Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/ChapterEntire.cfm?chap=04
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WV Code Chapter 04 skip navigation
WVC 4 - 1 A- ARTICLE 1A. LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY.
WVC 4 - 1 A- 1 §4-1A-1. Purpose; legislative findings and declarations.
(a) The purpose of this article is to describe the scope and
limitations of legislative immunity provided by:
(2) The Speech or Debate Clause of the United States
Constitution, Article I, Section 6;
(3) Decisions regarding legislative immunity as developed in
federal common law by the federal judiciary in interpreting the
Speech or Debate Clause of the United States Constitution, Article
I, Section 6;
(5) The Speech or Debate Clause of the West Virginia
Constitution, Article VI, Section 17;
(6) The Separation of Powers Doctrine and the system of checks
and balances embodied in the United States Constitution; and
(7) The Division of Powers set forth in the West Virginia
Constitution, Article V, Section 1.
(1) That the privilege of Speech or Debate has been recognized
as an important protection of the independence and integrity of the
(2) That the ancestry of this privilege traces back to a
clause in the English Bill of Rights of 1689 and the history traces
even further back, almost to the beginning of the development of
the English Parliament as an independent force.
(3) That in the American governmental structure, privileges arising under the Speech or Debate Clause reinforce the Separation
of Powers Doctrine and the system of checks and balances that was
so deliberately established by the founding fathers and was carried
over into the West Virginia Constitution.
(4) That the protections provided by the Speech or Debate
Clause and the Separation of Powers Doctrine were not written into
the national and state Constitutions simply for the personal or
private benefit of members of Congress, the state Legislatures and
local governing bodies, but were intended to protect the integrity
of the legislative process by insuring the independence of
WVC 4 - 1 A- 2 §4-1A-2. Applicability of definitions.
For the purposes of this article, the words or terms defined
in this article have the meanings ascribed to them. These
definitions are applicable unless a different meaning clearly
WVC 4 - 1 A- 3 §4-1A-3. Legislative act defined.
"Legislative act" means an act that is generally to be
performed by the Legislature in relation to the investigative,
deliberative and decision-making business before it. A
"legislative act":
(1) Is an integral part of the processes by which members
participate in proceedings that come before the Senate or House of
Delegates or a committee thereof; and
(2) Relates to the consideration and passage or rejection of
proposed legislation; or
(3) Relates to other matters that constitutional law places
within the jurisdiction of either the Senate, the House of
Delegates or the legislative branch of state government as a whole.
WVC 4 - 1 A- 4 §4-1A-4. Legislative sphere defined.
The "legislative sphere" includes all activities that are an
integral part of the deliberative and communicative processes by
which members of the Legislature participate in committee and house
proceedings with respect to the consideration and passage or
rejection of proposed legislation or with respect to other matters
which the Constitution places within the jurisdiction of either
WVC 4 - 1 A- 5 §4-1A-5. Political act defined.
"Political act" means an act, nonetheless legitimate, that is
political in nature rather than being a legislative act as defined
in section three of this article.
WVC 4 - 1 A- 6 §4-1A-6. Scope of legislative immunity generally.
(a) Legislative immunity, affording protection under the
Separation of Powers Doctrine and the Speech or Debate privilege,
extends to all of a legislator's legislative acts, as defined in
(b) The Speech or Debate privilege, when it applies, is
absolute and has two aspects:
(1) A member of the Legislature has immunity extending both to
civil suits and criminal prosecutions for all actions within the
legislative sphere, even though the conduct, if performed in other
than a legislative context, would in itself be unconstitutional or
otherwise contrary to criminal or civil statutes; and
(2) A member of the Legislature is provided a testimonial
privilege that operates to protect those to whom it applies from
being compelled to give testimony as to privileged matters and from
being compelled to produce privileged documents.
WVC 4 - 1 A- 7 §4-1A-7. Legislative immunity in specific instances.
The scope of legislative immunity includes, but is not limited
to, the following legislative acts:
(6) Enforcing the rules of the Senate or House of Delegates or
the joint rules of the Legislature;
(13) Lobbying other legislators to support or oppose
WVC 4 - 1 A- 8 §4-1A-8. Actions taken without lawful authority are not immune.
Legislative immunity does not extend to activities by
legislators that are without lawful authority under constitutional
law, statutory law or rules of the Legislature, including, but not
(2) Conducting an illegal investigation or an unlawful search
or seizure;
(3) Performing another otherwise valid legislative act without
proper legislative authority;
(4) Filing a false or incomplete report, disclosure or claim
regarding an otherwise valid legislative act; or
(5) Using legislative office for private gain in violation of
the provisions of chapter six-b of this code that define and
enforce governmental ethics.
WVC 4 - 1 A- 9 §4-1A-9. Political acts are not privileged.
Legislative immunity does not extend to political acts,
(1) Communications to the press through letters, electronic
mail, newsletters or news releases: Provided, That the release of
pending legislation, committee reports, journals, acts and other
official legislative reports and documents is a legitimate
(2) Privately releasing a republication of a speech made
within the legislative sphere;
(4) Making speeches or giving interviews outside of the
legislative sphere; or
(5) Assisting a constituent or supporter through constituent
services, including, but not limited to, making appointments with
government agencies, attempting to influence discretionary acts of
a government officer or providing assistance in securing government
WVC 4 - 1 A- 10 §4-1A-10. Administrative acts are not immune.
(a) Legislative immunity does not extend to activities by
legislators that are administrative in nature rather than
legislative. If the underlying facts on which a decision is based
are legislative facts involving establishment of a general policy
or state of affairs, then the decision is legislative. If the
facts used in the decision making are more specific, such as those
that relate to particular individuals or situations, then the
decision is administrative.
(b) With regard to legislative personnel matters, whether a
personnel decision regarding a legislative employee is shielded by
legislative immunity depends upon the nature of the duties of the
employee about whom the personnel decision is made. Personnel
decisions regarding a legislative employee are afforded immunity if
the employee's duties are directly related to the functioning of
the legislative process and the duties:
(1) Involve work that significantly informs or influences the
shaping of laws, such as when the employee has an opportunity for
meaningful input into the legislative process; or
(2) Are peculiar to a legislator's work as a legislator or
intimately cognate to the legislative process.
WVC 4 - 1 A- 11 §4-1A-11. Certain offers of proof about legislative activities not
(a) Proof of a person's status as a member of the Legislature
(b) A member of the Legislature who chooses to offer evidence
of legislative acts as a defense to a criminal prosecution has not
been "questioned", even though the member thereby subjects himself
or herself to cross-examination.
WVC 4 - 1 A- 12 §4-1A-12. Legislative acts of legislative staff, aides or
Legislative immunity extends to legislative staff, aides or
assistants working on behalf of a legislator. Inquiry is
prohibited into things done as a legislator's staff member, aide or
assistant which would have been legislative acts if performed by
the legislator personally.
WVC 4 - 1 A- 13 §4-1A-13. Legislative immunity from ultimate relief.
Legislative immunity may be invoked to shield a legislator
from judicially ordered relief, including, but not limited to, the
(3) Declaratory judgments with respect to his or her
(4) Injunctive relief with respect to his or her legislative
(5) Extraordinary writs with respect to his or her legislative
WVC 4 - 1 A- 14 §4-1A-14. Testimonial immunity.
(a) Testimonial immunity is an aspect of legislative immunity
that protects a legislator from questioning elsewhere than in the
(b) When a legislator has been improperly questioned before a
grand jury concerning legislative acts, the counts in a criminal
indictment that are based on the testimony must be dismissed.
(c) When a legislator is found to be immune from a civil
complaint, the relief to be granted is to have the complaint
dismissed or to have a writ of prohibition issued to stop further
(d) In the case of a subpoena that seeks to improperly
question a legislator's conduct as to legislative acts, to depose
a legislator or to seek disclosure as to any matters pertaining to
the memoranda, documents or actions by a legislator which are or
were in connection with the legislative process, the subpoenas may
be quashed or the court may grant a motion for a protective order.
WVC 4 - 1 A- 15 §4-1A-15. Right to interlocutory appeal.
Denial of a claim of legislative immunity is immediately
appealable under the collateral order doctrine because the Speech
or Debate Clause is designed to protect legislators not only from
the consequences of litigation's results but also from the burden
of defending themselves.
WVC 4 - 1 A- 16 §4-1A-16. Common law regarding legislative immunity not affected
by the enactment of this article.
The Legislature of the State of West Virginia, in codifying
certain elements and doctrines of the common law regarding
legislative immunity through the enactment of this article, does
not intend to narrow the common law definition of legislative
immunity that is afforded the Legislature under the speech or
debate privilege and the separation or division of powers, and does
not, with the enactment of this article, otherwise revoke or
abrogate any portion of the common law. This article shall not be
construed so as to narrow, restrict, revoke or abrogate the common
WVC -2- ARTICLE 2. LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR; POWERS; FUNCTIONS; DUTIES; COMPENSATION.
WVC 4-2-1 §4-2-1. Purpose of article.
The purpose of this article is to provide for the more
expeditious and efficient study and management of the financial
problems which at each session confront the Legislature, and to
provide a tighter and more economical control by the Legislature
over the revenues and expenditures of the state.
WVC 4-2-2 §4-2-2. Definitions.
For the purposes of this article: "Committee" means the joint
committee on government and finance of the Senate and House of
"Full performance evaluation" means to determine for an agency
whether or not the agency is operating in an efficient and
effective manner and to determine whether or not there is a
demonstrable need for the continuation of the agency, pursuant to
the provisions of section ten, article ten of this chapter.
"Post audit" is the audit or review of governmental finances
after they have been completed. The scope of a post audit includes
audit or review of transactions pertaining to the financial
operations of the various agencies of government on the state
level, with verification of state revenues at the source and audit
of expenditures all the way through the work to the recipient or
beneficiary of the service.
"Preliminary performance review" means to determine for an
agency whether or not the agency is performing in an efficient and
demonstrable need for the continuation of the agency pursuant to
the provisions of section eleven, article ten of this chapter.
"Spending unit" means any department, agency, board,
commission, officer, authority, subdivision or institution of the
state government for or to which an appropriation has been made, or
is to be made by the Legislature.
WVC 4-2-3 §4-2-3. Appointment of legislative auditor; responsibility to Legislature.
There is hereby created the position of legislative auditor
who shall be appointed by the committee to serve at its will and
pleasure. He shall be solely responsible to the Legislature.
WVC 4-2-4 §4-2-4. Duties of auditor; filing reports.
(a) It is the duty of the legislative auditor to compile
fiscal information for the Senate and the House of Delegates, to
make a continuous audit and analysis of the state budget, revenues
and expenditures, during and between sessions of the Legislature,
to make post audits of the revenues and expenditures of the
spending units of the state government, at least once every two
years, if practicable, to report any misapplication of state funds
or erroneous, extravagant or unlawful expenditures by any spending
unit, to ascertain facts and to make recommendations to the
Legislature concerning post-audit findings, the revenues and
expenditures of the state and of the organization and functions of
the state and its spending units.
(b) The legislative auditor may collect, and the department,
agency or board shall pay, any or all of the costs associated with
conducting the post audits from the department, agency or board
being audited, when necessary and desirable. The legislative
auditor shall render to the department, agency or board liable for
the costs a statement of the costs as soon after the costs were
incurred as practicable, and it is the duty of the department,
agency or board to pay promptly in the manner that other claims and
accounts are paid. All money received by the legislative auditor
from this source shall be expended only for the purpose of covering
(c) A copy of each report of audit when completed and
certified shall be filed in the office of the department of finance
and administration as a public record and a copy shall be filed
with the attorney general for any action he or she may consider
WVC 4-2-5 §4-2-5. Powers of auditor.
The legislative auditor shall have the power and authority to
examine the revenues, expenditures and performance of every
spending unit of the state government and for these purposes shall
have the authority, by such means as are necessary, to require any
person holding office in the state government or employed by the
state, to allow him to inspect the properties, equipment,
facilities and records of the various agencies, departments,
subdivisions or institutions of the state government for which
appropriations are to be made or have been made, either before or
after estimates therefor are submitted, and before, during and
after the sessions of the Legislature. Refusal of any person to
allow such inspection shall be reported by the legislative auditor
WVC 4-2-6 §4-2-6. Preparation of budgets and reports.
The legislative auditor shall prepare an appropriate budget
for each spending unit, for each biennium for which appropriations
are sought, in such form and with such itemization and other
information as the committee shall prescribe, at least thirty days
prior to any legislative session, and submit the same to the
committee with the appropriate recommendations, together with such
other findings and reports deemed necessary or required by the
committee. He shall also report to the committee any
misapplication of state funds and any erroneous, extravagant or
unlawful expenditures by any spending unit, together with such
other findings and reports as the committee shall require.
WVC 4-2-7 §4-2-7. Compensation and expenses of auditor.
As compensation for his services the legislative auditor shall
receive a sum to be fixed by the committee. He shall receive, in
addition, the necessary traveling expenses incident to the
WVC 4-2-8 §4-2-8. Assistants and employees.
The legislative auditor may appoint or employ such assistants
or employees as may be necessary for the efficient discharge of his
duties. Appointees and employees shall serve during his will and
pleasure. The number and compensation of such assistants or
employees shall be fixed by the committee.
WVC 4-2-9 §4-2-9. Offices; working space.
The office of the legislative auditor shall be located at the
state capitol and shall be open at all reasonable times for the
All state departments, institutions or other agencies of the
state government shall provide necessary comfortable space for the
purpose of occupancy by employees of the office of the legislative
auditor conducting post audits, full performance evaluations or
preliminary performance reviews in the various departments,
institutions or other agencies of the state, located conveniently
at the state capitol and at the several institutions or other
WVC 4-2-10 §4-2-10. Payment of compensation and expenses.
All compensation and expenses of the legislative auditor and
his assistants and employees shall be paid out of the funds of the
committee, or out of such other appropriations as may be made by
the Legislature therefor.
WVC 4-2-11 §4-2-11. Statutory references; transfer of postaudit functions.
Whenever any statute of the state refers to an officer or
agency of the state whose functions and duties are by this article
transferred to another officer or agency of the state, the
reference shall be understood to be made to the officer or agency,
as the case may be, to which the functions and duties have been
WVC 4-2-12 §4-2-12. Severability.
If any provision hereof or the application thereof to any
person, department or circumstance is held invalid, such
invalidation shall not affect other provisions or applications of
this article which can be given effect without the invalid
WVC -2A- ARTICLE 2A. COMPENSATION FOR AND EXPENSES OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WVC 4-2A-1 PART I. GENERAL.
The purpose of this article is to implement from time to time
the resolutions submitted by the citizens legislative compensation
commission created by section thirty-three, article six of the West
Virginia constitution. For the purposes of this article, the term
"regular session" shall include any extension of a regular session
WVC 4 - 2 A- 2 §4-2A-2. Basic compensation for services; proration.
(a) Beginning in the calendar year two thousand nine and for
each calendar year after that, each member of the Legislature shall
receive as basic compensation for his or her services the sum of
twenty thousand dollars per calendar year, to be paid as provided
in subsection (b) of this section. In addition to the basic
compensation, members shall receive the additional compensations as
are expressly provided in sections three, four and five of this
article. All other increased amounts or new amounts in respect to
the compensation of members of the Legislature, set forth in the
resolution of the Citizens Legislative Compensation Commission,
dated the ninth day of January, two thousand seven, and implemented
in sections two, four, six and eight of this article providing for
new amounts or amounts increased to new amounts greater than those
in force and effect on the first day of January, two thousand
seven, become effective for calendar year two thousand nine and
each calendar year after that: Provided, That increased amounts or
new amounts in respect to the expenses of members of the
Legislature, set forth in said resolution, and implemented in
sections six and eight of this article providing for new amounts or
amounts increased to new amounts greater than those in force and
effect on the first day of January, two thousand seven, become
effective for calendar year two thousand eight and each calendar
(1) In the year two thousand nine, and every fourth year after
(B) Six hundred twenty-five dollars in each of January, May,
June, July, August, September, October and November, payable once
(2) Beginning in two thousand ten, in all years except those
described in subdivision (1) of this subsection:
(A) Five thousand dollars in each of January, February and
March, payable twice a month; and
(B) Six hundred twenty-five dollars in each of April, May,
(c) In the event of the death, resignation or removal of a
member of the Legislature and the appointment and qualification of
his or her successor, the compensation provided in this section for
the month in which the death, resignation or removal of the member
of the Legislature occurs shall be prorated between the original
member and his or her successor on the basis of the number of days
served, including Saturdays and Sundays in the month.
WVC 4 - 2 A- 3 §4-2A-3. Compensation for members of the Legislature during any
extension of regular session or during extraordinary
Each member of the Legislature shall receive, in addition to
the basic compensation provided for in section two of this article,
additional compensation of one hundred fifty dollars per day for
each day of attendance in person upon any business of the Senate or
House of Delegates, as the case may be, on each day upon which the
Senate or House of Delegates is actually called to order during
each extension of regular session or during extraordinary session
of the Legislature. The additional compensation shall be paid from
time to time during any extended session or extraordinary session,
as prescribed by rules established by the legislative auditor.
WVC 4 - 2 A- 4 §4-2A-4. Additional compensation for President of Senate, Speaker
of House of Delegates, majority leaders, minority
leaders, certain committee chairs and selected members
(a) In addition to the basic and additional compensation
provided in sections two and three of this article, the President
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates shall each
receive additional compensation of:
(1) One hundred fifty dollars per day for each day actually
served during any regular, extension of regular or extraordinary
session as presiding officer, including Saturdays and Sundays; and
(2) One hundred fifty dollars per day for attending to
legislative business when the Legislature is not in regular,
extension of regular or extraordinary session and interim
committees are not meeting.
(b) In addition to the basic and additional compensation
provided in sections two and three of this article, the majority
leaders and minority leaders of the Senate and of the House of
Delegates shall each receive additional compensation of fifty
dollars per day for each day actually served during any regular,
extension of regular or during extraordinary session, including
Saturdays and Sundays, as the selected legislative leaders of their
(c) The presiding officer and majority and minority leader
compensation shall be paid, from time to time, during any such session or interim period, as the case may be, as may be prescribed
by rules established by the Legislative Auditor.
(d) In addition to the basic and additional compensation
provided in sections two and three of this article, the
chairpersons of the committees on finance and committees on the
judiciary of the respective houses and up to six additional persons
from each house, to be named by the presiding officer, shall each
receive an additional compensation of one hundred fifty dollars per
day up to a maximum of thirty days for attending to legislative
business when the Legislature is not in regular, extended or
extraordinary session and interim committees are not meeting.
WVC 4 - 2 A- 5 §4-2A-5. Interim compensation for members.
(a) In addition to the basic and any additional compensation
provided for in sections two, three and four of this article, each
member shall receive interim compensation of one hundred fifty
dollars per day for each day actually engaged in the performance of
interim duties as a member of any interim committee between regular
sessions of the Legislature: Provided, That the total additional
interim compensation payable to any member and his or her
replacement, if any, on a committee or commission under the
provisions of this subsection shall not exceed the sum of four
thousand five hundred dollars per calendar year.
(b) In addition to the basic and any additional compensation
provided for in sections two, three and four of this article and
subsection (a) of this section, each member shall receive interim
compensation of one hundred fifty dollars per day for each day
actually engaged in the performance of legislative duties at a
meeting of any statutorily created legislative committee which
meets between regular sessions of the Legislature and outside of
regular interim meetings when authorized by the committee cochairs
and approved by the president of the Senate and the speaker of the
House of Delegates, not to exceed fifteen days per calendar year.
WVC 4 - 2 A- 6 §4-2A-6. Travel expenses.
(a) Each member of the Legislature is entitled to be
reimbursed, upon submission of an expense voucher, for expenses
incurred incident to travel in the performance of his or her duties
as a member of the Legislature or any committee of the Legislature,
whether the committee is operating under general law or resolution,
including, but not limited to, attendance at party caucuses held in
advance of the date of the assembly of the Legislature in regular
session in odd-numbered years for the purpose of selecting
candidates for officers of the two houses, at a rate equal to that
paid by the travel management office of the Department of
Administration for the most direct usually traveled route, if
travel is by private automobile, or for actual transportation costs
for direct route travel, if travel is by public carrier, or for any
combination of those means of transportation actually used, plus
the cost of necessary taxi or limousine service, tolls and parking
fees in connection with the travel, but during any regular,
extension of regular or extraordinary session, travel expenses
shall not be paid to any member for more than one round trip to and
from the seat of government and to and from his or her place of
residence for each week of the session.
(b) In addition to the travel expense in subsection (a) of
this section, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Delegates are entitled to be reimbursed as provided in
subsection (a) of this section, upon submission of an expense voucher, for expenses incurred incident to travel which is related
to their duties as presiding officers of the respective houses of
the Legislature, but which takes place when the Legislature is not
in regular, extension of regular or extraordinary session and
interim committees are not meeting.
(c) The rate paid for mileage pursuant to this section may
change from time to time in accordance with changes in the
reimbursement rates established by the travel management office of
the Department of Administration, or its successor agency.
WVC 4 - 2 A- 7 §4-2A-7. Reimbursement for expenses incurred during any session or
interim assignment.
(a) Each member of the Legislature who does not commute daily
shall receive the sum of one hundred thirty-one dollars per day as
per diem allowance in connection with any regular, extended,
extraordinary session, interim assignment or for any member
authorized by the presiding officer. Any member of the Legislature
who does commute daily shall receive the sum of fifty-five dollars
per day as the per diem allowance and, in addition to the
allowance, shall be reimbursed for overnight commuting expenses at
the mileage rate equal to the amount paid by the travel management
office of the Department of Administration for the most direct
usually traveled route, if travel is by private automobile, or for
actual transportation costs for direct route travel, if travel is
by public carrier, or for any combination of the means of
transportation actually used, plus the costs of necessary taxi or
limousine service, tolls and parking fees in connection with the
travel: Provided, That the total of this per diem allowance plus
travel expense for a daily commuting member may not exceed one
hundred thirty-one dollars per day. The amount for mileage paid
pursuant to this subsection may change from time to time in
accordance with changes in the level of reimbursement by the travel
(b) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
of Delegates, the chairman of the house committee on finance, the chairman of the senate committee on finance, the chairman of the
house committee on the judiciary, the chairman of the senate
committee on the judiciary, and up to six additional persons from
each house designated by the presiding officer pursuant to section
four of this article, shall be reimbursed for travel at the rate
established in subsection (a) of this section, and shall further
receive the per diem allowance established in the subsection in
connection with business which is related to their duties as
officers at the times when the Legislature is not in regular,
extended or extraordinary session, and interim committees are not
WVC 4 - 2 A- 8 §4-2A-8. Out-of-state expenses.
In addition to reimbursement for travel expenses as authorized
in section six of this article, each member of the Legislature
traveling from West Virginia to an out-of-state point or points and
returning incident to the performance of his or her duties as a
member of the Legislature or any committee of the Legislature,
where the travel has been duly authorized, is entitled to be
reimbursed, upon submission of an expense voucher for the travel,
for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred
incident to the travel, but the total of any and all reimbursed
expenses, exclusive of reimbursement for travel expenses, shall not
under any circumstances exceed the actual cost of housing at the
least expensive available single rate and meal and miscellaneous
expenses of fifty-five dollars per day. A receipt for the amount
paid for housing and for travel by any public transportation to and
from West Virginia shall be submitted with the expense voucher, but
a receipt is not required to be submitted with any expense voucher
for meal and miscellaneous expenses.
WVC 4-2A-9 §4-2A-9.
WVC 4-2A-10 §4-2A-10. Affidavits required; approval by legislative auditor of vouchers; travel and lodging expenses within
Charleston not reimbursable; rules authorized.
Any expense voucher submitted pursuant to the provisions of
sections six, seven, eight or nine of this article must be verified
by the affidavit of the member incurring such expense and all such
expense vouchers shall be approved by the legislative auditor prior
to submission for payment.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article to the
contrary, no member of the Legislature who resides within the
corporate limits of the city of Charleston may be reimbursed under
this article for any travel and lodging expenses incurred within
such corporate limits.
The legislative auditor is hereby authorized to adopt, amend
and repeal such rules as may be necessary to implement or
WVC 4 - 2 B- ARTICLE 2B. WORK GROUPS.
WVC 4 - 2 B- 1 §4-2B-1. Job creation work groups.
(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,
(A) An extensive reduction of business tax burdens, workers'
compensation reform, and significant investment in university
(B) Providing new and expanding businesses with technical and
financial assistance to train, retrain and upgrade the skills of
(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
(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
(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.
WVC -3- ARTICLE 3. JOINT COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AND FINANCE.
WVC 4-3-1 §4-3-1. Continued as statutory body; composition; appointment and
The joint committee on government and finance, heretofore
existing under a joint rule of the Senate and House of Delegates,
is hereby continued as a statutory body. This committee shall be
composed of seven members of the Senate, six of whom shall be
appointed by the president of the Senate, and seven members of the
House of Delegates, six of whom shall be appointed by the speaker
of the House of Delegates. The six members appointed by the
president of the Senate shall include the majority leader of the
Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the chairman of the
Senate committee on the judiciary and the chairman of the Senate
committee on finance. The six members appointed by the speaker of
the House of Delegates shall include the majority leader of the
House of Delegates, the minority leader of the House of Delegates,
the chairman of the house committee on the judiciary and the
chairman of the house committee on finance. The president of the
Senate and the speaker of the House of Delegates shall be members
of the committee and cochairmen thereof. Not more than five
members of the committee from each house shall be members of the
same political party: Provided, That in the event the membership
of a political party is less than fifteen percent in the House of
Delegates or Senate, then the membership of that political party
from the legislative house with less than fifteen percent
membership may be one from that house. The members shall serve until their successors shall have been appointed as heretofore
WVC 4-3-2 §4-3-2. Expenses of committee; compensation of members.
The expenses of the committee shall be paid from the
contingent fund of the Senate and contingent fund of the House of
Delegates in equal amounts. The members of the committee shall
receive no remuneration for their services, other than actual
expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties hereunder as
WVC 4-3-3 §4-3-3. Powers and duties generally; report to Legislature; office.
It shall be the duty of the committee to consider matters
referred to it by legislative resolution, and to study and survey
matters of government, finance, and claims against the state and to
make a report of its studies, findings and such recommendations as
it may deem proper and as well all expenditures of said committee
to regular annual sessions of the Legislature. The committee is
hereby vested with power and authority to employ and supervise the
legislative auditor, as provided in article two of this chapter;
and to employ other technical and clerical personnel as may from
time to time be necessary; and to establish a legislative reference
library. The committee shall be vested with and authorized to
exercise all powers granted such committee by legislative
resolution, and the statutes and constitution of the state of West
Virginia. The committee may function and exercise any power
granted it either during the interim periods between sessions of
the Legislature or while the Legislature is in session. The office
of said committee shall be maintained at the state capitol.
WVC 4-3-3a §4-3-3a. Interim powers and duties.
meetings between regular sessions of the Legislature of all
legislative committees and legislative commissions established by
and operating under general law and shall authorize interim
meetings of said committees and commissions.
The joint committee on government and finance shall study and
survey matters of government, finance and claims against the state
as authorized by section three, article three, chapter four. In
addition, the joint committee may make studies it was directed to
make by concurrent resolutions heretofore adopted by the
Legislature and continued for additional study by the joint
committee by concurrent resolutions adopted by the Legislature. The joint committee may make these studies by creation of
The joint committee may commission studies to be made jointly
by appropriate standing committees of each house of the Legislature
between regular sessions of the Legislature.
WVC 4-3-3b §4-3-3b. Duty of the joint committee on government and finance with respect to the statewide reappraisal to be completed on the thirty-first day of March, one thousand nine hundred eighty-five.
The joint committee is hereby directed to study during the
calendar years one thousand nine hundred eighty-three and one
thousand nine hundred eighty-four, any and all matters upon which
legislation is required by the property tax limitation and
homestead exemption amendment of one thousand nine hundred
eighty-two and any matters upon which, in the joint committee's
judgment legislation may become necessary with respect thereto,
including a study of the desirability of this state converting, for
purposes of determining the property subject to ad valorem property
taxation, to an averaged annual value method or pro rata value
method as opposed to a tax-status-day value method. The committee
shall report to the Legislature any recommendations which it may
deem proper, along with legislation to effectuate those
WVC 4-3-3C §4-3-3c. Reorganization of joint legislative agencies.
(a) The joint committee on government and finance has the
authority over and direction of joint legislative agencies,
personnel and services, including, but not limited to, the
(1) The commission on special investigations provided for in
article five, chapter four of this code;
(2) The court of claims provided for in article two and crime
victims compensation provided for in article two-a, chapter
fourteen of this code;
(3) The legislative auditor provided for in article two,
chapter four of this code;
(4) The legislative rule-making review committee provided for
in article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code;
(5) The legislative reference library provided for in section
three of this article;
(9) Joint services provided by one or more of the joint
agencies set forth in this subsection. The following joint
(D) Financial, payroll, personnel and purchasing for joint
agencies and personnel;
(F) Post audits, full performance evaluations and preliminary
(H) Joint services to other joint legislative committees
created and authorized by this code, to joint standing committees
of the Senate and House of Delegates, to standing committees of the
Senate and House of Delegates and to legislative interim
contrary, the joint committee on government and finance has the
authority to reorganize and restructure the joint legislative
agencies, personnel and services as provided in subsection (a) of
this section for the purposes of improving their efficiency and the
service they provide to the Legislature and to improve the
management thereof by the joint committee. To accomplish these
purposes, the joint committee may create divisions as it determines
necessary and transfer and assign the joint agencies, personnel and
services to the divisions. The divisions, joint agencies,
personnel and services shall operate under the direction and
policies of the joint committee: Provided, That nothing in this
section shall be construed to permit the joint committee to alter
or redefine the powers, duties and responsibilities vested in the
commission on special investigations pursuant to article five of
WVC 4-3-4 §4-3-4. Access to records of state agency or department; public
hearings; meetings; administering oaths to persons
testifying; compelling access to records and attendance
of witnesses; production of evidence.
For the purpose of obtaining information in conjunction with
the formulation of new laws or the revision of existing laws or in
conjunction with any investigation or survey, the committee, or an
employee duly authorized by the committee, shall have access to any
and all records of every agency or department of the state.
In addition to its regular and special meetings, the
committee, or any employee duly authorized by the committee, is
empowered to hold public hearings in furtherance of the purposes
authorized by this article, at such times and places within the
state as may be desirable, and either cochairman or any member of
the committee shall have the power to administer oaths to persons
testifying at such hearings or meetings.
By subpoena, issued over the signature of either cochairman of
the committee and served in the manner provided by law, the
committee may summon and compel the attendance of witnesses and
their examination under oath and the production of all books,
papers, documents and records necessary or convenient to be
examined and used by the committee in the performance of its
duties. If any witness subpoenaed to appear at any hearing or
meeting shall refuse to appear or to answer inquiries there
propounded, or shall fail or refuse to produce books, papers, documents or records within his or her control when the same are
demanded, the committee in its discretion may enforce obedience to
its subpoena by attachment, fine or imprisonment, as provided in
section five, article one of this chapter; or it may report the
facts to the circuit court of Kanawha County or any other court of
competent jurisdiction and such court shall compel obedience to the
subpoena as though such subpoena had been issued by such court in
WVC 4 - 3 - 5 §4-3-5. Computer subscriber system.
(a) The joint committee on government and finance is
authorized to provide information from portions of the
Legislature's computer data to persons through the internet, or
through other means approved by the committee, for noncommercial
use, with or without charge. The committee may charge and collect
fees for providing or licensing portions of the data maintained in
the Legislature's computer databases to persons requesting the
(b) The joint committee on government and finance shall, prior
to the twelfth day of January, two thousand, consider how best to
provide, through the internet or other means, free public-access to
appropriate information maintained in the Legislature's computer
databases. The committee shall consider providing free public
access through the internet, or other appropriate means, to bill
status information, the text of pending bills, the daily journals
of the House of Delegates and the Senate, the West Virginia code,
and any other information determined appropriate by the committee,
all as maintained by the Legislature in its computer databases. In
determining what information to which to provide free access, the
committee shall consider how the access may affect the integrity,
security and functionality of the Legislature's computer system and
its primary use of supporting its legislative functions.
(c) No part of the information contained in the Legislature's
computer system databases in its magnetic or electronic form is a public record as that term is defined in section two, article one,
chapter twenty-nine-b of this code. Notwithstanding any provisions
of section three, article one, chapter twenty-nine-b of this code
to the contrary, the Legislature may not be required or compelled
to allow access to all or a portion of its databases for inspection
and copying and may not be required to make available copies of all
or a portion of its databases on magnetic or electronic media.
WVC -4- ARTICLE 4. CITIZENS HEARING COMMITTEE.
WVC 4-4-1 to 4-4-3 §§4-4-1 to 4-4-3.
Acts, 1991 Reg. Sess., Ch. 71.
WVC -5- ARTICLE 5. COMMISSION ON SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS.
WVC 4-5-1 §4-5-1. Commission continued as "commission on special
investigations"; composition; appointment and terms of
The purchasing practices and procedures commission, heretofore
created, shall continue in existence but on and after the effective
date of this section shall be named and designated the "commission
on special investigations." The commission shall continue to be
composed of five members of the Senate, to be appointed by the
president thereof, no more than three of whom shall be from the
same political party; and five members of the House of Delegates,
to be appointed by the speaker thereof, no more than three of whom
shall be appointed from the same political party: Provided, That
in the event the membership of a political party is less than
fifteen percent in the House of Delegates or Senate, then the
membership of that political party from the legislative house with
less than fifteen percent membership may be one from that house. The commission shall be headed by two cochairmen, one to be
selected by and from the members appointed from the Senate, and one
to be selected by and from the members appointed from the House of
Delegates. All members of the commission shall serve until their
successors shall have been appointed as heretofore provided.
WVC 4 - 5 - 2 §4-5-2. Powers and duties generally.
(a) The Commission on Special Investigations shall have the
power, duty and responsibility, upon a majority vote of the members
appointed, to:
(1) Conduct a comprehensive and detailed investigation into
the purchasing practices and procedures of the state;
(2) Determine if there is reason to believe that the laws or
public policy of the state in connection with purchasing practices
and procedures have been violated or are inadequate;
(3) Determine if any criminal or civil statutes relating to
the purchasing practices and procedures in this state are necessary
to protect and control the expenditures of money by the state;
(4) Investigate or examine any matter involving conflicts of
interest, bribery of state officials, malfeasance, misfeasance or
nonfeasance in office by any employee or officer of the state;
(5) Conduct comprehensive and detailed investigations to
determine if any criminal or civil statutes have been violated at
any level of state government;
(6) Determine whether to recommend criminal prosecution or
civil action for any violation, either criminal or civil, at any
level of state government and, if it is determined that action is
necessary, to make appropriate recommendation to the Attorney
General, prosecuting attorney or other authority empowered to act
on such recommendation; and
(7) Make such written reports to the members of the Legislature between sessions thereof as the commission may deem
advisable and on the first day of each regular session of the
Legislature make an annual report to the Legislature containing the
commission's findings and recommendations including in such report
drafts of any proposed legislation which it deems necessary to
carry such recommendations into effect.
(b) The commission is also expressly empowered and authorized
(1) Sit during any recess of the Senate and House of
(2) Recommend to the judge of any circuit court that a grand
jury be convened pursuant to the provisions of section fourteen,
article two, chapter fifty-two of this code, to consider any matter
which the commission may deem in the public interest and, in
support thereof, make available to such court and such grand jury
the contents of any reports, files, transcripts of hearings or
other evidence pertinent thereto;
(3) Employ such legal, technical, investigative, clerical,
stenographic, advisory and other personnel as it deems needed and,
within the appropriation herein specified, fix reasonable
compensation of such persons and firms as may be employed: Provided, That such personnel as the commission may determine shall
have the authority to administer oaths and take affidavits and
depositions anywhere in the state.
(4) Consult and confer with all persons and agencies, public (whether federal, state or local) and private, that have
information and data pertinent to an investigation; and all state
and local governmental personnel and agencies shall cooperate to
the fullest extent with the commission;
(5) Call upon any department or agency of state or local
government for such services, information and assistance as it may
deem advisable; and
(6) Refer such matters as are appropriate to the office of the
United States attorney and cooperate with such office in the
disposition of matters so referred.
contrary, specific personnel may be designated by the commission to
carry a firearm in the course of performing his or her official
duties: Provided, That as a precondition of being authorized to
carry a concealed weapon in the course of their official duties,
any such designated personnel must have first successfully
completed a firearms training and certification program which is
equivalent to that which is required of members of the state
police. The designated persons must also possess a license to
carry a concealed deadly weapon in the manner prescribed in article
seven, chapter sixty-one of this code.
WVC 4-5-3 §4-5-3. Executive sessions; hearings; subpoena power; enforcement provisions.
The commission shall have the power and authority to hold
executive sessions for the purpose of establishing business,
policy, an agenda and the interrogation of a witness or witnesses: Provided, That if a witness desires a public or open hearing he
shall have the right to demand the same and shall not be heard
otherwise: Provided, however, That if a witness desires a hearing
in an executive session, he shall have the right to demand the same
and shall not be heard otherwise. However, members of the staff of
the commission may be permitted to attend executive sessions with
The commission is hereby empowered and authorized to examine
witnesses and to subpoena such persons and books, records,
documents, papers or any other tangible things as it believes
should be examined to make a complete investigation. All witnesses
appearing before the commission shall testify under oath or
affirmation, and any member of the commission may administer oaths
or affirmations to such witnesses. To compel the attendance of
witnesses at such hearings or the production of any books, records,
documents, papers or any other tangible thing, the commission is
hereby empowered and authorized to issue subpoenas, signed by one
of the cochairmen, in accordance with section five, article one,
chapter four of this code. Such subpoenas shall be served by any
person authorized by law to serve and execute legal process and
service shall be made without charge. Witnesses subpoenaed to
attend hearings shall be allowed the same mileage and per diem as is allowed witnesses before any petit jury in this state.
If any person subpoenaed to appear at any hearing shall refuse
to appear or to answer inquiries there propounded, or shall fail or
refuse to produce books, records, documents, papers or any other
tangible thing within his control when the same are demanded, the
commission shall report the facts to the circuit court of Kanawha
county or any other court of competent jurisdiction and such court
may compel obedience to the subpoena as though such subpoena had
been issued by such court in the first instance.
WVC 4-5-4 §4-5-4. Compensation and expenses of members; other expenses; how
paid; joint committee approval.
The members of the commission shall receive travel, interim
and out-of-state expenses, as authorized in sections six, eight and
nine, article two-a, chapter four of this code. Such expenses and
all other expenses including those incurred in the employment of
legal, technical, investigative, clerical, stenographic, advisory
and other personnel shall be paid from the appropriation under
"Account No. 103 for Joint Expenses," but no expense of any kind
whatever shall be incurred unless the approval of the joint
committee on government and finance therefor is first had and
obtained by the commission.
WVC 4-5-5 §4-5-5. Investigations exempt from public disclosure requirements.
The investigations conducted by the commission and the
materials placed in the files of the commission as a result of any
such investigation are exempt from public disclosure under the
provisions of chapter twenty-nine-b of this code.
WVC 4-5-6 §4-5-6. False statements to commission.
(a) A person is guilty of making a false statement to the
commission on special investigations when:
(1) Such person, with the intent to impede the commission or
to impede an investigator of the commission acting in the lawful
exercise of his or her official duties, knowingly and willfully
makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or
representation, or makes or uses any false writing or document
knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious or fraudulent
(2) Such statement, representation, writing or document is
made or given to the commission or an investigator of the
commission acting in the lawful exercise of his or her official
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section are not
applicable to a person in the relation of husband and wife, parent
or grandparent, child or grandchild, brother or sister, by
consanguinity or affinity, of an individual who is the subject of
an investigation by the commission.
fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand
dollars, or confined in jail for not more than one year, or both,
WVC -6- ARTICLE 6. BLENNERHASSETT HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
WVC 4-6-0 to 4-6-7 §§4-6-1 to 4-6-7.
WVC -7- ARTICLE 7. LEGISLATIVE BUILDING COMMISSION.
WVC 4-7-1 §4-7-1. Definitions.
(1) "Commission" means the legislative building commission of
West Virginia or if said commission shall be abolished, any board
or officer succeeding to the principal functions thereof, or to
whom the powers given to said commission shall be given by law.
(2) "Bonds" means bonds issued by the state building
commission of West Virginia pursuant to this article.
construction, equipping and furnishing of a state legislative
building together with incidental approaches, structures and
facilities to, adjacent or around it.
properly incidental to the project.
WVC 4-7-2 §4-7-2. Legislative building commission created; its composition; appointment of members; vacancies; election of officers;
There is hereby created the legislative building commission of
West Virginia as a body corporate and agency of the state of West
Virginia. The commission shall consist of seven members and shall
be comprised of two persons who have previously served in the
Senate, who shall be appointed by the president of the Senate; two
persons who have previously served in the House of Delegates, who
shall be appointed by the speaker of the House of Delegates; and
three persons who shall be appointed by the governor. No member of
the commission shall otherwise be an officer, employee or member of
the executive, legislative or judicial branches of federal or state
government or any political subdivision thereof. Persons appointed
to the commission shall be residents and citizens of the state. All appointments made pursuant to the provisions of this article
shall be by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
All commission members shall be appointed no later than the
first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-two, and they
shall continue to serve until the completion of the duties assigned
Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the commission
shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as provided for
the initial appointments.
The members of the commission annually shall elect from their
number a chairman, vice chairman and secretary. Each commission
member shall be paid compensation of thirty-five dollars for each day or substantial part thereof that he is engaged in the work of
the commission and shall, in addition thereto, be reimbursed for
all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the
performance of his duties as such commission member.
WVC 4-7-3 §4-7-3. Powers and duties of commission generally.
commission or of the state, by purchase, eminent domain, or
otherwise, a suitable site in the city of Charleston, state of West
Virginia, for a state legislative building, related facilities and
grounds, including real property, rights and easements necessary
for this purpose, or to use any suitable site which may be owned by
the state and available and designated for this purpose and to
construct a state legislative building on such site and equip and
furnish said building.
(4) To contract to acquire and to acquire and hold, in the
name of the commission or of the state, services, materials,
furnishings, and equipment required in connection with the
location, design, construction, furnishing and equipping of the
(6) With the consent of the attorney general of the state, to
use the facilities of his office, assistants and employees in all
legal matters relating to or pertaining to the commission; or use
legal services made available by the Legislature and its staff; or
if necessary employ attorneys-at-law.
(7) To employ architects to prepare plans for the state
legislative building, to assist and advise the architects in the
preparation of those plans and to approve on behalf of the state
all plans for the state legislative building.
(8) To make all contracts and execute all instruments
exercise the powers granted to it by the provisions of this
(9) To accept and expend any gift, grant or contribution of
money or any other thing to, or for the benefit of the commission,
from the state or any other source for the purposes specified in
(10) To supervise generally the location, construction,
furnishing and equipping of the state legislative building.
(11) To report to the Legislature at each regular session
thereof and at the same time report to the governor concerning the
action taken by the commission during the previous year in carrying
out the provisions of this article and make such special reports as
may be required by the Legislature and governor.
WVC 4-7-4 §4-7-4. Commission granted power of eminent domain.
Whenever the commission finds it necessary to acquire land,
rights-of-way or easements in order to carry out the purposes of
this article, and the commission is unable to purchase the same
from the owners at an agreed price, or is unable to obtain a good
and sufficient title therefor by purchase from the owners, then the
commission may exercise the right of eminent domain and acquire any
such lands, rights-of-way or easements necessary for the aforesaid
purpose by condemnation in the manner prescribed in chapter
fifty-four of this code.
WVC 4-7-5 §4-7-5. Funds and expenditures of commission.
To pay the compensation and expenses incurred by its members,
to build, furnish and equip the state legislative building, and to
carry out the provisions of this article, the commission may expend
any general or special revenues, profits, fees or charges
designated and appropriated by act of the Legislature for such
purposes and proceeds of revenue bonds issued under authority of
the state building commission of West Virginia for such purposes.
Before any such revenue bonds are issued by the state building
commission of West Virginia, the Legislature, by its act, shall
increase the aggregate amount of all issues of bonds outstanding at
one time for all projects authorized under authority of said
commission if such action is necessary to permit issuance of
revenue bonds in the amount required to construct, equip and
furnish the state legislative building. Before any revenue bonds
or other obligations are issued or incurred by the state building
commission of West Virginia for said purpose, the Legislature
shall, by adoption of a concurrent resolution, approve the purpose
and amount of the revenue bonds or obligations. Revenue bonds
issued as herein provided shall be issued in accordance with the
provisions of article six, chapter five of this code.
WVC 4-7-6 §4-7-6. Deposit and disbursement of funds of commission; security for deposits; audits.
All moneys of the commission from whatever source derived
shall be paid to the treasurer of the state of West Virginia, who
shall not commingle said moneys with any other moneys, but shall
deposit them in a separate bank account or accounts. The moneys in
said accounts shall be impressed with and subject to the lien or
liens thereon in favor of the bondholders provided in the
proceedings for issuance of bonds pursuant to this article. The
moneys in said accounts shall be paid out on check of the treasurer
on requisition of the chairman of the commission. All deposits of
such moneys shall, if required by the treasurer or the commission,
be secured by obligations of the United States, of the state of
West Virginia, or of the commission, of a market value equal at all
times to the amount of the deposit, and all banking institutions
are authorized to give such security for such deposits. The state
auditor and his legally authorized representatives are hereby
authorized and empowered from time to time to examine the accounts
and books of the commission, including its receipts, disbursements,
contracts, leases, sinking funds, investments and any other matters
relating to its financial standing.
WVC 4-7-7 §4-7-7. Contracts for construction of state legislative building, etc.; to be secured by bond; competitive bids required for contracts exceeding two thousand dollars; procedure.
The commission shall construct the state legislative building
pursuant to a contract or contracts. Every such contract shall be
secured by a bond meeting the requirements of section thirty-nine,
article two, chapter thirty-eight of this code.
No contract or contracts for the construction of the building
or any approaches, structures or facilities incidental thereto, or
for the equipping and furnishing of the building, when the
anticipated expenditure therefor will exceed the sum of two
competitive sealed bids. Such bids shall be obtained by public
notice soliciting such bids published as a Class II legal
publication shall be Kanawha county. The publication shall be
completed at least fourteen days prior to the final date for the
submission of bids. The commission may in addition to such
publication also solicit sealed bids by sending requests by mail to
prospective bidders. The contract shall be awarded to the lowest
responsible bidder, unless any and all bids are rejected, in which
event new bids shall be sought by again publishing notice as
aforesaid. Any bid, with the name of the bidder, shall be entered
on a record and each record, with the successful bid indicated thereon, shall, after the award of any contract, be open to public
WVC 4-7-8 §4-7-8. Management and control of state legislative building. Notwithstanding the provisions of section eleven, article six,
chapter five of this code, the commission shall properly maintain,
repair, manage, operate and control the state legislative building;
promulgate bylaws, rules and regulations, in accordance with the
provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a, for the use and operation of
the building; and may make and enter into all contracts or
agreements necessary and incidental for the performance of its
duties and the execution of its powers under this article, unless
or until another agency, board or commission is designated by law
to perform such duties and assume such responsibilities.
WVC 4-7-9 §4-7-9. Article not authority to create state debt.
WVC 4-7-10 §4-7-10. This article, article six, chapter five, and the state constitution are only restrictions on construction, etc., of building.
proceedings whatever, either for the construction of a state
legislative building, or the improvement, maintenance, operation or
repair thereof, or for the issuance of bonds hereunder, except such
as are prescribed by this article; article six, chapter five of
this code; or the constitution of the state.
WVC 4-7-11 §4-7-11. Severability.
WVC -8- ARTICLE 8. CAPITOL BUILDING COMMISSION.
WVC 4 - 8 - 1 §4-8-1. Creation; composition; qualifications.
(a) The Capitol Building Commission is continued, and is
composed of nine members, five of which are appointed by the
Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(b) One member is appointed by the President of the Senate,
one member is appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates,
one member is appointed by the Supreme Court of Appeals, plus the
Secretary of the Department of Administration, who are all
(c) Of the members appointed by the Governor, no more than
three members may be of the same political party. One member shall
be an architect selected from three persons recommended by the
Board of Architects, one member shall be a registered professional
engineer selected from three persons recommended by the Board of
Engineers, one member is the Commissioner of the Division of
Culture and History, who is the chairperson of the commission. Two
members shall be selected from the public at large.
WVC 4-8-2 §4-8-2. Terms of members; vacancies; meetings; decisions of commission.
Members shall be appointed for terms of four years and may be
reappointed at the expiration of their terms. In the event of a
vacancy, an appointment shall be made to fill the unexpired term. Whenever the approval of the commission is requested, as required
by sections four and five of this article, the commission shall
meet and render its decision, in writing, within ninety days of the
filing with the commission of such request.
WVC 4-8-3 §4-8-3. Officers; expenses.
The capitol building commission shall organize by electing a
chairman, a vice chairman and a secretary from among the members of
the commission. The members of the commission shall serve without
compensation and shall be reimbursed for such necessary travel
expenses, subsistence and other reasonable expenses as may be
actually incurred by them in the performance of their duties, all
to be paid by the joint committee on government and finance.
WVC 4-8-4 §4-8-4. Powers and duties generally.
The capitol building commission shall review and approve or
reject all plans recommending substantial physical changes inside
or outside the state capitol building or surrounding complex,
including the public meeting rooms, hallways and grounds, which
affect the appearance thereof. The approval of the commission is
mandatory before a contract may be let for work which constitutes
a substantial physical change, or before changes are started if the
work is not done under a contract. As used in this article, the
surrounding complex shall include the governor's mansion and other
buildings used by the governor as part of his residence, the state
science and cultural center, all state office buildings located in
the immediate vicinity of the state capitol, and the roadways,
structures and facilities which are incidental to such buildings. As used in this article, substantial physical change shall include,
but not be limited to, permanent physical changes that alter the
appearance of the public areas of the capitol building and
surrounding complex. The secretary of the department of
administration shall promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to
the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, which rules
and regulations shall be subject to the approval of the capitol
building commission, to implement the provisions of this article.
WVC 4-8-5 §4-8-5. Contracts and changes requiring commission approval. No contract or contracts which will result in physical changes
to the capitol building or any approaches, structures or facilities
incidental thereto shall be let, nor shall any physical changes be
made not requiring a contract, until approval of the commission has
WVC 4 - 8 - 6 §4-8-6.
WVC -9- ARTICLE 9. LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT.
WVC 4-9-1 to 4-9-8 §§4-9-1 to 4-9-8.
Acts, 1993 Reg. Sess., Ch. 86.
WVC -11- ARTICLE 11. LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION OF FEDERAL FUNDS.
WVC 4-11-1 §4-11-1. Legislative findings and purpose.
The Legislature finds and declares that in order to carry out
its responsibility for the enactment of all appropriations needed
for the operation of state government, the Legislature needs
continuous and accurate accounts of the amounts and purposes of all
federal funds being requested, received or expended by the various
agencies and departments of the state. The Legislature further
finds and declares that the increased availability of and reliance
on federal financial assistance has a substantial impact upon the
programs, priorities and fiscal affairs of the state. It is the
purpose of this article to clarify and specify the role of the
Legislature in appropriating federal funds received by the state
and in prescribing, by general law, the required form and detail of
the itemization and classification of proposed appropriations to
assure that state purposes are served and legislative priorities
are adhered to by the acceptance and use of such funds.
WVC 4-11-2 §4-11-2. Definitions.
(1) "Federal funds" means any financial assistance made to a
spending unit by the United States government, whether a loan,
grant, subsidy, augmentation, reimbursement or any other form of
such assistance, including "federal-matching funds";
(2) "Federal-matching funds" means federal funds of a
specified amount or proportion for which a specified outlay of
state contributions, including funds, property or services, are
required as a condition for receipt or expenditure;
(3) "Spending unit" means the state of West Virginia and all
agencies, offices, departments, divisions, boards, commissions,
councils, committees or other entities of the state government for
which an appropriation is requested or to which an appropriation is
made by the Legislature. "Spending unit" does not mean any county,
city, township, public service district or other political
subdivision of the state; and
(4) "State-matching funds" means state contributions,
including funds, property or services that are required by the
federal government, by law or regulation, as a condition for
receipt or expenditure of federal funds.
WVC 4-11-3 §4-11-3. Receipt of federal funds and required deposit in state treasury.
Unless contrary to federal law, all federal funds received by
a spending unit shall be deposited in and credited to special fund
accounts as provided by section two, article two, chapter twelve of
this code and shall be available for appropriation by the
Legislature as part of the state budget.
WVC 4-11-4 §4-11-4. Inclusion of federal funds in state budget and the budget bill.
Pursuant to article one-a, chapter five, and chapter five-a
of this code, the governor shall itemize in the state budget and in
the budget bill, on a line-item basis, separately, for each
spending unit, the amount and purpose of all federal funds received
or anticipated for expenditure, with a reference to the account
number, line item and amount of any state funds required for such
purpose: Provided, That all federal revenue sharing funds shall be
so itemized in a separate section of the state budget and the
budget bill devoted exclusively to proposed appropriations from the
revenue sharing trust fund.
WVC 4-11-5 §4-11-5. Legislative appropriation authority.
(a) No spending unit may make expenditures of any federal
funds, whether such funds are advanced prior to expenditure or as
reimbursement, unless such expenditures are made pursuant to
specific appropriations by the Legislature, except as may be
(b) To the extent not precluded by the terms and conditions
under which federal funds are made available to the spending unit
by the United States government, the spending unit shall use
federal funds in accordance with any purposes, policies or
priorities the Legislature may have established for the activity
being assisted or for the use of state, federal and other fiscal
resources in a particular fiscal year.
(c) If the federal funds received by a spending unit for a
specific purpose are greater than the amount of such funds
contained in the appropriation by the Legislature for such purpose,
the total appropriation of federal funds and any state matching
funds for such purpose shall remain at the level appropriated,
(d) If federal funds become available to the spending unit for
expenditure while the Legislature is not in session and the
availability of such funds could not reasonably have been
anticipated and included in the budget approved by the Legislature
for the next fiscal year, the treasurer may accept such funds on
behalf of the spending unit and the governor may authorize, in writing, the expenditure of such funds by the spending unit during
that fiscal year as authorized by federal law and pursuant to the
provisions of article two, chapter five-a of the code, which
permits expenditure of amounts in excess of the appropriation upon
the filing of a proper expenditure schedule: Provided, That the
governor may not authorize the expenditure of such funds received
for the creation of a new program or for a significant alteration
of an existing program. For purposes of this article, a mere new
source of funding of federal moneys for a program which has been
prior approved by legislative appropriation will not be deemed to
be a "new program" or a "significant alteration of an existing
program" and the governor may authorize the expenditure of such
funds as herein provided. Should a question arise concerning
whether such expenditures would constitute a new program or
significant alteration of an existing program, while the
Legislature is not in session, the governor shall seek the
recommendation of the council of finance and administration, as
created and existing pursuant to the provisions of section three,
article one, chapter five-a of the code. Upon application to the
federal government for such funds and upon receipt of such funds,
the governor shall submit to the legislative auditor two copies of
(1) Describing the proposed expenditure of such funds in the
same manner as it would be described in the state budget; and
(2) Explaining why the availability of such federal funds and why the necessity of their expenditure could not have been
anticipated in time for such expenditures to have been approved as
part of the adopted budget for that particular fiscal year.
WVC 4-11-6 §4-11-6. Exclusions.
The following are excluded from the provisions of this
(1) Federal funds received by state institutions of higher
education or by students or faculty members of such institutions
for instructional or research purposes and federal funds received
for student scholarships or grants-in-aid;
(2) Federal nondiscretionary pass-through funds which are
earmarked in specified amounts or proportions for transmittal to
local political subdivisions or to designated classes of
organizations and individuals which do not require state-matching
funds and do not permit discretion in their distribution by the
receiving state spending unit;
(3) Federal funds made available to the state for costs and
damages resulting from natural disasters, civil disobedience or
other occurrences declared by the governor as a state of emergency;
(4) All federal funds received by the West Virginia department
of highways or the West Virginia commissioner of highways.
WVC 4-11-7 §4-11-7. Conflict with other statutory provisions.
If there is any conflict between the provisions of this
article and any other provision of this code relating to receiving
or expending federal funds, the provisions of this article shall
WVC 4 - 11 A- ARTICLE 11A. LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION OF TOBACCO SETTLEMENT FUNDS.
WVC 4 - 11 A- 1 §4-11A-1. Legislative findings and purpose.
(a) On the twenty-third day of November, one thousand nine
hundred ninety-eight, tobacco product manufacturers entered into a
settlement agreement with the state. This master settlement
agreement releases those manufacturers from past, present and
specific future claims against them in return for payment of annual
sums of money to the state, obligates the manufacturers to change
their advertising and marketing practices and requires the
establishment by the manufacturers of a national foundation for the
interests of public health.
(b) The revenues received pursuant to the master settlement
agreement are directly related to the past, present and future
costs incurred by the state for the treatment of tobacco-related
illnesses. The receipt of revenues in the future is subject to the
ongoing risk of litigation against manufacturers or other events
that may adversely affect the financial strength of the
manufacturers. The purpose of this article is to preserve the
revenues received from the settlement.
(c) The receipt of funds in accordance with the master
settlement agreement shall be deposited only in accordance with the
(d) The state receives revenue each year under the terms of
the master settlement agreement with the tobacco manufacturers. This revenue is used to fund programs of vital importance to the
people of West Virginia and the Legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the people of this state to protect these revenues
by the sale of the state's share to the Tobacco Settlement Finance
Authority created in section six of this article.
§4-11A-1a. Legislative findings related to securitization of
moneys received pursuant to master settlement
agreement and previously dedicated to the Workers'
Compensation Debt Reduction Fund.
(a) In December, two thousand five, the Governor issued a
proclamation regarding the privatization of the workers'
compensation system pursuant to section eleven, article two-c,
chapter twenty-three of this code, thereby proclaiming that a
revenue source had been secured to satisfy the Old Fund liabilities
(b) A portion of the revenue source secured to satisfy the Old
Fund liabilities as they occur was the first thirty million dollars
received pursuant to section IX(c)(1) of the master settlement
agreement and the anticipated strategic compensation payments to be
received pursuant to section IX(c)(2) of the master settlement
(c) For purposes of the proclamation, it was assumed that the
first thirty million dollars received pursuant to section IX(c)(1)
of the master settlement agreement and the anticipated strategic
compensation payments to be received pursuant to section IX(c)(2)
of the master settlement agreement as calculated pursuant to
subsection (a), section twelve of this article would on a calendar
year basis provide a maximum of forty-five million dollars per year
to satisfy the Old Fund liabilities as they occur;
(d) The Legislature finds and declares that replacing the first thirty million dollars received pursuant to section IX(c)(1)
of the master settlement agreement with fifty million four hundred
thousand dollars pursuant to section eighteen of this article for
the benefit of the Old Fund, in combination with the remaining
portions of the revenue sources secured for the unfunded
liabilities of the Old Fund as established in Enrolled Senate Bill
No. 1004 during the first extraordinary session of the Legislature,
two thousand five, will ensure that a revenue source has been and
will continue to remain secured to satisfy the Old Fund liabilities
as they occur; and thus all conditions precedent to the issuance of
the proclamation by the Governor remain in effect.
WVC 4 - 11 A- 2 §4-11A-2. Receipt of settlement funds and required deposit in West
Virginia Tobacco Settlement Medical Trust Fund until
the first day of June, two thousand five, then to
Workers' Compensation Debt Reduction Fund; deposit of
strategic compensation payments; transfer of trust
fund moneys.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that certain dedicated
revenues should be preserved in trust for the purpose of
stabilizing the state's health-related programs and delivery
systems. It further finds and declares that these dedicated
revenues should be preserved in trust for the purpose of educating
the public about the health risks associated with tobacco usage and
establishing a program designed to reduce and stop the use of
tobacco by the citizens of this state and in particular by
(b) There is hereby created a special account in the State
Treasury, designated the West Virginia Tobacco Settlement Medical
Trust Fund, which shall be an interest-bearing account and may be
invested in the manner permitted by section nine, article six,
chapter twelve of this code, with the interest income a proper
credit to the fund. Unless contrary to federal law, fifty percent
of all revenues received pursuant to the master settlement
agreement shall be deposited in this fund. Funds paid into the
account may also be derived from the following sources:
may be received from any governmental entity or unit or any person,
firm, foundation or corporation;
(3) Any appropriations by the Legislature which may be made
(4) Any funds or accrued interest remaining in the Board of
Risk and Insurance Management Physicians' Mutual Insurance Company
account created pursuant to section seven, article twenty-f,
chapter thirty-three of this code on or after the first day of
July, two thousand four.
(c) (1) The moneys from the principal in the trust fund may
not be expended for any purpose, except that on the first day of
April, two thousand three, the Treasurer shall transfer to the
Board of Risk and Insurance Management Physicians' Mutual Insurance
Company account created by section seven, article twenty-f, chapter
thirty-three of this code, twenty-four million dollars from the
West Virginia Tobacco Settlement Medical Trust Fund for use as the
initial capital and surplus of the Physicians' Mutual Insurance
Company created pursuant to said article. The remaining moneys in
the trust fund resulting from interest earned on the moneys in the
fund and the return on investments of the moneys in the fund shall
be available only upon appropriation by the Legislature as part of
the state budget and expended in accordance with the provisions of
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, on the effective date of the amendment and reenactment of
this section during the regular session of the Legislature in two
thousand six, all moneys in the trust fund and any interest or
other return earned thereon shall be transferred to the revenue
shortfall reserve fund - Part B created in section twenty, article
two, chapter eleven-b of this code and the trust fund shall be
closed. No provisions of the amendments made to this section
during the regular session of the Legislature in two thousand six
may be construed to change the requirements of this section for the
deposit of revenues received pursuant to the master settlement
agreement into the Workers' Compensation Debt Reduction Fund.
(d) Notwithstanding the preceding subsections to the contrary,
the first thirty million dollars of all revenues received after the
thirtieth day of June, two thousand five, pursuant to section
IX(c)(1) of the master settlement agreement shall in the fiscal
year beginning the first day of July, two thousand five, and each
fiscal year thereafter, be deposited in the Workers' Compensation
Debt Reduction Fund established in the State Treasury in section
five, article two-d, chapter twenty-three of this code. Receipts
in excess of thirty million dollars shall be deposited into the
tobacco settlement fund provided in section three of this article.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this code to the contrary,
strategic compensation payments received pursuant to section
IX(c)(2) of the master settlement agreement, beginning in two
thousand eight, shall be deposited in their entirety in the Workers' Compensation Debt Reduction Fund.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this code to the contrary, on
the effective date of the sale of the state's share to the
authority as authorized in this article, the deposits and transfers
provided in this section shall cease and no longer be required.
WVC 4 - 11 A- 3 §4-11A-3. Receipt of settlement funds and required deposit in the
West Virginia Tobacco Settlement Fund.
revenue account, designated the Tobacco Settlement Fund, which
shall be an interest-bearing account and may be invested in the
manner permitted by the provisions of article six, chapter twelve
of this code, with the interest income a proper credit to the fund.
Unless contrary to federal law, fifty percent of all revenues
received pursuant to the master settlement agreement shall be
deposited in this fund. These funds shall be available only upon
appropriation by the Legislature as part of the state budget:
Provided, That for the fiscal year two thousand, the first five
million dollars received into the fund shall be transferred to the
Public Employees Insurance Reserve Fund created in article two,
chapter five-a of this code.
(b) Appropriations from the Tobacco Settlement Fund are
limited to expenditures for the following purposes:
(1) Reserve funds for continued support of the programs
offered by the Public Employees Insurance Agency established in
article sixteen, chapter five of this code;
(2) Funding for expansion of the federal-state Medicaid
program as authorized by the Legislature or mandated by the federal
(3) Funding for public health programs, services and agencies;
(4) Funding for any state-owned or -operated health
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this code to the contrary, on
WVC 4 - 11 A- 4 §4-11A-4. Limitation on appeal bond.
The bond that any appellant who is a signatory or a successor
to a signatory of the master settlement agreement or who controls
or is under common control with a signatory of the master
settlement agreement may be required to post to stay execution on
a judgment during an appeal in any cause of action shall be set in
accordance with the provisions of section fourteen, article five,
chapter fifty-eight of this code and the West Virginia rules of
civil procedure: Provided, That an appeal bond may not exceed one
hundred million dollars for compensatory damages and all other
portions of a judgment other than punitive damages and one hundred
million dollars for punitive damages unless the appellee proves by
a preponderance of the evidence that the appellant or appellants
are purposefully dissipating or diverting assets outside of the
ordinary course of its business to the effect that the ability to
pay the ultimate judgment is impaired. For purposes of this
section, multiple judgments resulting from cases that have been
consolidated or aggregated for purposes of trial proceedings shall
be treated as a single judgment.
WVC 4 - 11 A- 5 §4-11A-5. Applicability.
The provisions of section four of this article, as originally
passed or later amended, apply to all actions pending in the courts
of this state on the effective date of this section and to any
action filed in this state on or after the effective date:
Provided, That the provisions of section four of this article
providing for the maximum amount of an appeal bond shall not apply
in any action brought by any signatory to the master settlement
agreement seeking to enforce compliance with the terms of the
master settlement agreement or for a breach of the master
WVC 4 - 11 A- 6 §4-11A-6. Creation of Tobacco Settlement Finance Authority.
(a) The Tobacco Settlement Finance Authority is hereby created
and constitutes a body corporate and politic, constituting a public
corporation and government instrumentality of the state and the
exercise of its powers pursuant to this article is an essential
(b) The authority shall not create any obligation of this
state or any political subdivision of this state within the meaning
of any constitutional or statutory debt limitation.
(c) The authority shall not pledge the credit or taxing power
of the state or any political subdivision of this state, or make
its debts payable out of any moneys except those of the authority
specifically pledged for their payment.
WVC 4 - 11 A- 7 §4-11A-7. Definitions.
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, as used in
(a) "Authority" means the Tobacco Settlement Finance Authority
(c) "Bonds" means bonds, notes and other obligations and
financing arrangements issued or entered into by the authority
(d) "Complementary legislation" means article nine-d, chapter
(e) "Interest rate agreement" means an interest rate swap or
exchange agreement, an agreement establishing an interest rate
floor or ceiling or both, or any similar agreement. Any agreement
may include the option to enter into or cancel the agreement or to
reverse or extend the agreement.
(f) "Master settlement agreement" means the master settlement
agreement as defined in section one of this article.
(g) "Net proceeds" means the amount of proceeds remaining
following each sale of bonds which are not required by the
authority to establish and fund reserve funds, to fund an operating
expense reserve for the authority, to fund capitalized interest, if
any, and to pay the costs of issuance and other expenses and fees
related to the authorization and issuance of bonds.
(h) "Notes" means notes, warrants, loan agreements and all other forms of evidence of indebtedness authorized under this
(i) "Qualified investments" means investments of the authority
authorized pursuant to this article as established by the authority
pursuant to subdivision (11), subsection (a), section eleven of
(j) "Qualifying statute" has the meaning given that term in
the master settlement agreement, constituting article nine-b,
(k) "Sales agreement" means any agreement authorized pursuant
to this article in which the state provides for the sale of all or
a portion of the state's share to the authority.
(1) All payments required to be made by tobacco product
manufacturers to the state, and the state's rights to receive the
payments, under the master settlement agreement.
(2) The state's rights in any collateral securing or otherwise
assuring the receipt of the moneys.
WVC 4 - 11 A- 8 §4-11A-8. Governing board.
(a) The powers of the authority are vested in and shall be
exercised by a board of five individuals, consisting of the
Secretary of the Department of Administration, who shall act as
chairperson, the Treasurer of the State of West Virginia, and three
individuals, each appointed by the Governor, who shall have skill
and experience in finance.
(c) The members shall elect a vice chairperson and secretary,
annually, and other officers as the members determine necessary.
(d) Meetings of the board shall be held at the call of the
chairperson or when a majority of the members request a meeting.
(e) The members of the board shall not receive compensation by
reason of their membership on the board.
(f) Of the initial appointments made by the Governor to the
authority, two shall be for a term of two years and two shall be
for a term of three years. Members appointed to the authority
subsequent to the initial appointments shall serve for terms of
four years. Any member whose term has expired shall serve until
WVC 4 - 11 A- 9 §4-11A-9. Staff; assistance by state officers, agencies and
(a) The Secretary of the Department of Administration shall
furnish to the authority any secretarial, clerical, technical,
research and other services that are necessary to the conduct of
(b) State officers, agencies and departments may render
services to the authority within their respective functions, as
WVC 4 - 11 A- 10 §4-11A-10. Limitation of liability.
Members of the board and persons acting on the authority's
behalf, while acting within the scope of their employment or
agency, are not subject to personal liability resulting from
carrying out the powers and duties conferred on them under this
WVC 4 - 11 A- 11 §4-11A-11. General powers.
(a) The authority has all the general powers necessary to
carry out its purposes and duties and to exercise its specific
powers, including, but not limited to, the power to:
(1) Enter into sales agreements and acquire by purchase,
grant, lease, gift or otherwise from the state its right, title and
interest in and to the state's share, including, without
limitation, the rights of the state to receive the moneys due to it
under this article and the rights in any collateral securing or
otherwise assuring the receipt of the moneys;
(2) Sell, pledge or assign, as security or consideration, the
state's share sold to the authority pursuant to one or more sales
agreements, to provide for and secure the issuance and repayment of
its bonds or to implement alternative funding options;
(3) Issue and sell one or more series or classes of bonds,
notes or other obligations through public bidding, private
placement or negotiated underwriting to finance the acquisition
referred to in this article;
(4) Refund and refinance the authority's debts and obligations
and to manage its funds, obligations and investments as necessary
and if consistent with its purpose;
(5) Enter into funding options consistent with this article,
including refunding and refinancing its debt and obligations;
(6) Enter into credit enhancements, liquidity agreements or
interest rate agreements;
(7) Have perpetual succession as a public instrumentality and
agency of the state, until dissolved in accordance with this
(9) Make and execute agreements, contracts and other
instruments with any public or private person, in accordance with
(10) Retain or employ counsel, auditors, investment bankers,
trustees, economic experts and any other private consultants and
advisors, on a contract basis or otherwise, necessary or desirable
for rendering legal, banking, financial or other professional,
management or technical services or advice in connection with the
acquisition and financing referred to in this article and pay for
all of the services from the proceeds of the bonds;
(11) Establish investment guidelines, designate qualified
investments and invest funds;
(12) Procure insurance, other credit enhancements, liquidity
agreements and other financing arrangements and to execute
instruments and contracts and to enter into agreements convenient
or necessary to facilitate financing arrangements of the authority;
and to fulfill the purposes of the authority under this article,
including, but not limited to, any arrangements, instruments,
contracts and agreements as municipal bond insurance, liquidity
facilities, interest rate agreements and letters of credit;
(13) Determine, in connection with the issuance of bonds, and subject to the sales agreement, the terms, documentation and other
details of the financing;
(14) Hold, use, sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, exchange or
otherwise dispose of the state's share and any proceeds or further
rights associated with the state's share;
(15) Establish a trust which is entitled to receive revenues
and bond proceeds of the authority that are in excess of the
authority's expenses, debt service and contractual obligations and
to transfer its ownership interest in the trust to the state as the
noncash portion of the purchase price for the state's share; and
(16) Include in its agreements with the holders of the bonds
the nonimpairment pledge as described in subdivision (8),
subsection (c), section twelve of this article.
(b) Other than the payments of debt service on its bonds, the
authority may not make payments or distributions to private
interests or private individuals unless those payments are
reasonable in amount and paid in exchange for the performance of
WVC 4 - 11 A- 12 §4-11A-12. Authorization of the sale of rights in the master
(a) The sale of the state's share shall be authorized by an
executive order issued by the Governor as authorized in this
section. The executive order shall be received by the Secretary of
State and filed in the State Register pursuant to section three,
article two, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code: Provided, That
the Governor shall not issue the executive order unless the
aggregate collective amount of net sale proceeds received by the
state from the sale of the state's share is more than eight hundred
(b) The Governor may sell and assign all or a portion of the
state's share to the authority pursuant to one or more sales
agreements for the purpose of securitization of the amounts
received by the state under the master settlement agreement.
(c) The terms and conditions of the sale established in any
sales agreement shall include the following:
(1) A requirement that the state enforce its right to collect
all moneys due from the participating tobacco manufacturers
pursuant to the provisions of the master settlement agreement,
including, without limitation, the state's share that has been sold
to the authority under a sales agreement, and, in addition, that
the state shall diligently enforce the qualifying statute as
contemplated in section IX (d)(2)(b) of the master settlement
agreement and the complementary legislation against all tobacco product manufacturers selling tobacco products in the state and
that are not in compliance with the qualifying statute or the
complementary legislation, in each case in the manner and to the
extent considered necessary in the judgment of the Attorney General
(2) A requirement that the state not agree to any amendment of
the master settlement agreement, the qualifying statute, the
complementary legislation, this article or the sales agreement that
materially and adversely affects the authority's ability or rights
to receive the state's share that has been sold to the authority or
the authority's rights and powers under this article and the sales
(3) An agreement that the anticipated use by the state of sale
proceeds received pursuant to the sales agreement shall be for the
purposes set forth in this article;
(4) A requirement that the aggregate collective amount of net
sale proceeds received by the state from the sale of the state's
share shall not be less than eight hundred million dollars;
(5) A requirement that the proceeds received by the state from
the sale of the state's share be applied by the state upon receipt
to the Consolidated Public Retirement Board for deposit into the
State Teachers Retirement System to redeem a portion of the
unfunded actuarial accrued liability;
(6) A requirement that the state may receive from the
authority, as the purchase price for the sale, any combination of cash, securities and direct or beneficial ownership interests in
property, including, but not limited to, the allocable beneficial
interest in the residual state's share cash flows not needed to
meet the bond debt service allocable to the state's share purchased
by the authority from the state, whether by an initial sale or
sales of the authority's bonds;
(7) A requirement that the cost of issuance excluding fees for
bond insurance, credit enhancements, liquidity facilities and
rating agency fees, plus underwriter's discount and any other costs
associated with the issuance shall not exceed, in the aggregate,
the sum of one percent of the aggregate principal amount of the
bonds issued; and
(8) A requirement that the state will pledge to and agree with
the holders of the authority's bonds and with any person or entity
that contracts with the authority in connection with the issuance
of the bonds that the state will not alter, limit or impair: (i)
The rights vested in the authority to receive the state's share, to
exercise its powers, or the ability to fulfill the terms of any
contract entered into with the holders of the authority's bonds or
any person or entity with reference to the authority's bonds; and
(ii) the rights and remedies of the holders of any of the
authority's bonds. The state's pledge and agreement shall continue
in full force and effect until the authority's legal commitments
with respect to the authority's bonds and contracts have been
(d) Any sale made under this section shall be irrevocable. Any sale shall constitute and be treated as a true and absolute
sale and absolute transfer of the property transferred and not as
a pledge or other security interest for any borrowing.
(e) On or after the effective date of any sale, the state
shall not have any right, title or interest in the portion of the
state's share sold, and the portion of the state's share sold shall
be the property of the authority and not the state. None of the
property sold by the state pursuant to this section shall be
subject to garnishment, levy, execution, attachment or other
process, or remedy in connection with the assertion or enforcement
of any debt, claim, settlement or judgment against the state.
(f) On or before the effective date of any sale, the state
shall notify the escrow agent under the master settlement agreement
of the sale and shall irrevocably direct the escrow agent under the
master settlement agreement that, subsequent to that date, all
payments constituting the state's share or a portion thereof shall
be made directly to the authority or its designee.
WVC 4 - 11 A- 13 §4-11A-13. Authorization of bonds of the authority.
(a) The authority may issue bonds in more than one series and,
if bonds are issued, shall use the net proceeds to purchase the
state's share pursuant to the sales agreement to be applied as set
forth in section twelve of this article. In connection with the
issuance of bonds and subject to the terms of the sales agreement,
the authority shall determine the terms and other details of the
financing. Bonds issued pursuant to this section may be secured by
a pledge of the state's share purchased by the authority. The
authority may also issue refunding bonds, including advance
refunding bonds, for the purpose of refunding previously issued
bonds, and may issue other types of bonds, notes or other debt
obligations and financing arrangements necessary to fulfill its
purposes or the purposes of this article.
(b) The authority may issue its bonds in principal amounts
which, in the opinion of the authority, are necessary to provide
sufficient funds for achievement of its purposes, the payment of
interest on its bonds, the establishment of reserves to secure the
bonds, the costs of issuance of its bonds and all other
expenditures of the authority incident to and necessary to carry
out its purposes or powers. The bonds are investment securities
and negotiable instruments within the meaning of and for the
purposes of article eight, chapter forty-six of this code, subject
only to the provisions of the notes or bonds for registration,
unless otherwise provided by resolution of the authority.
(c) Bonds issued by the authority are payable solely and only
out of the moneys, assets or revenues pledged by the authority and
are not a general obligation or indebtedness of the authority or an
obligation or indebtedness of the state or any subdivision of the
state. The authority shall not pledge the credit or taxing power
of the state or any political subdivision of the state, or create
a debt or obligation of the state, or make its debts payable out of
any moneys except those of the authority.
(d) Bonds of the authority shall state on their face that they
are payable both as to principal and interest solely out of the
assets of the authority pledged for their purpose and do not
constitute an indebtedness of the state or any political
subdivision of the state; are secured solely by and payable solely
from assets of the authority pledged for such purpose; constitute
neither a general, legal nor moral obligation of the state or any
of its political subdivisions; and that the state has no obligation
or intention to satisfy any deficiency or default of any payment of
(e) Any amount pledged by the authority to be received under
any sales agreement is valid and binding at the time the pledge is
made. Amounts pledged and then or thereafter received by the
authority are immediately subject to the lien of the pledge without
any physical delivery thereof or further act. The lien of any
pledge is valid and binding as against all parties having claims of
any kind against the authority whether the parties have notice of the lien or not. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
pledge is not subject to article nine, chapter forty-six of this
code. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the
resolution of the authority or any other instrument by which a
pledge is created need not be recorded or filed to perfect the
(f) The proceeds of bonds issued by the authority may be
invested in any security or obligation approved by the board and
specified in the trust indenture or resolution pursuant to which
the bonds must be issued, notwithstanding any other provision to
the contrary provided that any sales proceeds derived from tax
exempt bonds are invested in a manner prescribed by the board so as
to maintain the tax exempt status of the bonds.
(g) The exercise of the powers granted to the authority by
this article will be in all respects an essential governmental
function and for the benefit of the people of the state and is a
public purpose. The authority, its property, income and all bonds
and all interest and income thereon are exempt from all taxation by
(h) Bonds of the authority shall comply with all of the
(1) The bonds may be issued in one or more series and shall be
in a form, issued in denominations, carry such registration
privileges and payable over terms and with rights of redemption as the board prescribes in the trust indenture or resolution
authorizing their issuance;
(2) The bonds shall be fully negotiable instruments under the
laws of this state and may be sold at prices, at public or private
sale, and in a manner as prescribed by the board; and
(3) The bonds are subject to the terms, conditions and
covenants providing for the payment of the principal, redemption
premiums, if any, interest which may be fixed or variable,
including, but not limited to, zero coupon bonds and capital
appreciation bonds, during any period the bonds are outstanding,
and other terms, conditions, covenants and protective provisions
safeguarding payment as determined by the trust indenture or
resolution of the board authorizing their issuance.
(i) The bonds issued under this article are securities in
which insurance companies and associations and other persons
engaged in the business of insurance; banks, trust companies,
savings associations, savings and loan associations and investment
companies; administrators, guardians, executors, trustees and other
fiduciaries; and other persons authorized to invest in bonds or
other obligations of the state may properly and legally invest
funds, including capital, in their control or belonging to them.
(j) Bonds must be authorized by a resolution of the board. A
resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds may delegate to an
officer of the authority the power to negotiate and fix the details
of an issue of bonds and of their sale by an appropriate certificate of the authorized officer or by execution and delivery
of a trust indenture or bond purchase agreement. The bonds and
notes shall be executed by the chairperson and secretary of the
authority, both of whom may use facsimile signatures. In case any
officer whose signature, or a facsimile of whose signature, appears
on any bonds or notes ceases to be an officer before delivery of
the bonds or notes, the signature or facsimile is nevertheless
sufficient for all purposes the same as if he or she had remained
in office until the delivery.
(k) The authority may issue one or more series of bonds at any
time or times so that interest on the bonds may be or remain exempt
from federal taxation or to comply with the purposes specified in
this article: Provided, That the state shall covenant and agree to
invest any funds received from the sales agreement which were
derived from tax exempt bonds issued by the authority in a manner
prescribed from the authority.
(l) In connection with the issuance of any bonds authorized
and issued pursuant to this section, and in addition to the funds
and accounts established elsewhere in this article, the board may,
under the trust indenture or resolution pursuant to which the bonds
are issued, establish any other accounts, subaccounts or reserves
(m) While bonds of the authority are outstanding, the state
shall not agree to any amendment of the master settlement
agreement, the qualifying statute, the complementary legislation, this article or the sales agreement that materially and adversely
affects the authority's ability or rights to receive the state's
share that has been sold to the authority or the authority's rights
and powers under this article and the sales agreement. The
provision of this section shall be part of the contractual
obligation owed to the holders of the authority's bonds.
WVC 4 - 11 A- 14 §4-11A-14. Exemption from purchasing provisions.
shall not apply to the authority with respect to contracts entered
into by the authority in carrying out the public and essential
governmental functions set forth in this article and are exempt
from the laws of the state which provide for competitive bids and
hearings in connection with contracts and for review as to the form
of contracts by the office of the Attorney General of the state.
WVC 4 - 11 A- 15 §4-11A-15. Bankruptcy.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the authority is
not authorized, and no governmental officer or organization shall
authorize the authority to become a debtor in a case under the
United States bankruptcy code, Title 11 of the United States Code,
to make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or to become the
subject of any similar case or proceeding. The provisions of this
section shall be part of any contractual obligation owed to holders
of any bonds issued pursuant to this article and shall not be
modified by the state prior to the date which is three hundred
sixty-six days after which the authority no longer has any bonds
WVC 4 - 11 A- 16 §4-11A-16. Dissolution of the authority; distribution of assets.
The authority shall dissolve not sooner than three hundred
sixty-six days after it no longer has any bonds outstanding and no
later than two years from the date of final payment of all
outstanding bonds and the satisfaction of all outstanding
obligations of the authority, except to the extent necessary to
remain in existence to fulfill any outstanding covenants or
provisions with bondholders or third parties made in accordance
with this article. Upon dissolution of the authority, all assets
of the authority shall be transferred to the state, and the
authority shall execute any necessary assignments or instruments,
including any assignment of any right, title or ownership to the
state for receipt of payments under the master settlement
agreement. In no event shall the authority dissolve while any
bonds of the authority are outstanding.
WVC 4 - 11 A- 17 §4-11A-17. Construction.
This article, being considered necessary for the welfare of
the state and its people, shall be liberally construed to affect
WVC 4 - 11 A- 18 §4-11A-18. Dedication of personal income tax proceeds as
replacement moneys for anticipated tobacco master
settlement agreement proceeds to the Old Fund.
(a) There is hereby dedicated an annual amount of fifty
million four hundred thousand dollars from annual collections of
the tax imposed by article twenty-one, chapter eleven of this code
as a portion of the revenue source dedicated to satisfy the Old
Fund liabilities as they occur to provide a dollar for dollar
replacement of the first thirty million dollars received pursuant
to section IX(c)(1) of the master settlement agreement and the
anticipated strategic compensation payments to be received pursuant
to section IX(c)(2) of the master settlement agreement as
previously dedicated to the Old Fund prior to the sale of state's
share to the Tobacco Settlement Finance Authority. No portion of
this amount may be pledged for payment of debt service on revenue
bonds issued pursuant to article two-d, chapter twenty-three of
contrary, beginning immediately after the sale of the state's share
to the Tobacco Settlement Finance Authority, fifty million four
hundred thousand dollars from collections of the tax imposed by
article twenty-one, chapter eleven of this code shall be deposited
each calendar year to the credit of the Old Fund created in article
two-d, chapter twenty-three of this code in accordance with the
following schedule. Each calendar month, except for July, August and September each year, five million six hundred thousand dollars
shall be transferred, on or before the twenty-eighth day of the
month, to the Workers' Compensation Debt Reduction Fund created in
article two-d, chapter twenty-three of this code. The transfers
pursuant to this section are in addition to the transfers pursuant
to section ninety-six, article twenty-one, chapter eleven of this
(c) Expiration. -- The transfers required by this section
shall continue to be made until the Governor certifies to the
Legislature that an independent actuary study determined that the
unfunded liability of the Old Fund, as defined in chapter
twenty-three of this code, has been paid or provided for in its
entirety. No transfer pursuant to this section shall be made
WVC -12- ARTICLE 12. ESTABLISHMENT OF A WEST VIRGINIA LAW INSTITUTE.
WVC 4-12-1 §4-12-1. Authority of Legislature to establish West Virginia law institute.
The West Virginia Legislature creates and establishes a state
law institute, to be known as the "West Virginia Law Institute," as
an official advisory law revision and law reform agency of the
state of West Virginia and to be located at the West Virginia
WVC 4-12-2 §4-12-2. Purposes and duties.
The general purposes of the West Virginia law institute are to
promote and encourage the clarification and simplification of the
law of West Virginia, to improve the better administration of
justice and to conduct scholarly legal research and scientific
legal work. To that end it shall be the duty of the West Virginia
law institute to:
(a) Consider needed improvements in both substantive and
procedural law and to make recommendations concerning the same to
(b) Examine and study the law of West Virginia to discover
defects and inequities and of recommending needed reforms;
(c) Receive and consider suggestions from judges, justices,
public officials, lawyers and the public generally as to defects
and anachronisms in the law;
(d) Recommend from time to time such changes in the law as it
deems necessary to modify or eliminate antiquated and inequitable
rules of law;
(e) Render annual reports to the Legislature and, if it deems
so advisable, accompany its reports with proposed bills to carry
out any of its recommendations;
(f) Recommend the repeal of obsolete statutes and suggest
needed amendments, additions and deletions; and
(g) Organize and conduct an annual meeting within the state
for scholarly discussions of current problems in West Virginia law, bringing together representatives of the Legislature, practicing
attorneys, members of the judiciary and West Virginia state bar and
representatives of the law teaching profession.
WVC 4-12-3 §4-12-3. Governing council and members.
(a) The institute shall have such members and committees as
the governing body of the West Virginia law institute may direct. The governing body shall also elect a president, secretary and any
other officers as it determines necessary.
(b) The governing body of the institute shall be a council
composed of ex officio members and elected members as follows:
(1) One justice of the West Virginia supreme court of appeals
to be selected by the justices thereof;
(2) One circuit court judge, selected by the West Virginia
judicial association;
(3) One federal judge residing in West Virginia, selected by
the federal judges residing in West Virginia;
(5) One legal counsel to the governor of the state of West
(6) The chairperson of the judiciary committees of the Senate
and the House of Delegates of the West Virginia Legislature or an
attorney member of the respective committees appointed by the
(7) One member each from the majority and minority parties of
the Senate and the House of Delegates of the West Virginia
Legislature to be selected by the president of the Senate and the
speaker of the House of Delegates, respectively;
(9) The chairperson of the West Virginia commission on uniform
(10) The president and first vice president of the West
(11) The chairperson of the young lawyers section of the West
(13) Two attorneys appointed by the governor of the state of
West Virginia for terms to run concurrently with the term of the
(14) The director of the continuing legal education program
sponsored by the West Virginia state bar and the West Virginia
university college of law; and
(c) The elected membership shall consist of two faculty
members who shall be elected from the members of the faculty of the
West Virginia university college of law and four practicing
attorneys from each of the congressional districts in the state who
shall be selected by the board of governors of the West Virginia
(d) All ex officio members of the council shall hold their
positions during their respective terms of office. The term of
office of the elected members of the council shall be four years. The terms of office of the first elected practicing attorney
members shall be appointed by the board of governors of the West Virginia state bar such that four shall be appointed for two years,
four for three years and four for four years. Thereafter,
appointments shall be for four years. Elected members of the
council shall be eligible for reelection.
(e) Vacancies in the elected membership created by death,
resignation or otherwise than by the expiration of the terms of
office shall be filled by the council under such rules as it may
WVC 4-12-4 §4-12-4. Compensation of members of the council of the West Virginia law institute, director and assistants.
The members of the council of the West Virginia law institute
shall serve without any compensation for services as such. The
council may employ and fix and pay reasonable compensation to the
director of the institute and the director's assistants, and may
pay honoraria to members of the council who perform professional
services for the institute, as authorized by the council. The
compensation provided for in this section shall come from private
funding and no state funds are to be provided for this institute.
WVC 4-12-5 §4-12-5. Adoption of membership plan.
The council of the West Virginia law institute shall adopt a
plan or plans of membership in the West Virginia law institute so
designated as to encourage and invite the cooperation of all
members of the legal profession in the work of the institute.
WVC 4-12-6 §4-12-6. Institute to act in advisory capacity only; distribution
of reports, studies, and recommended publications.
The West Virginia law institute, in submitting reports to the
Legislature, shall act solely in an advisory capacity. Its
reports, studies and recommended publications shall be printed and
shall be distributed by the institute in a manner as directed by