§29-1-1 Division of Culture and History continued; sections and commissions; purposes; definitions; effective date.
§29-1-1. Division of Culture and History continued; sections and commissions; purposes; definitions; effective date.
(a) The Division of Culture and History and the office of Commissioner of Culture and History heretofore created are hereby continued. The Governor shall nominate and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint the commissioner, who shall be the chief executive officer of the division and shall be paid an annual salary as provided in section two-a, article seven, chapter six of this code. The commissioner so appointed shall have: (1) A bachelor's degree in one of the fine arts, social sciences, library science or a related field; or (2) four years' experience in the administration of museum management, public administration, arts, history or a related field.
(b) The division shall consist of five sections as follows:
(1) The arts section;
(2) The archives and history section;
(3) The museums section;
(4) The historic preservation section; and
(5) The administrative section.
(c) The division shall also consist of two citizens commissions as follows:
(1) A Commission on the Arts; and
(2) A Commission on Archives and History.
(d) The commissioner shall exercise control and supervision of the division and shall be responsible for the projects, programs and actions of each of its sections. The purpose and duty of the division is to advance, foster and promote the creative and performing arts and crafts, including both indoor and outdoor exhibits and performances; to advance, foster, promote, identify, register, acquire, mark and care for historical, prehistorical, archaeological and significant architectural sites, structures and objects in the state; to encourage the promotion, preservation and development of significant sites, structures and objects through the use of economic development activities such as loans, subsidies, grants and other incentives; to coordinate all cultural, historical and artistic activities in state government and at state-owned facilities; to acquire, preserve and classify books, documents, records and memorabilia of historical interest or importance; and, in general, to do all things necessary or convenient to preserve and advance the culture of the state.
(e) The division shall have jurisdiction and control and may set and collect fees for the use of all space in the building presently known as the West Virginia Science and Culture Center, including the deck and courtyards forming an integral part thereof; the building presently known as West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling, including all the grounds and appurtenances thereof; "Camp Washington Carver" in Fayette County, as provided in section fourteen of this article; and any other sites as may be transferred to or acquired by the division. Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, including the provisions of article one, chapter five-b of this code, beginning on and after the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-three, the division shall have responsibility for, and control of, all visitor touring and visitor tour guide activities within the State Capitol Building at Charleston.
(f) For the purposes of this article, "commissioner" means the Commissioner of Culture and History, and "division" means the Division of Culture and History.