HB0175

Authorizes renovation of the Wyoming veterans' memorial museum, establishes an oversight task force, and appropriates $5 million for the project.

• Authorizes the Wyoming veterans' memorial museum renovation project and empowers the governor and Wyoming military department to enter into contracts and retain experts necessary to complete the project through the state construction department, with all contracts requiring gubernatorial approval. (Section 1(b))
• Creates the Wyoming veterans' memorial museum renovation task force consisting of four legislative members (two from the House and two from the Senate) serving on the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee, the state construction department director or designee, the Wyoming military department adjutant general or designee, and one veterans representative appointed by the governor. (Section 2(a))
• Establishes the task force's advisory role to monitor the renovation project, receive information from the state construction department, oversee professional services procurement, make recommendations to the construction department, and provide annual reports to the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee by November 1. (Section 2(b))
• Assigns staffing and support responsibilities to the state construction department and department of state parks and cultural resources to coordinate task force meetings, communicate recommendations, provide progress reports to the task force and state building commission, and offer other requested assistance. (Section 2(c))
• Establishes compensation for task force members, with legislative members receiving salary, per diem, and travel expenses under W.S. 28-5-101, government employees receiving regular pay without additional compensation (except mileage and per diem if not reimbursed by employer), and other members receiving per diem and mileage only. (Section 2(d))
• Provides that the task force shall terminate on June 30 of the year following completion of the renovation project and facility occupation. (Section 2(e))
• Appropriates $5 million from the Wyoming tourism account to the state construction department for the Wyoming veterans' memorial museum renovation project as a maximum amount from any source, excluding contingency funding, with unexpended funds reverting upon project completion.