Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/chamber/2012/RS/com_amends/HB4511%20S%20FIN%20AM%20_1.htm
Timestamp: 2018-01-17 11:52:40
Document Index: 291966939

Matched Legal Cases: ['§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18', '§18']

HB4511 S FIN AM #1
Sutherland 4840
The Committee on Finance moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §18B-11C-1, §18B-11C-2 and §18B-11C-3; that said code be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §18B-11D-1, §18B-11D-2, §18B-11D-3, §18B-11D-4, §18B-11D-5 and §18B-11D-6, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 11C. COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CENTERS AND INSTITUTES.
§18B-11C-1. Findings and purposes; legislative intent.
(a) The Legislature finds that it is in the best interests of the citizens of West Virginia for state institutions of higher education to function within the bounds of the state-established accountability system pursuant to article one-d of this chapter and to focus their research efforts diligently on achieving the goals and objectives set forth therein and in their institutional compacts developed pursuant to section seven, article one-d of this chapter.
(b) The intent of the Legislature in enacting this article is to ensure that state institutions of higher education work toward furthering the goals of accountability, effectiveness and efficiency articulated in the public policy agenda and state accountability system; to avoid unnecessary duplication of program development and delivery; to ensure that programs and services are closely aligned with the mission and approved compact of the institution; and to address the public policy agenda established pursuant to section one of this article.
§18B-11C-2. Definition; creation of centers; commission approval required; criteria.
(a) For the purposes of this article and article eleven-d of this chapter, “center” means an entity or program, created by a state institution of higher education with a distinct mission in a specific area of research and includes “research centers”, “research institutes” and “centers of excellence”. A center consists of an academic team whose stated purposes are to promote collaboration and best practices in the targeted research area, to further new developments and innovative ways of working and to achieve high quality research results.
(b) Beginning with the effective date of this article, the governing board of a state institution of higher education under the jurisdiction of the commission may not create a college or university center as defined in subsection (a) of this section, regardless of the title by which the center is designated, until it first has met the criteria set forth in this section.
(c) Before a governing board of a state institution of higher education creates a new center, it must evaluate and approve the following:
(1) Center name and governance structure --
(A) The name of the proposed center and an outline showing how the center will be governed and operate;
(B) The name of the director or names of co-directors and the process by which these individuals will be appointed; and
(C) Designation of the entity responsibility for developing rules and policies.
(2) Center mission and goals --
(A) The mission of the center showing how it differs in focus and scope from all other centers established at the institution;
(B) The need for the new center with supporting documentation drawn from the institutional compact, mission statement, and public policy agenda;
(C) Demonstration of how the center will contribute in unique ways to expanding knowledge, generating new discoveries, and providing positive societal impacts; and
(D) An explanation of why a new center is required to complete the planned research activities, including a description of strengths that establishing a center may bring to the institution and the state of West Virginia.
(3) Staff and resources --
(A) The faculty, resources, facilities, and peripherals that constitute the center and the resources that will be dedicated to support of the center and its mission;
(B) Existence of a critical mass in the specific or interdisciplinary area of research, including interdisciplinary research activities that provide evidence of the potential for collaboration of researchers within the center;
(C) The researchers, academic rank, department and expected contribution to the center to be made by each member, including strengths that the researchers bring to the center and a brief academic biography of each researcher;
(D) A record of past funding and the potential for attracting external funding, including sources of potential funding to further the goals of the center and make it self-supporting;
(E) Resources that have been secured from external sources and a rationale for resources requested from the state; and
(F) Documentation showing how the center’s distinct mission and organization eliminate unnecessary competition for resources, students and faculty within the state; drive economic development; generate talent; and create an energized, entrepreneurial environment that retains top quality graduates.
§18B-11C-3. Process for commission approval; rules required.
(a) The commission shall promulgate a rule pursuant to article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code setting forth the approval process for proposed centers at state institutions of higher education. The rule shall incorporate and apply the criteria established by this article.
(b) The commission shall review each proposal received from a governing board and shall notify the governing board in writing of its decision within sixty days of the date the commission received the proposal. If the proposal is rejected, the commission shall include particulars of the deficiencies found in the proposal and shall outline steps the governing board may take to correct the deficiencies before resubmitting the proposal.
ARTICLE 11D. SHALE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, POLICY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY.
§18B-11D-1. Legislative findings.
(a) The Legislature finds that advancements in technology have made possible the efficient development of abundant natural gas and oil resources contained in underground shales and other geologic formations in the State of West Virginia. These resources have the potential to generate jobs, stimulate economic activity, ensure energy security, reduce carbon and other emissions and provide significant revenues to the state.
(b) The Legislature further finds that creation of a research, education, policy and economic development entity at West Virginia University for the purpose of pursuing independent, objective, research-driven analysis that can improve the effective and efficient development of shale resources is in furtherance of the university's land grant status. Creation of this entity will allow West Virginia to focus on the prudent development and regulation of natural gas and liquid hydrocarbon from the shale resources in the state and throughout the world.
§18B-11D-2. Creation of the Shale Research, Education, Policy and Economic Development Center at West Virginia University; purposes.
(a) In view of the findings set forth in section one of this article, there is hereby created a research, education, policy and economic development entity known as the Shale Research, Education, Policy and Economic Development Center at West Virginia University. This center meets the criteria for creation of new centers in section two, article eleven-c of this chapter and, therefore, is not subject to the approval process established by article eleven-c of this chapter.
(b) The purposes for which the center are established include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Providing an opportunity for West Virginia University to partner with industry and government bodies in the state, the nation and around the world to explore opportunities and engage in scientific research and development of shale resources;
(2) Promoting cooperative and collaborative partnerships between research universities in the state in order to facilitate knowledge sharing that will benefit all areas of West Virginia;
(3) Generating and documenting best practices in the areas of environment, safety, business and health;
(4) Advancing environmental performance by garnering industry and regulatory commitment;
(5) Improving data and process transparency and developing effective outreach and engagement of affected communities;
(6) Protecting the environment of West Virginia and surrounding states by minimizing methane, carbon dioxide and any other potential emissions;
(7) Structuring legal frameworks and developing rules to promote prudent development of and access to the state's resources.
(8) Developing and maintaining a flexible structure to accommodate the needs of the state and of West Virginia University together with its partners in education, government and industry. This flexible structure can be achieved by encouraging the following actions:
(A) Investment by state and federal sources in strategic research;
(B) Initiation of research and development programs that are focused and co-funded by West Virginia University and its government and industry partners;
(C) Development of applied research that is industry-funded; and
(D) Provision of specialized services for government and industry partners.
(c) West Virginia University shall use its research capabilities in support of the center, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Technologies for efficient resource assessment and efficient extraction. These include various improvements to extraction technologies, earth imaging and other technologies to map, evaluate and assess resources and to understand geoprocesses; (2) Models to predict and manipulate multiphase fluid flow including gas, liquid hydrocarbons and hydraulic fracture fluids; and water life cycle analysis from source through staging, use, wastewater recycling and treatment.
(3) Environmental and economic impacts, such as fuel cycle analysis and construction of state-wide baselines for water and air quality, control of emissions and fuel waste in all cycles of energy production and delivery;
(4) Policy analysis to facilitate cost effective permitting, industry management, regulation and acceptance; and improved gathering, storage, transmission, processing, analysis, transparency and access of energy data to serve government, industry, and the public.
(5) Human dimensions, such as workforce development, in cooperation with public education and state institutions of higher education in programs specializing in energy and environment fields; analysis of public health risks and promotion of best practices to protect public health and work place health and safety;
(6) Effective communication strategies to establish shared understandings of expectations and awareness of issues and facts and to assist state agencies in developing a transparent, efficient and effective environment to manage the oil and natural gas resources for the benefit of all the state's citizens. These agencies include the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, West Virginia State Tax Division, and the West Virginia Geologic and Economic Survey. The purposes of the communication strategies are to ensure that capital investment is attracted to our State and development of these resources is tracked accurately, that appropriate revenue streams are captured by the state and that royalties to mineral lessors are protected appropriately;
(7) Development of best business practices to assist in creating and maintaining a robust, profitable, and prudently positioned industry in the state; and
(8) Tracking and analyzing the economic benefit, impact and effect of the industry upon the state.
§18B-11D-3. Funding.
(a) Funding for the center is provided by legislative appropriation and through support received from private industry, federal and international sources.
(b) Nothing in this article requires an appropriation, nor any specific level of appropriation, by the Legislature.
§18B-11D-4. Powers and duties of the board of governors and the Shale Research, Education, Policy and Economic Development Center at West Virginia University.
(a) West Virginia University Board of Governors -- The board is authorized to operate the center to further the purposes set forth in this article. Powers and duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Acquisition by purchase, lease, gift or otherwise, of necessary lands, and the construction of necessary buildings and appropriate industrial operations equipment;
(2) Expansion, remodeling, altering or equipping necessary buildings;
(3) Making contracts with any state, county or municipal agency or private entity necessary and incidental to the performance of its powers and duties under this article;
(4) Providing for equipment, expenses, compensation of personnel, operation and maintenance of any facility of an agency or institution used for the purposes of this article; and
(5) Cooperating with other state research universities, agencies of the state, county and federal governments.
(b) The Shale Research, Education, Policy and Economic Development Center at West Virginia University -- Under the supervision of the Director, appointed pursuant to section five of this article, and within the scope of the authority granted by this article and by rules duly promulgated by the board of governors pursuant to section six, article one of this chapter, the center may take all actions necessary to fulfill the established purposes including providing the research capabilities set forth in section two of this article.
§18B-11D-5. Powers and duties of the center director.
(a) Subject to rules promulgated by the board of governors pursuant to section six of this article, the President of West Virginia University shall appoint a director of the center who will serve at the will and pleasure of the President.
(b) The director has the following responsibilities:
(1) Manage the day-to-day operations of the center;
(2) Coordinate the partnerships and act as the liaison between education, industry and government bodies and other entities as appropriate to address the findings set forth in section one of this article;
(3) Develop and advocate for an annual budget for the center;
(4) Report to the board of governors annually or as requested and provide an analysis of the center’s activities together with any recommendations for improvement; and
(5) Employ adequate professional, technical, and other staff necessary to fulfill the purposes of this article.
§18B-11D-6. Rules.
(a) The board of governors shall promulgate and adopt rules pursuant to section six, article one of this chapter, for the establishment, operation, cost reimbursement, fees for services, maintenance and government control of the center established by this article.
(b) The board may promulgate rules necessary for cooperation under and compliance with any existing or future federal statutes pertaining to grants-in-aid and any other rules necessary to effectuate the purposes of this article.