WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2023 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 2512

By Delegates Howell, Hornbuckle, Capito, Clark, Ferrell, Storch, Smith, Phillips, Cannon, Kelly, and Hott

[Introduced January 13, 2023; Referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism]

A BILL to amend and reenact §5B-8-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to transferring the administration of the West Virginia Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) Matching Funds Program from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Economic Development, including, but not limited to, the authority to propose legislative rules for promulgation.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 8. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH AND SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER MATCHING FUNDS PROGRAM.

§5B-8-1. Definitions.

When used in this article:

"Department" means the West Virginia Department of Commerce Economic Development.

"SBIR" means the Small Business Innovation Research Program enacted under the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982, Pub. L. 97-219, 15 U.S.C. § 638.

"STTR" means the Small Business Technology Transfer Program enacted under the Small Business Technology Transfer Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-564, 15 U.S.C § 638.

"Small business" means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, statutory or common law business trust, sole proprietorship, or individual, operating a business for profit, which qualifies as a small business and otherwise meets the requirements of the SBIR or STTR programs.

"West Virginia-based business" means a business that has its principal place of business in this state.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to transfer the administration of the West Virginia Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) Matching Funds Program from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Economic Development, including, but not limited to, the authority to propose legislative rules for promulgation.

This bill was recommended for passage during the 2023 Session by the West Virginia Joint Commission on Economic Development.

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