HB 992

            
2020 SESSION


20105670D

HOUSE BILL NO. 992

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Education

on January 27, 2020)

(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Adams, L.R.)

A BILL to amend and reenact �� 23.1-3101 and 23.1-3104 of the Code
of Virginia, relating to the A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership;
employees; classification; benefits.

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.