WEST virginia legislature

2023 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 3444

By Delegate Phillips

[Introduced February 14, 2023; Referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism then Government Organization]

A BILL to amend and reenact §4-13A-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to adding the Cabinet Secretary of Economic Development, or a designee to the West Virginia Semiquincentennial Commission.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 13A. WEST VIRGINIA SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL COMMISSION AND FUND.

§4-13A-2. Membership; terms; filling vacancies; election of chair and vice chair.

(a) The Governor shall appoint 10 members as follows:

(1) Three academic historians;

(2) Five citizens members, no more than one of whom may be from any one state senatorial district;

(3) A member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution;

(4) A member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution;

(b) The following shall serve as ex-officio voting members;

(1) The State Superintendent of Schools, or a designee;

(2) The Cabinet Secretary of Commerce, or a designee;

(3) The Cabinet Secretary of Economic Development, or a designee;

(3) (4) The Curator of the Department of Arts, Culture, and History, or a designee;

(4) (5) The Secretary of the Department of Tourism, or a designee;

(5) (6) The Executive Director of the Herbert Henderson Minority Affairs Office, or a designee;

(6) (7) The West Virginia State Archivist;

(7) (8) The Director of the West Virginia State Museums;

(8) (9) One member of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, who shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member of the commission; and

(9) (10) One member of the State Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member of the commission;

(10) (11) Members of the United States Senate from the State of West Virginia, or their designees shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members of the commission;

(11) (12) Members of the United States House of Representatives from the State of West Virginia, or their designees shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members of the commission;

(c) All appointed members shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Governor;

(d) Appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

(e) The curator of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History shall serve as the chair of the commission. The commission shall elect a vice chair and secretary from among its members.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to add the Cabinet Secretary of Economic Development, or a designee to the West Virginia Semiquincentennial Commission.

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