When lawmakers are in Charleston next week for their special legislative session, one item that is expected to be introduced by Gov. Jim Justice is legislation to continue the Division of Culture and History as a new department in the executive branch.

The agency, which is expected to be called the Department of Arts, Culture and History, would be led by a curator, which would not be equivalent to a secretary position with the governor’s cabinet.

The legislation stems from House Bill 4006 — which Justice signed in March — that eliminated the Department of Education and the Arts and moved functions to existing agencies such as the Department of Education.

House Education Committee Chairman Paul Espinosa, said Justice didn’t want to give out the wrong message…

The governor would appoint the curator and they would have to be confirmed by the state Senate.