Relating to authorizing the Department of Administration to promulgate a legislative rule relating to the management of records maintained by the Records Center
Summary
HB2223 is a rule-authorization bill that amends West Virginia Code §64-2-1 to approve a legislative rule for the Department of Administration concerning the management of records maintained by the Records Center. The bill does not itself create a new records-management program; instead, it gives statutory authorization to a previously filed administrative rule, identified as 148 CSR 14, that governs how records in the Records Center are handled.
In practical terms, the bill confirms the Department of Administration’s authority to implement and enforce its records-management rule under the state’s legislative rulemaking process. The measure is limited in scope and is focused on administrative procedures for records retention, storage, access, or disposition within the Records Center, rather than changing broader public records law or agency transparency requirements.
Impact
If enacted, HB2223 would amend the West Virginia Code to authorize the Department of Administration’s legislative rule on management of records maintained by the Records Center, thereby giving the rule legal effect. The bill affects state administrative law and the Department of Administration, and it may indirectly affect agencies or offices that send records to the Records Center or rely on its records-management procedures. It does not appear to alter substantive rights or obligations outside the records-management framework.
Sentiment
The available context suggests a neutral, routine administrative measure with no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials. Because the bill simply authorizes an agency rule, it appears to be the kind of technical legislation that typically draws limited public attention unless the underlying rule is controversial. No opposition or support is documented in the supplied transcripts or voting record.
Contention
No specific points of contention are identified in the provided materials. Any potential concerns would likely center on the contents of the underlying Department of Administration rule—such as how records are retained, managed, or accessed—but those details are not included here. With no committee transcripts or votes available, there is no evidence of disagreement among legislators or stakeholders in the supplied record.