infrastructure Clearinghouse is to facilitate communication and coordination regarding the use of geospatial information system technology, promote economic development through expansion of broadband capabilities and services, eliminate duplicative use of such technology and expand the use of geospatial information within the state.

(c) The policies and standards of the Infrastructure Clearinghouse shall provide Clearinghouse users with as much information as possible while protecting specific information which are protected by law from public release: Provided, That, aggregated information that does not identify protected information may be released.

(d) The director of the West Virginia GIS Technical Center will be responsible for and manage the operations of the West Virginia Infrastructure Deployment Clearinghouse which will be located at the West Virginia GIS Technical Center. Both the Chief Information Officer and the director of the West Virginia GIS Technical Center will conduct outreach and educational efforts to secure the maximum participation in providing information for the Clearinghouse.

(e) Either or both the Chief Information Officer and the director of the West Virginia GIS Technical Center may apply for and receive federal and state grants as well as private grants that may be available.  

(f) All moneys collected shall be deposited in a special account in the State Treasury to be known as the Infrastructure Clearinghouse Fund. Expenditures from the fund shall be for the purposes set forth in this section and are not authorized from collections but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of §12-3-1 et seq. of this code and upon fulfillment of the provisions of §11B-2-1 et seq. of this code: Provided, That for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, expenditures are authorized from collections rather than pursuant to appropriation by the Legislature.

(g) On or before December 31, 2027, and annually thereafter, the director of the West Virginia GIS Technical Center will report to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the Joint Committee on Infrastructure.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill relates to the creation the West Virginia Infrastructure Deployment Clearinghouse.

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