This bill proposes the establishment of the West Virginia Council on Competitive Government by adding a new article to the Code of West Virginia. The council will consist of key state officials, including the Governor, the President of the Senate, the State Treasurer, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the Director of the Department of Administration, the Chief Information Officer within the Office of Technology, and the Director of WorkForce West Virginia. The council is tasked with promoting competition, innovation, and creativity in state services, and it will meet as necessary to fulfill its duties. Additionally, the council will be subject to the West Virginia Open Governmental Proceedings Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

The bill outlines the council's powers, including the ability to adopt rules, hold public hearings, and consult private sources. It mandates the council to identify state services that could be better provided through competitive bidding and allows local governments to participate in contracts awarded by the council. Furthermore, the council's contracts will be exempt from state purchasing laws, and it must consider various costs when comparing service providers. The bill emphasizes the importance of ensuring that any contracts resulting in staff reductions include an analysis of employee benefits comparable to those provided by the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 1-9-1, 1-9-2, 1-9-3, 1-9-4, 1-9-5, 1-9-6, 1-9-7, 1-9-8, 1-9-9