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Introduced Version Senate Bill 419 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

WEST virginia Legislature

2016 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 419

By Senator  Kessler
(By Request of the Executive)

[Introduced January 28, 2016;
Referred to the Committee on Finance.
]


 

A BILL to amend and reenact §4-11A-18 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §11-13A-3b of said code; to amend and reenact §11-13V-4 of said code; and to amend and reenact §11-21-96 of said code, all relating to termination of Workers’ Compensation Debt Reduction Act; specifying effective date of termination; authorizing sooner termination by Executive Order; reallocating deposits of revenues with relation to the Old Fund; authorizing redirection of deposits, by Executive Order, of specified revenues into the General Fund for a limited time period if budget shortfall exceeds specified amount; eliminating language relating to actuarial determination and executive certification of specified conditions; reestablishing severance tax on timber at a specified tax rate; specifying effective dates; and specifying dedication of revenues.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:


That §4-11A-18 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; that §11-13A-3b of said code be amended and reenacted; that §11-13V-4 of said code be amended and reenacted; and that §11-21-96 of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:

CHAPTER 4. THE LEGISLATURE.


ARTICLE 11A. Legislative APPROPRIATION OF TOBACCO SETTLEMENT FUNDS.

§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 $50,400,000 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 $30 million 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 this code.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, beginning immediately after the sale of the state's share to the Tobacco Settlement Finance Authority, $50,400,000 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, $5,600,000 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 code.

(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 cease on and after February 1, 2016. No transfer pursuant to this section shall be made thereafter.

CHAPTER 11. TAXATION.


ARTICLE 13A.  SEVERANCE AND BUSINESS PRIVILEGE TAX ACT.

§11-13A-3b. Imposition of tax on privilege of severing timber.


(a) Imposition of tax. — For the privilege of engaging or continuing within this state in the business of severing timber for sale, profit or commercial use, there is hereby levied and shall be collected from every person exercising such privilege an annual privilege tax.

(b) Rate and measure of tax. — The tax imposed in subsection (a) of this section shall be three and twenty-two hundredths percent of the gross value of the timber produced, as shown by the gross proceeds derived from the sale thereof by the producer, except as otherwise provided in this article: Provided, That as to timber produced after December 31, 2006 the rate of the tax imposed in subsection (a) of this section shall be one and twenty-two hundredths percent of the gross value of the timber produced, as shown by the gross proceeds derived from the sale thereof by the producer, except as otherwise provided in this article.

(c) Tax in addition to other taxes. — The tax imposed by this section shall apply to all persons severing timber in this state and shall be in addition to all other taxes imposed by law.

(d) Elimination Discontinuation and reestablishment of tax. — Beginning in the tax year 2010 and continuing until June 30, 2016, the imposition of the additional tax on the privilege of severing timber imposed by subsection (c), section four, article thirteen-v of this chapter expires under the authority of subsection (g), section four, article thirteen-v of this chapter, the tax imposed by this section is discontinued. On and after expiration of the additional tax on the privilege of severing timber imposed by subsection c, section four, article thirteen-v of this chapter July 1, 2016, the tax imposed by this section resumes is reestablished and is imposed and shall apply to all persons severing timber in this state at the rate of one and twenty-two hundredths two and seventy-eight hundredths percent of the gross value of the timber produced, as shown by the gross proceeds derived from the sale thereof by the producer, except as otherwise provided in this article.

ARTICLE 13V. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION DEBT REDUCTION ACT.

§11-13V-4. Imposition of tax.


(a) Imposition of additional tax on privilege of severing coal. — Upon every person exercising the privilege of engaging within this state in severing, extracting, reducing to possession or producing coal for sale, profit or commercial use, there is hereby imposed an additional annual severance tax for exercising the privilege after November 30, 2005. The tax shall be 56 cents per ton and the measure of the tax is tons of clean coal severed or produced in this state by the taxpayer after November 30, 2005, for sale, profit or commercial use during the taxable year. When the person mining the coal sells raw coal, the measure of tax shall be ton of clean coal determined in accordance with rules promulgated by the Tax Commissioner as provided in article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. If this rule is filed for public comment before July 1, 2005, the rule may be promulgated as an emergency legislative rule. This tax shall be in addition to all taxes imposed with respect to the severance and production of coal in this state including, but not limited to, the taxes imposed by articles twelve-d and thirteen-a of this chapter and the taxes imposed by sections eleven and thirty-two, article three, chapter twenty-two of this code, if applicable.

(b) Imposition of additional tax on privilege of severing natural gas. — For the privilege of engaging or continuing within this state in the business of severing natural gas for sale, profit or commercial use, there is hereby levied and shall be collected from every person exercising this privilege an additional annual privilege tax. The rate of this additional tax shall be $.047 4.7 cents per Mcf of natural gas and the measure of the tax is natural gas produced after November 30, 2005, determined at the point where the production privilege ends for purposes of the tax imposed by section three-a, article thirteen-a of this chapter, and with respect to which the tax imposed by section three-a of said article thirteen-a is paid. The additional tax imposed by this subsection shall be collected with respect to natural gas produced after November 30, 2005.

(c) Imposition of additional tax on privilege of severing timber. — For the privilege of engaging or continuing within this state in the business of severing timber for sale, profit or commercial use, there is hereby levied and shall be collected from every person exercising this privilege an additional annual privilege tax equal to two and seventy-eight hundredths percent of the gross value of the timber produced, determined at the point where the production privilege ends for purposes of the tax imposed by section three-b, article thirteen-a of this chapter and upon which the tax imposed by section three-b of said article thirteen-a is paid. The additional tax imposed by this subsection shall be collected with respect to timber produced after November 30, 2005: Provided, That during the period of discontinuance of the tax as provided in subsection (d), section three-b, article thirteen-a of this chapter, the additional tax imposed by this subsection shall be determined as provided in this subsection in the same manner as if the tax described under section three-b, article thirteen-a of this chapter is being imposed and collected, subject to the provisions of subsection (g) of this section.

(d) No pyramiding of tax burden. — Each ton of coal and each Mcf of natural gas severed in this state after the effective date of the taxes imposed by this section shall be included in the measure of a tax imposed by this section only one time.

(e) Effect on utility rates. — The Public Service Commission shall, upon the application of any public utility that, as of the effective date of the taxes imposed by this section, is not currently making periodic adjustments to its approved rates and charges to reflect changes in its fuel costs because the mechanism historically used to make such periodic adjustments is suspended by an order of the commission, allow such utility to defer, for future recovery from its customers, any increase in its costs attributable to the taxes imposed by this section upon: Coal and natural gas severed in this state and utilized in the production of electricity generated or produced in this state and sold to customers in this state; coal and natural gas severed in this state and utilized in the production of electricity not generated or produced in this state that is sold to customers in this state; and natural gas severed in this state that is sold to customers in this state.

(f) Dedication of new taxes. —

(1) Subject to the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection, the The net amount of all moneys received by the Tax Commissioner from collection of the taxes imposed by this section, including any interest, additions to tax, or penalties collected with respect to these taxes pursuant to article ten, chapter eleven of this code, shall be deposited in the Workers’ Compensation Debt Reduction Fund created in article two-d, chapter twenty-three of this code. As used in this section, “net amount of all taxes received by the Tax Commissioner” means the gross amount received by the Tax Commissioner less the amount of any refunds paid for overpayment of the taxes imposed by this article, including the amount of any interest on the overpayment amount due the taxpayer under the provisions of section fourteen, article ten of this chapter.

(2) If the budget shortfall, as determined by the state Budget Office as of December 1, 2015, is greater than $100 million, then the Governor may, by Executive Order, redirect deposits of revenues derived from taxes imposed under this article, for any period commencing after February 29, 2016 and ending before July 1, 2016, to the General Revenue Fund, instead of to the funds otherwise mandated in this article, in article two-d, chapter twenty-three of this code or in any other provision of this code.

(g) Sunset expiration date of taxes. — The new taxes imposed by this section shall expire and not be imposed with respect to privileges exercised on and after the first day of the month following the month in which the Governor certifies to the Legislature that: (1) The revenue bonds issued pursuant to article two-d, chapter twenty-three of this code, have been retired, or payment of the debt service provided for; and (2) that an independent certified actuary has 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. Expiration of the taxes imposed in this section as provided in this subsection shall not relieve any person from payment of any tax imposed with respect to privileges exercised before the expiration date.

(g) Termination of taxes imposed by this article. – The taxes imposed under this article shall cease, terminate and be of no further force or effect on and after July 1, 2016: Provided, That the Governor may, by Executive Order, cause the tax to terminate before July 1, 2016. Termination of the taxes imposed under this article shall not relieve any person of any liability or duty to pay tax imposed under this article with respect to privileges exercised before the effective date of such termination.

ARTICLE 21. PERSONAL INCOME TAX.

§11-21-96. Dedication of personal income tax proceeds.


(a) There is hereby dedicated an annual amount of $45 million from annual collections of the tax imposed by this article for payment of the unfunded liability of the current Workers’ Compensation Fund. 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 this code.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, beginning in January of 2006, $45 million from collections of the tax imposed by this article shall be deposited each calendar year to the credit of the old fund created in article two-c, chapter twenty-three of this code, in accordance with the following schedule. Each calendar month, except for July, August and September each year, $5 million 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.

(c) The transfers required by subsection (b) of this section shall continue to be made until the Governor certifies to the Legislature that an independent actuarial 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 cease on and after February 1, 2016. For fiscal years beginning on and after July 1, 2016, an annual amount of $35 $30 million from annual collections of the tax imposed by this article and which were previously dedicated by this section for payment of the unfunded liability of the Workers Compensation Fund shall be dedicated for payment of the unfunded liability of the West Virginia Retiree Health Benefit Trust Fund and to provide funding for the Post-July 1, 2010, Employee Trust Fund created by section five-b, article sixteen, chapter five of this code. The $35 $30 million transferred pursuant to this subsection shall be transferred in accordance with the following:

(1) The annual amount of $30 million shall be transferred into the West Virginia Retiree Health Benefit Trust Fund by transferring $5 million each month for the following months of each year: October, November, December, January, February and March, until the Governor certifies to the Legislature that an independent actuarial study has determined that the unfunded liability of West Virginia Retiree Health Benefit Trust Fund, as created in section two, article sixteen-d, chapter five of this code, has been provided for in its entirety or July 1, 2037, whichever date is later: Provided, That no transfer shall be made under this subdivision in the months of February and March of fiscal year 2016. Transfers shall thereafter resume and be made in October, November, December, January, February and March of fiscal year 2017 and thereafter. No transfer into the West Virginia Retiree Health Benefit Trust Fund pursuant to this subdivision shall be made after the Governor certifies to the Legislature that an independent actuarial study has determined that the unfunded liability of West Virginia Retiree Health Benefit Trust Fund, as created in section two, article sixteen-d, chapter five of this code, has been provided for in its entirety or July 1, 2037, whichever date is later. thereafter; and

(2) An annual amount of $5 million shall be transferred into the Post-July 1, 2010, Employee Trust Fund created by section five-b, article sixteen, chapter five of this code in April of each year.

 

NOTE:  The purpose of this bill is to terminate taxes imposed under the Workers' Compensation Debt Reduction Act of 2005; to specify effective date of termination; to authorize sooner termination by Executive Order; to reallocate deposits of revenues with relation to the Old Fund; to authorize redirection deposits, by Executive Order, of specified revenues into the General Fund for a limited time period if budget shortfall exceeds specified amount; to delete language relating to actuarial determination and Executive certification of specified conditions; to reestablish severance tax on timber at a specified tax rate; to specify effective dates; and to specify dedication of revenues.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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