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Introduced Version House Bill 2718 History

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

FISCAL NOTEWEST virginia legislature

2019 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 2718

By Delegates Cooper, Worrell, Westfall, Miller, Maynard, Atkinson, Kessinger and Harshbarger

[Introduced January 29, 2019; Referred
to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-3-52a; relating to requiring purchasers of roundwood to collect and maintain certain information; and establishing criminal and administrative penalties for failure to comply.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:


ARTICLE 3. CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY.


§61-3-52a. Purchase of roundwood and required recordkeeping.

(a) It is unlawful for any person or entity to purchase roundwood without obtaining and recording the information required by this section. For purposes of this section, “roundwood” means logs or pulpwood of six feet or more in length.

(b) A person or entity that purchases roundwood shall make a record of the purchase using a form provided or approved by the Division of Forestry.  The form shall contain, at a minimum, the following information for each initial timber operation notification:

(1) The name, current address, and phone number of the seller;

(2) The date and time of the transaction;

(3) A complete description of the kind, character, and board feet of the roundwood purchased; and

(4) A photocopy of a valid timber license or timber license exemption issued by the WV Division of Forestry to the seller delivering the roundwood. Sellers located out-of-state shall provide the purchaser with an equivalent business license; Provided, That if the purchaser has a copy of the seller's valid timber or timber license exemption or required valid out-of-state business license on file, the purchaser may reference the identification that is on file, without making a separate photocopy for each transaction.

(c) The seller is required to notify the buyer of any changes in his or her timber license or timber exemption status, already on file with the purchaser and the seller is required to provide the purchaser with updated documentation at the time the roundwood is received by the purchaser.

(d) The purchaser shall retain the records required by this section at his or her place of business for a minimum of three calendar years after the date of purchase and the records shall be made available for inspection upon reasonable request by any law-enforcement officer or any employee of the Division of Forestry. Records requested in this manner are not subject to public disclosure requirements.

(e) Any person who knowingly or fraudulently violates a provision of this section, including the failure to make a record, maintain records required by this section, or who falsifies any required information, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon conviction of a first offense, a person shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000; upon conviction of a second offense, a person shall be fined not less than $2,000 nor more than $4,000 and, notwithstanding the provisions of §11-12-5 of this code, the court in which the conviction occurred shall issue an order directing the Tax Commissioner to suspend for a period of six months any business registration certificate held by that person. Upon conviction of a third or subsequent offense, a person shall be fined not less than $3,000 nor more than $5,000 and, notwithstanding the provisions of §11-12-5 of this code, the court in which the conviction occurred shall issue an order directing the Tax Commissioner to suspend any business registration certificate held by that person and include the date the cancellation shall take effect.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require purchasers of roundwood to collect and maintain certain information. It requires sellers to provide updated information to purchases prior to purchase. It also provides criminal penalties for failure to record, maintain or for falsifying required information.

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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