Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION
                   Enrolled Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 354
   By Senators Jeffries, Maynard, Swope, Phillips,
               Plymale, and Woodrum [Passed February 14, 2024; in effect 90 days from passage]
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  AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article,
          designated §5B-11-1, §5B-11-2, §5B-11-3, and §5B-11-4, all relating to creating the West
          Virginia Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority; providing for legislative
          findings; appointing authority members; providing for terms of membership; providing for
          certain membership and meeting requirements; providing that members are not
          compensated; providing for certain powers and duties; and requiring annual reporting to
          the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
     Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
     ARTICLE 11. WEST VIRGINIA ADVANCED ENERGY AND ECONOMIC CORRIDOR
             AUTHORITY.
     §5B-11-1.                                   Legislative findings.
          The Legislature finds that the Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor, once known as
  Tug-Ohio-Levisa-Sandy Improvement Association (TOLSIA) and the King Coal Highway, which
  runs through the counties of McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Wayne, and Wyoming has undergone
  significant challenges owing to widespread changes in the national and global economies; and
  every effort should be made to assist the transformation of these regional economies by providing
  guidance to local governments, businesses, and industries to maximize economic development
  and diversification of those economies. As part of the National Highway System’s I-73/74 corridor
  from northern Michigan to eastern South Carolina, the Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor,
  will not only foster greater transportation efficiencies, but will also provide vital connectivity to
 bourgeoning markets, resulting in both job creation and economic expansion in southern West
 Virginia.
         The economic development agencies along this corridor are aligning efforts to embrace
 the expansion of the energy and economic development policies adopted by the West Virginia
 Legislature as a tool for economic development and are focused on efforts to transform and
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 revitalize the region by fostering partnerships and initiatives which are complementary and
 supportive of existing successful industries in West Virginia.
        The Legislature, by enactment of this article, intends to facilitate implementation of critical
 and time-sensitive opportunities for economic development along the Advanced Energy and
 Economic Corridor by establishing an authority, known as the West Virginia Advanced Energy and
 Economic Corridor Authority (authority), to facilitate assistance to these local entities comprised of
 the economic development agencies of McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, and Wayne counties.
     §5B-11-2. Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority created; membership;
            terms; meetings; quorum; compensation and expenses; assistance from Department of Economic Development.
         (a) The Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority (authority) is hereby created
  as an independent body corporate. It shall consist of the following 15 members who are involved in
  economic, commercial, or industrial development in the geographic region of the authority:
         (1) A representative of the economic development agency of McDowell County;
         (2) A representative of the economic development agency of Mercer County;
         (3) A representative of the economic development agency of Mingo County;
         (4) A representative of the economic development agency of Wayne County;
         (5) A representative of the economic development agency of Wyoming County;
         (6) A representative of the Region 1 Planning and Development Council;
        (7) A representative of the Region 2 Planning and Development Council; and
        (8) The following seven members appointed by the Governor, or his or her designee:
        (A) A representative from businesses and industries located in the state;
        (B) An economic development representative from a utility company that provides service
 to the corridor region;
        (C) Four private sector representatives from the technology, energy, advanced
 manufacturing, and aviation, aerospace, or advanced air mobility sectors in the corridor region;
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 and
        (D) Two at-large members from regions and counties along the corridor who have
 knowledge and experience in local issues, economic development, and other areas of expertise.
        (b) Each member shall serve a term of five years. Members may be reappointed to
 additional terms and, upon expiration of their respective terms, shall continue to serve until their
 successor has been appointed. The chair, vice-chair, and officers shall be selected annually by
 majority vote of the members. The chair shall schedule meetings and set the agenda for each
 meeting.
        (c) A majority of members, in person or by real-time electronic communication, constitutes
 a quorum to conduct business at a meeting.
        (d) If a member of the authority must recuse himself or herself because of a perceived or
 actual conflict of interest, a majority of the remaining members of the authority without a conflict
 shall be sufficient for the conduct of authority business.
        (e) Members are not entitled to compensation for services performed as members.
     §5B-11-3. Powers and duties of the authority.
         (a) The authority shall have, but not be limited to, the following powers and duties:
         (1) Set specific tactical goals and demonstrable objectives via input from member counties
  and communities;
         (2) Maintain an inclusive, rather than constraining, geographic focus on economic
  development;
         (3) Seek out private-public partnerships to achieve its vision;
         (4) Foster partnerships with groups in other states that follow the I-73/74 corridor to help
  build broad support for the economic development and infrastructure projects undertaken;
         (5) Propose legislation for bonding and tax credits to facilitate economic development
 along the corridor;
        (6) Seek governmental engagement for guidance on local, state, regional or national
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 initiatives to achieve economic development objectives;
         (7) Utilize cutting-edge technologies and innovation platforms where their applications will
 be most beneficial;
         (8) Propose legislation to allow regulatory flexibility along corridor expanded boundaries;
         (9) Develop a memorandum of understanding with the Appalachian Regional Commission
 in areas of economic development, transportation, tourism, infrastructure, technology, and other
 areas beneficial to the member counties and communities, and the state; and
         (10) Develop economic and tourism asset portfolios for inclusion of the authority’s vision;
 and
         (11) Apply for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
         (b) The authority may also exercise all powers necessary or appropriate to carry out the
 purposes of this article including, but not limited to, the following:
         (1) Acquire, own, hold, and dispose of property, real and personal, tangible and intangible;
         (2) Lease property, whether as lessee or lessor, and to acquire or grant through easement,
 license, or other appropriate legal form, the right to develop and use property and open it to the use
 of the public;
         (3) Mortgage or otherwise grant security interests on its property;
         (4) Procure insurance against any losses in connection with its property, license or
 easements, contracts, including hold-harmless agreements, operations, or assets in such
 amounts and from such insurers as the authority considers desirable;
         (5) Maintain such sinking funds and reserves as the authority determines appropriate for
 the purposes of meeting future monetary obligations and needs of the Authority;
         (6) Contract for the provision of legal services by private counsel and, notwithstanding any
 other provision of the code to the contrary, the counsel may, in addition to the provisions of other
 legal services, represent the authority in court, negotiate contracts and other agreements on
 behalf of the authority, render advice to the authority on any matter relating to the authority,
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 prepare contracts and other agreements, and provide such other legal services as may be
 requested by the authority;
         (7) Appoint officers, agents, and employees and to contract for and engage the services of
 consultants;
         (8) Make contracts of every kind and nature and to execute all instruments necessary or
 convenient for carrying on its business, including contracts with any other governmental agency of
 this state or of the federal government or with any person, individual, partnership, or corporation to
 effect any or all of the purposes of this article;
         (9) Without in any way limiting any other provision of this section, accept grants and loans
 from, and enter into contracts and other transactions with, any federal agency; and
         (10) Accept gifts or grants of property, funds, security interests, money, materials, labor,
 supplies, or services from the federal government or from any governmental unit or any person,
 firm, or corporation and to carry out the terms or provisions of or make agreements with respect to
 or pledge any gifts or grants and to do any and all things necessary, useful, desirable, or
 convenient in connection with the procuring, acceptance, or disposition of gifts or grants.
         (c) No liability or obligation is incurred by the authority beyond the extent to which money is
 awarded for grant acquisition facilitation.
     §5B-11-4.                  Report to               the Legislature.
          On or before December 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the authority shall prepare and
  submit to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance a written report, which may be
  transmitted electronically, detailing its undertakings for the past year, including, but not limited to,
  all projects and any private-public partnerships entered into, as well as any recommended
  legislation or policy actions needed to facilitate greater economic development along the
  Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor.
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Statutes affected: 
Introduced Version: 5B-11-1, 5B-11-2, 5B-11-3
Committee Substitute: 5B-11-1, 5B-11-2, 5B-11-3, 5B-11-4
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 5B-11-1, 5B-11-2, 5B-11-3, 5B-11-4