WEST virginia Legislature

2017 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 651

By Senators Prezioso and Plymale

[Introduced March 18, 2017; 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 section, designated §18B-1B-14, relating generally to creating direct affiliation between state universities and research, development and technology parks within the state; transferring ownership of the West Virginia Regional Technology Park to Marshall University; establishing requirement for private investment and funding; and directing the Higher Education Policy Commission to research and report to the Legislature.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §18B-1B-14, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 1B. HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY COMMISSION.

§18B-1B-14. Research, development and technology parks; transfer of property; funding requirement; commission to study and report additional acquisition.

(a) (1) Commencing with the effective date of this section, the Higher Education Policy Commission shall undertake all measures necessary to, and shall complete, transfer of ownership of the West Virginia Regional Technology Park in South Charleston, West Virginia, to the governing board of Marshall University by July 1, 2018.

(2) The governing board of the university shall thereafter manage development and participation in the Regional Technology Park in a manner whereby fifty percent or more of the investment and funding for the operation, administration and additional development of the facility shall originate from private sources.

(b) The Higher Education Policy Commission shall research and investigate the potential for acquiring an interest in the I-79 Technology Park on behalf of West Virginia University for development and management that would result in either inclusion within the WVU Center for Economic Development and Technology Advancement, a separate public-private partnership, or other form of development and technology institution directly affiliated with the university. The commission shall submit a report of its investigation and findings to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2017.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide for direct affiliation of technology and development parks with the state’s universities.

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