(a)(1) The Legislature finds that an array of economic development initiatives have been taken by the Legislature, the Governor and various agencies of the Executive to promote the growth of job opportunities for residents of the state, including, but not limited to:

(A) An extensive reduction of business tax burdens, workers' compensation reform, and significant investment in university research;

(B) Providing new and expanding businesses with technical and financial assistance to train, retrain and upgrade the skills of their employees;

(C) Providing the curricula of an expanding Community and Technical College System that is highly responsive to business and workforce needs; and

(D) Broad based nationwide and global marketing of the advantages of West Virginia as a place to do business, to work and to live.

(2) These efforts are promoting a positive business climate and continued business growth in the state. The Legislature finds, however, that more can be done. The Legislature expects to continuously examine and consider legislative proposals for further actions that can be taken to increase jobs available in this state by encouraging the expansion of existing industries and business, both large and small, in this state, and by attracting to this state new industries and businesses that will complement the state's ongoing efforts to compete in the national and global economies. The Legislature further finds that it can promote the effectiveness of its consideration of these proposals as well as provide a source of other ideas for the same by authorizing the formation of job creation work groups to gather information in person at locations within and outside the state in order to observe first hand the best practices for job creation developed elsewhere.

(b) The President of the Senate may establish one or more Senate job creation work groups, composed of one or more members of the Senate. The Speaker of the House of Delegates may establish one or more House of Delegates job creation work groups, composed of one or more members of the House of Delegates.

(c) Each job creation work group shall conduct its activities under the direction of the appointing presiding officer, independently or in cooperation with the Department of Commerce, the West Virginia Development Office, or other executive office or agency of the state. The work group shall conduct meetings and visitations as it is directed by the appointing presiding officer for the purposes of obtaining information available to assist the Legislature's efforts to take effective action to increase and attract jobs in West Virginia. The primary purpose of a job creation workgroup is to become a resource for other members of its respective house of the Legislature. The work group shall also meet with existing businesses and organizations to further develop resources currently available to expand upon and grow job opportunities within the state. Each member of a job creation work group may make proposals or recommendations on this subject as an individual member of the Legislature. The work group exists until terminated by the appointing presiding officer.

(d) The expenses of a job creation work group shall be paid from the funds of the respective house in which it is established. The members of the work group may receive no compensation for their services other than actual expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties as members of work group, subject to the limitations provided for the reimbursement of travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of duties as a member of the Legislature under article two-a of this chapter.

(e) The provisions of this section expire and are of no force and effect after December 31, 2014.