Nancy Butcher, Office Administrator West Virginia House of Delegates

Committee on Finance

West Virginia Legislature is composed of 2 houses. The State Senate has 34 members who are elected for 4 year terms. The House of Delegates has 100 members who are elected for 2 year terms.

Legislative sessions are for 60 consecutive days beginning the second Wednesday of January of each year and every forth year, the second Wednesday of February. Session is extended each year for approximately 1 week to complete work on the budget.

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The Legislature of West Virginia employees approximately 220 full-time staff persons. The Senate employees approximately 50 full-time staff, the House employees approximately 50 full-time staff and the remaining members of staff working for the various offices under the Legislative Manager/Auditor. Additional per diem staff is employed by all branches of the Legislature during the Legislative Session.

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The 2013-14 Interim has 48 Committees.

Interim Committees are formed by statute, Joint Rules, Resolutions, letters of request, etc.

Members of the committees are appointed from each house by their respective leader.

Each Legislative member serves on at least one major Joint Standing Committee, with the exception of the Senate President, the House Speaker, the House Majority Leader and the House Minority Leader.

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Interims occur once a month for 3 days beginning the first month after the Legislature adjourns sine die.

Interim dates are set by the Senate President and the House Speaker.

Each interim committee has multiple study topics and the Chairs of each committee determines what will be studied each month. Legislative staff make all the necessary arrangements for those meetings.

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Agriculture and Rural Development Children and Families Council of Finance and Administration Economic Development Education Education Accountability Education Subcommittee A - Public Education Education Subcommittee B - Higher Education Education Subcommittee C - Audit Issues Employee Suggestion Award Board Equal Pay Commission Finance Finance Subcommittee A Finance Subcommittee B Finance Subcommittee C Forest Management Review Commission Government and Finance Government Operations Government Organization Government Organization Subcommittee A Government Organization Subcommittee B Government Organization Subcommittee C Health Health and Human Resources Accountability Health Subcommittee A

Health Subcommittee B Infrastructure Intern Committee Interstate Cooperation Judiciary Judiciary Subcommittee A Judiciary Subcommittee B Judiciary Subcommittee C Labor and Worker Safety Issues Law Institute Minority Issues Outcomes-Based Funding Models in Higher Education Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Subcommittee PEIA, Seniors and Long Term Care Pensions and Retirement Post Audits Subcommittee Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority Rule-Making Review Committee Special Investigations Technology Veterans' Affairs Water Resources Workforce Investment for Economic Development

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Study topics are assigned by the Joint Committee on Government and Finance from recommendations of the Senate President and the House Speaker.

Study topics come from resolutions, letters of request from members of the Legislature, recurring issues and topics generally dealt with by the various committees.

Final reports are presented to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance at the last meeting of the interim period along with any suggested legislation the committees have recommended.

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Educational

Conferences

During the interim period, Legislative members attend various educational and issue related seminars and conferences.

Legislative Staff also attend professional development training seminars and issue related seminars and conferences.

Some examples of Educational and Issue Related Conferences:

NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures)

SLC (Southern Legislative Conference)

NCOIL (National Conference of Insurance Legislators)

CSG (Counsel of State Governments)

SREB (Southern Regional Education Board)

SSEB (Southern States Energy Board)

NCLGS (National Council of Legislators from Gaming States)

NBCSL (National Black Caucus of State Legislators)

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Assembling and printing of:

the Acts of the Legislature

the Journal of each House of the Legislature

the Legislative Manual

the Legislative Membership Directory

the West Virginia Blue Book

As well as Bill Summary books by each of the major committees.

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The interim is also used to make updates to the Legislative website, bill status, committee bill tracking systems, committee sound systems as well as upgrades to any electronics in the respective chambers.

Structural or cosmetic repairs or upgrades to committee offices, committee rooms, conference rooms and the chambers are also made during this time.

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