§17-2E-10.Taskforce on infrastructure deployment clearinghouse; reporting; sunset date.

(a) There is hereby created a taskforce under the leadership of the Commissioner of the Division of Highways, or his or her designee, for the purpose of studying best practices for the creation of a clearinghouse with information on public rights-of-way, including environmental and historic preservation content, that may reduce regulatory hurdles, lower costs, and increase the speed of infrastructure deployment. The purpose of the clearinghouse is to provide information relevant to infrastructure deployment, such as identifying public rights-of-way that may be readily accessed. For purposes of this section, “infrastructure deployment” means the deployment of underground infrastructure in public rights-of-way in West Virginia.

(b) The taskforce shall consist of the following:

(1) The Commissioner of the Division of Highways, or his or her designee;

(2) The Director of the Division of Environmental Protection, or his or her designee;

(3) The director of the historic preservation section of the Department of Arts, Culture, and History, or his or her designee;

(4) Any designee as may be selected by Miss Utility of West Virginia; and

(5) Any designees as may be selected by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Department of Transportation Accountability.

(c) The infrastructure deployment clearinghouse taskforce shall examine and report on the following:

(1) Regulatory hurdles affecting infrastructure deployment;

(2) The availability of information that may reduce regulatory hurdles;

(3) Information available, including environmental factors, historically-significant sites, and previously-disturbed ground as relevant to infrastructure deployment;

(4) Recommendations on ways to create a clearinghouse that contains information relevant to reduce regulatory hurdles, lower costs, and accelerate infrastructure deployment;

(5) Recommendations on restrictions that may be needed concerning access to clearinghouse information; and

(6) Other information and recommendations the taskforce deems important to create the clearinghouse and improve infrastructure deployment.

(d) The taskforce shall report and make recommendations to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Department of Transportation Accountability, including:

(1) Status updates upon request; and

(2) Written recommendations, including any proposed legislation, by December 31, 2023.

(e) The provisions of this section sunset and cease to have effect after March 31, 2024.