Debate over a bill that would clear a major legal hurdle for West Virginia University as it relocates its Institute of Technology may begin this week, one Republican Party leader said Monday.
At the request of Delegate Dave Perry, D-Fayette, the House Education Committee on Wednesday will have a public hearing on HB 4310, which will remove from state code language that says WVU Tech shall remain headquartered in Montgomery. The university is in the midst of a controversial move to Beckley, which is opposed by a group of locals.
House Education Chairman Paul Espinosa, R-Jefferson, said the committee could begin discussing the bill as early as Wednesday. The committee has scheduled the hearing for Wednesday morning and will meet again in the afternoon.
"I anticipate we'll take it up then," Espinosa said.
The bill has been pending since its introduction in January.
While the bill also includes strikeouts of existing code mandating WVU to develop a plan to address capital improvement needs at WVU Tech, Espinosa said his main question with the legislation, which he co-sponsored, is whether the university should be required to keep its headquarters in Montgomery when programs are being moved to another campus.
Local residents, who are suing the university in an attempt to prevent relocation, say WVU Tech headquarters belong in Montgomery and that attempts to change that are unlawful. They sought an immediate injunction from Kanawha Circuit Judge Duke Bloom, but he denied the motion last month and said more time was needed to develop the case as both sides await the outcome of HB 4310.
While the Senate introduced a concurrent bill last month, Espinosa said the House will take on debating the issue.
Espinosa acknowledged the impact relocating the college will have on the Upper Kanawha Valley, but said requiring headquarters to remain in Montgomery when everything else is moved to Beckley would be a waste of taxpayer dollars and resources.
In addition to removing a headquarters mandate from state code, university officials have sought solidarity with local governments through an agreement that offers economic support for a promise not to support litigation that could prevent the move.
That agreement, which proposes WVU will maintain the Montgomery campus for 10 years after vacating it, has support from Kanawha and Fayette commissioners and the Town of Smithers. Montgomery, the only other government to which the agreement was offered, voted last week not to sign.
Unless the move is stopped in court, WVU Tech will relocate in 2017, though moving already is in progress. Starting this fall, first-year students will be admitted to the Beckley campus. Sophomores, juniors and seniors, however, may finish their degrees in Montgomery.
Wednesday's hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in the House Chamber. In addition to hearing from the public Wednesday, Espinosa said the committee also will accept written comments.
Those who wish to attend the hearing should note security at the Capitol this session has changed. All visitors are required to enter through checkpoints at the east entrance of the East Wing or the west entrance of the West Wing.
Reach Samuel Speciale at sam.speciale@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-7939 or follow @samueljspeciale on Twitter.