Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2000_SESSIONS/RS/Bills/hb4585%20intr.htm
Timestamp: 2018-01-22 12:51:44
Document Index: 487942966

Matched Legal Cases: ['§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5']

hb4585 intr
Thompson, Capito, Jenkins and Webb)
[Introduced February 18, 2000; referred to the
A BILL to amend chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated article twenty-six-b, relating to the creation of the governor's council on physical fitness for children and adults in this state.
That chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated article twenty-six-b, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 26B. GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON PHYSICAL FITNESS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
§5-26B-1. Legislative findings; statement of purpose.
(a) The Legislature finds that while the early years of life are a critical developmental and educational stage in the total life cycle and declares that parents are the children's first teachers and have the primary responsibility for meeting the needs and addressing the development of their children towards physical fitness and physical well being, the lack of physical fitness of the adults of this state through inactivity, use and consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other forms of dissipation should be discouraged and increased awareness of the benefits of physical fitness and well being must be emphasized and encouraged in private business and industry as well as adults and children in the home and school.
The state has an obligation to promote healthy lifestyles in the home, school and business, with the goal of providing for children's and adult's long term physical fitness and overall well-being.
The Legislature intends to accomplish its goals relating to children and adults through a comprehensive education program on physical fitness and well being providing educational and instructional services, programs and facilities for children and adults overseen by the highest levels of state government.
(b) The Legislature hereby declares that one purpose of this article and the policy of the state is to achieve the coordination of physical fitness and well being programs and services to children and adults through a council in the governor's office which is independent from any state agency and which shall act as an interagency council created to nurture a flexible system for the comprehensive, unified, effective and efficient administration of physical fitness and well being programs and services to children and adults which avoids fragmentation and duplication of programs and services and which facilitates and promotes cooperation among state agencies, as well as regional, local and private service agencies. It is the intent of the Legislature, through the governor's council, to emphasize the importance of physical fitness programs and well being and services to children and adults in order to avoid the human and financial costs to the state of individual and family members whose health and inactive life styles and use of alcohol and tobacco lead to and cause physical health deterioration and instability, and to benefit the state and society as a whole. For maximum effectiveness, the Legislature intends to provide these services in a long-term manner with such intensity as the needs of the particular situation require.
(c) The Legislature intends that participation in the programs authorized or required in this article shall be voluntary on the part of any child or adult for whom the program is available.
§5-26B-2. Council established.
There is hereby created the governor's council on physical fitness for children and adults, hereinafter referred to as the "council." The council shall include one member appointed by the secretary of health and human resources; one member appointed by the president of West Virginia University; one member appointed by the president of Marshall University; the state superintendent of schools; one member appointed by the adjutant general; and one member appointed by the governor.
The council shall be chaired by the governor and shall convene at least monthly during the first year and thereafter shall meet at least quarterly. The council shall exist under the purview of the governor's cabinet on children and families.
§5-26B-3. Duties and responsibilities of council generally.
In addition to all other duties and responsibilities assigned to the council in this article and elsewhere by law, the council has the power and the duty to:
(1) Analyze ways to best utilize the information and evaluations obtained through previously existing or ongoing physical fitness programs for children and adults and determine ways to implement or incorporate aspects of the programs that would be of benefit to adults and children in this state;
(2) Designate an individual who shall monitor and report on any other physical fitness and well being programs throughout the state;
(3) Provide for the coordination of any other physical fitness and well being programs and services for all adults and children in the state;
(4) Identify facilities and properties throughout the state that may be required or available for the effective and efficient provision of physical fitness and well being programs and services to adults and children, with an emphasis on utilizing available state facilities, including public school facilities and facilities within the state system of higher education;
(5) Prepare a proposed budget for the operation of the council to be recommended to the governor for inclusion in the executive budget to be submitted to the Legislature;
(6) Promote the work of the governor's council on physical fitness for children and adults in order to engender strong support from the community, the Legislature and business leaders;
(7) Provide public information on physical fitness and well being services and programs available to adults and children;
(8) Address specifically the provision of physical fitness and well being programs and services to adults and children living in the rural areas of the state; and
(9) Report annually to the Legislature and to other units as the council may consider appropriate on issues relating to physical fitness and well being programs for adults and children.
§5-26B-4. Powers and authority of council generally.
In addition to all other powers granted to the council in this article and elsewhere by law, the council has the power and authority to:
(1) Provide or contract with any agencies or persons in this state and other states for any facilities, equipment or service necessary to achieve the purposes of this article;
(2) Develop and implement rules, standards and policies governing the internal operation and administration of the council;
(3) Delegate any of the council's powers, duties or functions as the council considers appropriate, expedient and effective;
(4) Solicit and accept proposals in furtherance of any physical fitness and well being program or service required by this article.
(5) Solicit, accept and expend grants, gifts, bequests, donations and other funds made available to the council: Provided, That all unrestricted grants, gifts, bequests and donations are deposited in the physical fitness for adult's and children's fund created pursuant to section six of this article;
(6) Exercise any and all other powers, including the adoption of an official seal and to charter public or quasi-public corporations, necessary for the discharge of the council's duties and the implementation of the purposes of this article.
§5-26B-5. Powers and duties relating to funding and budgetary needs for physical fitness for adults and children.
(a) The council shall analyze the budgets of the departments of state government to the extent that they address or impact upon physical fitness and well being programs and services for adults and children, review budgetary needs and revenue sources, and make recommendations regarding the governor's proposed budget and the redirection of resources. In making the recommendations, the council shall educate themselves on the availability of and eligibility for federal, local and private funding, with the goal of maximizing federal, local and private revenues for use in areas directly benefitting physical fitness and well being for adults and children.
(b) Any legislative recommendation is accompanied by a proposal or plan for sufficient funding. In exploring all aspects of funding possibilities, the council shall consider innovative, flexible funding as interagency funding, joint funding pools, interagency reimbursement, and funding by the adults or families serviced based on ability to pay.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section nineteen, article two, chapter five-a of this code or any other provision of law to the contrary, the council may transfer funds among, between and within departments in accordance with rules for the purpose adopted by the council notwithstanding the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.
(d) The council shall develop fiscal incentives for the establishment of programs resulting in substantial cost savings. Any savings resulting from the coordination of physical fitness and well being programs and services for adults and children are reinvested for expenditure in areas directly benefitting physical fitness and well being for adults and children.
§5-26B-6. Physical fitness fund created; purpose.
(a) The council shall establish a physical fitness and well being for adult's and children's fund for the sole purpose of awarding grants, loans and loan guaranties for adult's and children's physical fitness and well being activities. Gifts, bequests or donations for this purpose, in addition to appropriations to the fund, are deposited in the state treasury in a special revenue account that is independent from any executive or other department of government, other than the office of the governor.
(b) Each state taxpayer may voluntarily contribute a portion of the taxpayer's state income tax refund to the adult's and children's physical fitness and well being fund by so designating the contribution on the state personal income tax return form. The council shall approve the wording of the designation on the income tax return form, which designation shall appear on tax forms. The tax commissioner shall determine by the first day of July of each year the total amount designated pursuant to this subsection and shall report that amount to the state treasurer, who shall credit that amount to the adult's and children's physical fitness and well being fund.
(c) All interest accruing from investment of moneys in the adult's and children's physical fitness and well being fund are credited to the fund. The legislative auditor shall conduct an audit of the fund before the first day of July, two thousand five and at least every three fiscal years thereafter.
§5-26B-7. Use of public school and higher education facilities and resources.
At every level of planning, service providers and administrators shall plan to utilize available facilities and resources under the control of the state and county boards of education and governing boards of the state institutions of higher education.
§5-26B-8. Termination date.
Pursuant to the provisions of article ten, chapter four of this code, the governor's council on physical fitness and well being for adults and children shall continue to exist until the first day of July, two thousand eight: Provided, That the council shall prepare an annual progress report and shall present the report to the joint committee on government operations. The report shall detail the council's compliance with its purposes, duties and responsibilities as set forth in sections one, three and four of this article, together with proposed plans for future compliance and proposed programs for the following year.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish a Governor's Council on physical fitness for children and adults in this state, operating under the purview of the Governor's Cabinet on Children and Families.