Bill Text: VA HB992 | 2020 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership; staff shall be treated as state employees.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2020-03-23 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0398) [HB992 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HB992-Comm_Sub.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§23.1-3101 and 23.1-3104 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§23.1-3101. A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership established; purpose and duties.
A. The A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership (the Extension Partnership), doing business as Genedge Alliance, is established as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth to help create and maintain industrial and manufacturing jobs. The Extension Partnership shall:
1. Develop, demonstrate, test, and assist in the implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies;
2. Promote industrial expansion by providing manufacturing technology consulting services to manufacturers in the Commonwealth;
3. Foster the creation of manufacturing networks and the development of buyer and supplier relationships in the region and throughout the Commonwealth;
4. Serve as a resource center for industrial training and technology transfer programs for the renewal, enhancement, and expansion of existing manufacturing enterprises and manufacturing modernization outreach;
5. Be available as a federal demonstration center for the training of displaced workers in any manufacturing area; and
6. Receive and accept any available grants from any federal, state, or private agency, corporation, association, or person to be expended in fulfilling the duties enumerated in this subsection.
B. The Extension Partnership is a local or regional industrial or economic development authority or organization for purposes of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§2.2-3700 et seq.).
§23.1-3104. Executive director.
A. The board shall appoint an executive director who shall (i) supervise and manage the Extension Partnership, (ii) perform such functions as may be directed by the board, and (iii) prepare and submit, upon the direction and approval of the board, all requests for appropriations. The executive director may employ such staff as necessary to enable the Extension Partnership to perform its duties as set forth in this article. The board may determine staff duties and fix salaries and compensation from such funds as may be appropriated or received. Staff of the Extension Partnership shall be treated as state employees for purposes of participation in the Virginia Retirement System, health insurance, and all other employee benefits offered by the Commonwealth to its classified employees. In addition, the board may make arrangements with institutions of higher education to extend course credit to graduate students employed by the Extension Partnership.
B. Additional staff support for the functions of the Extension
Partnership may be provided by the Center for Innovative Technology, the
Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia
Center for Public Service, public institutions of higher education, small
business development centers, and private businesses.
