WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2023 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 3361

By Delegates Rowe and Pushkin

[Introduced February 10, 2023; Referred to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then Finance]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §8-13-19b, relating to the allocation of federal funds to county commissions and certain municipalities.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

Article 13. Taxation & Finance.

§8-13-19b. Federal funds to county commissions and municipalities.

(a) The Legislature shall allocate the sum of $300 million in federally appropriated American Rescue Plan Act funds and other budget surplus funds into the special revenue account established pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, to be distributed among county commissions together with the Class IV municipalities in their counties, and Class I, Class II, and Class III municipalities for the sole purpose of assisting low-income individuals living with incomes below the federal poverty line residing in their respective jurisdictions, to establish facilities, programs and direct payments for day care assistance, health care, housing, recreation, food security and food banks, and other and community based programs and provide direct help to low income families and individuals in their respective jurisdictions. These funds are available to the jurisdiction until July 1, 2027, and any funds not so used by that date are to be returned to the State Treasury. Funds may be used in cooperation with other jurisdictions for the same purpose. The State Treasurer shall allocate moneys to county commissions and municipalities based on the percentage share of families and individuals living below the federal poverty level in each respective jurisdiction as a proportional share of all persons living below the federal poverty line statewide.

(b) Special revenue account created. – All moneys collected shall be deposited in a special account in the State Treasury to be known as the Budget Surplus and American Rescue Plan Low-Income Assistance Program. Expenditures from the fund shall be for the purposes set forth pursuant to subsection (a), as appropriate and are not authorized from collections but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of §12-3-1 et seq. of this code and upon fulfillment of the provisions of §11B-2-1 et seq. of this code: Provided, That for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 expenditures are authorized from collections rather than pursuant to appropriation by the Legislature.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allocate budget surplus and certain federal funds to county commissions and certain municipalities for the purpose of directly assisting low-income families and the community in general for each such jurisdiction.

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