2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 21A. Unemployment Compensation › Article 5. Employer Coverage and Responsibility › §21A-5-3. Voluntary Coverage; Elective Coverage by Political Subdivisions

(a) An employing unit, not otherwise subject to the provisions of this chapter, which files with the commissioner its written election to become an employer subject hereto for not less than two calendar years, shall, with the written approval of such election by the commissioner, become an employer subject hereto to the same extent as all other employers, as of the date stated in such approval, and shall cease to be subject hereto as of January one of any calendar year subsequent to such two calendar years, only if during January of such year it has filed with the commissioner a written notice to that effect.
(b) Any employing unit for which services that do not constitute employment as defined in this chapter are performed, may file with the commissioner a written election that all such services performed by individuals in its employ in one or more distinct establishments or places of business are employment for all the purposes of this chapter for not less than two calendar years. Upon the written approval of such election by the commissioner, such services are employment subject to this chapter from and after the date stated in such approval. Such services shall cease to be deemed employment subject hereto as of January first of any calendar year subsequent to such two calendar years, only if during January of such year such employing unit has filed with the commissioner a written notice to that effect.
(c) An employing unit which is or becomes an employer subject to this chapter within any calendar year is subject to this chapter during the whole of such calendar year.
(d) Any political subdivision of this state may elect to cover under this chapter service performed by employees in all of the hospitals and institutions of higher education, as defined in sections twenty and twenty-one, article one-a of this chapter, operated by such political subdivision. Any such election of coverage is to be made by filing with the commissioner a notice of such election at least thirty days prior to the effective date of such election. Any political subdivision electing coverage under this subsection shall make payments in lieu of contributions with respect to benefits attributable to such employment as provided with respect to nonprofit organizations in section three-a of this article. The provisions of section fifteen, article six of this chapter with respect to benefit rights based on service for state and nonprofit institutions of higher education are applicable also to service covered by an election under this subsection. The amounts required to be paid in lieu of contributions by any political subdivision under this subsection shall be billed and payment made as provided in section thirteen of this article with respect to similar payments by nonprofit organizations. An election under this subsection may be terminated, by filing with the commissioner written notice not later than thirty days preceding the last day of the calendar year in which the termination is to be effective. Such termination becomes effective as of the first day of the next ensuing calendar year with respect to services performed after that date.