Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=HB2779%20SUB.htm&yr=2019&sesstype=RS&i=2779
Timestamp: 2019-03-20 06:52:42
Document Index: 108219207

Matched Legal Cases: ['§37', '§55', '§36', '§22', '§29', '§22']

HB 2779 Text
Committee Substitute House Bill 2779 History
By Delegate Shott, Anderson, Cadle, Kelly, J., Phillips, Evans, Boggs, Pethtel, Maynard, Higginbotham and Hansen
[Originating in the Committee on Energy, January 31, 2019.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §37-4-9; and to amend and reenact §55-12A-7 of said code, all relating to funding the Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund by providing that proceeds from certain oil and natural gas wells and interests that are due to persons whose names or addresses are unknown or unlocatable which are being kept in special funds throughout the state, if unclaimed for seven years or more, shall be transferred to the Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund and used to plug orphaned and abandoned oil and natural gas wells; providing and clarifying that certain deed provisions purporting to convey or reserve interests created by this article are void, providing that certain provisions take effect beginning when funds have been unclaimed for seven years after the special commissioner’s lease regardless of when the lease was signed; and authorizing rule making.
Notwithstanding the requirements of §36-8-1 et seq. of this code, all funds and proceeds due under this article to owners of severed oil and natural gas interests with their appurtenant rights, whose name or location is unknown and who does not make a claim for those funds for seven years after the date of the order of the court authorizing the distribution of the funds, shall be paid to the Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund established pursuant to §22-6-29 of this code. The funds shall be paid by the special or general receiver or other person or entity holding the funds on or before November 1 of each year for all funds that became payable before July 1 of that year. The Department of Environmental Protection may propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code to carry out the provisions of this section.
(a) (1) If an owner of any mineral interest leased under section six of this article remains unknown or missing, or does not disavow the abandonment, for a period of seven years from the date of the special commissioner's lease, the special receiver shall report the same to the court, whereupon the court shall enter an order naming those who then appear to be surface owners as additional parties and giving notice to them, pursuant to the West Virginia rules of civil procedure, of an opportunity to appear and present proof of ownership in fee of the surface estate. Upon a finding by the court of the present ownership in fee of the surface estate, the court shall (i) order the special commissioner to convey to the proven surface owner, subject to the special commissioner's lease, the mineral interest specified in the motion, by a deed substantially in the form specified in subsection (b) of this section and (ii) order the special receiver to pay to the surface owner Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund established pursuant to §22-6-29 the funds which have accrued to the credit of the mineral interests specified in the motion to the date of his or her report after payment of all allowable fees, expenses and court costs, including special commissioner's fees paid or to be paid in amounts determined by the court. After the date of the special commissioner's deed, the surface owner grantee shall be entitled to receive all proceeds under the lease attributable to the mineral interests specified in the deed.
(d) Prior to the delivery of the special commissioner's deed, no deed from a surface owner to another shall sever ownership of the surface as such from ownership of any benefits under this article. The provisions of any Any deed granting or reserving an interest purporting to create such a severance shall be void.
(e) The amendments to this section made during the 2019 regular session of the Legislature which provided for certain accumulated proceeds to be payable to the Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund, shall take effect July 1, 2019, and any funds shall be transferred that have been unclaimed for seven years or more after the date of the special commissioner’s lease whether or not the special commissioner’s lease was signed before or after the effective date of the amendments.