2015 West Virginia Code
CHAPTER 5B. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1985
ARTICLE 2B. WEST VIRGINIA WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT.
§5B-2B-4a. Report to Legislature.

Report to Legislature. (a) The Legislature finds that:

(1) The advent and advancement of new technologies in horizontal drilling and the production of horizontal wells defined in article six-a, chapter twenty-two of this code has created thousands and has the potential to create thousands of additional drilling, production, construction, manufacturing, and related jobs in West Virginia and in the Appalachian Basin;

(2) This economic opportunity presents new and exciting opportunities for jobs for West Virginians;

(3) The state needs to take all necessary steps to retain, educate and train West Virginians to have the skills necessary to compete for job opportunities resulting from horizontal drilling; and

(4) Specific attention shall be made by the state of West Virginia to train and educate West Virginia citizens that have not historically or traditionally been exposed to the oil and gas industry through training programs offered by community colleges, technical schools and institutions and small business owners. Small business owners shall be made aware by the State of West Virginia of any and all programs and grants available to assist them in training said individuals.

(b) To assist in maximizing the economic opportunities available with horizontal drilling, the council shall make a report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance and the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on or before November 1 of each year through 2016, detailing a comprehensive review of the direct and indirect economic impact of employers engaged in the production of horizontal wells in the State of West Virginia, as more specifically defined in article six-a, chapter twenty-two of this code, which shall include:

(1) A review of the total number of jobs created;

(2) A review of total payroll of all jobs created;

(3) The average salary per job type;

(4) A review of the number of employees domiciled in the State of West Virginia;

(5) A review of total economic impact;

(6) The council's recommendations for the establishment of an overall workforce investment public education agenda with goals and benchmarks toward maximizing job creation opportunities in the State of West Virginia;

(7) A review of number of jobs created for minorities based on race, ethnicity and gender;

(8) A review of number of jobs created for individuals re- employed from the state of West Virginia's unemployment rosters;

(9) A review of number of jobs created for returning veterans; and

(10) A review of number of jobs created for legal West Virginia residents and non-West Virginia residents.

(c) To the extent permitted by federal law, and to the extent necessary for the council to comply with this section, the council, Workforce West Virginia, the Division of Labor, and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner may enter into agreements providing for the sharing of job data and related information.