SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 49
(By Senators Scott and Oliverio)
Requesting that the joint committee on government and finance
conduct an interim study whether the West Virginia
experimental program to stimulate competitive research (WV
EPSCoR) should remain a part of the university of West
Virginia system, be placed under the department of education
and the arts or be placed under the department of commerce,
labor and natural resources and whether WV EPSCoR should
become a public-private partnership and/or be better
financed by the state government.
Whereas, The West Virginia experimental program to stimulate
competitive research (WV EPSCoR) is part of a federally-funded
program, initiated by the national science foundation, and
supported by other federal agencies, to assist states in
improving their capability in science, engineering and
technology; and
Whereas, The national EPSCoR program gives each state the responsibility to devise a science and technology strategy which
builds the state's educational and industrial capabilities and
furthers its development policy; and
Whereas, Through its success in obtaining federal and state
funds, WV EPSCoR has significantly strengthened the scientific,
engineering and technical capability at institutions of higher
education in this state and has enhanced West Virginia industry's
effort to build technical capability in science and engineering;
and
Whereas, The national science foundation has provided funds
to WV EPSCoR to take the initiative in formulating a West
Virginia science and technology strategy and to develop a West
Virginia science and technology council; and
Whereas, The mission of the West Virginia science and
technology council will be to strengthen and enhance the state's
science and technology infrastructure, including research and
development, and to fully integrate science and technology
advancements into the state's industrial and economic development
strategies; and
Whereas, Governor Gaston Caperton has instructed WV EPSCoR
to move forward in developing a West Virginia science and technology council; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the joint committee on government and finance
investigate the current placement of the WV EPSCoR under the
university of West Virginia system and consider an alternative
placement under the department of education and the arts or
department of commerce, labor and natural resources; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the committee identify financial
resources in the state of West Virginia which will provide
matching funds to meet the cost-share requirements of national
science foundation grants and other federal agency grants; and,
be it
Further Resolved, That the committee seek state matching
funds to capture federal grants already authorized for fiscal
year one thousand nine hundred ninety-six; and, to seek matching
funds for federal funds awarded for the development of a West
Virginia science and technology plan; and, be it
Further Resolved, That funds be requested in the amount of
one million five hundred thirty thousand seven hundred dollars to
be placed in the accounts of the office of the chancellor of the
university of West Virginia system with full authority, by letter of request from WV EPSCoR to the chancellor to transfer such
funds to the appropriate institutions of higher education as the
office of the chancellor shall determine to be necessary for the
proper administration of the WV EPSCoR program; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the joint committee on government and
finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 1996,
on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, and to include
with its report drafts of any proposed legislation, regulations
or resolutions necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and,
be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct
this study, to prepare a report and to draft any proposed
legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the joint
committee on government and finance.