§31-16-2 Steel advisory commission; membership, appointment, terms, quorum and selection of officers. - West Virginia Statutes

§31-16-2. Steel advisory commission; membership, appointment, terms, quorum and selection of officers.
(a) There is hereby created the West Virginia steel advisory commission within the bureau of commerce, which shall consist of fifteen members. The governor or his or her designee shall be a member of the commission and shall serve as its chairperson. Ten members shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. At least four of the members appointed by the governor shall be senior management representatives of steel manufacturing companies that employ over fifty people. At least two of the members appointed by the governor shall be representatives of organized labor. One of the members appointed by the governor shall be a member of the united steelworkers of America. One of the members appointed by the governor shall be a member of the independent steelworkers union. One member shall be appointed by the university of West Virginia board of trustees and one member shall be appointed by the board of directors of the state college system. Of the remaining members, the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Delegates shall each appoint one member from their respective houses who shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members. No more than seven of the governor's appointees shall be of the same political party. Prior to making the appointments, the governor shall solicit recommendations from individuals representing the steel industry and labor organizations representing steelworkers. The governor shall make appointments based upon the knowledge and experience of the individual in the steel industry.

(b) Within thirty days after the effective date of this section, the governor, the University of West Virginia board of trustees and the board of directors of the state college system, the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Delegates shall make their respective initial appointments to the commission. The terms of office for nonlegislative appointed members are seven years. Each member shall hold office from the date of his or her appointment until the end of the term for which he or she was appointed. Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. A member shall continue in office until his or her successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. The terms of legislative members shall be for the term for which they were elected.

(c) Notwithstanding the terms of office stated for members in subsection (b) of this section, each member serves at the pleasure of his or her appointing authority and the appointing authority may remove his or her appointee at any time and for any reason.

(d) Seven members constitute a quorum and an affirmative vote of a majority of those members present is necessary to transact business of the commission. In the event of the absence of a member appointed by the president of the Senate or by the speaker of the House of Delegates, the president of the Senate or the speaker of the House of Delegates may become a member, as the case may be, or may designate an alternative member of the commission.

(e) Before entering upon the duties of office, each member shall take the oath of office prescribed by the constitution of West Virginia.

(f) Members of the commission shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for their necessary and actual expenses incurred in the course of duties as members of the commission.

(g) The commission shall provide for the election of officers. The commission shall meet at least three times annually or upon the call of the chairperson or upon the request of five or more members.

(h) The West Virginia development office, as requested by the commission, shall provide the commission with meeting space and staff services and other technical assistance. The West Virginia development office shall assist the commission with the costs of production and distribution of commission reports. If the commission determines, by a majority vote, to have any study conducted by a third party, the funds for the study shall be derived from contributions from the steel industry or other interested parties.