ENGROSSED

Senate Bill No. 535

(By Senators Wooton, Ball, Bowman, Hunter, Schoonover and White)

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[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary;

reported March 25, l997.]

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A BILL to amend chapter twenty-one of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated article one-b, relating to estimating the number of West Virginia residents in applications and reporting of certain information for construction projects which are financed, in whole or in part, by public funds or at public expense.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That chapter twenty-one of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated article one-b, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1B. REPORTING OF EMPLOYMENT.
§21-1B-1. Findings; policy.
The Legislature finds that the purpose of economic development efforts is to improve the lives of West Virginians, and whereas, taxpayers spend a significant amount of money on economic development projects to create jobs, and state, county and municipal governments want to maximize employment of local citizens whenever contracting for public improvements a tracking mechanism is needed to evaluate existing economic development efforts regarding job creation to better assist the design of training programs to meet the skills employers need.
§21-1B-2. Application of article.
This article applies to:
(a) Expenditures by any public authority made, in whole or in part, from public funds for a public improvement project; and
(b) Any private capital project funded, in whole or in part, by the issuance of tax incentives, tax credits, or bonds or loans or other tax funded benefits granted by the state or any of its political subdivisions any economic development board or agency to induce or encourage the undertaking of any such construction project by any private person, corporation or any other entity.
§21-1B-3. Compiling of information.
(a) Application for financial incentives from economic development authorities, or other public authorities, which will be used, in whole or in part, for the construction of public or capital improvement projects, shall include a statement estimating the number and duration of each construction job which will go to West Virginia residents.
(b) Upon completion of any such project the applicant shall, as a condition of receipt of any such financial incentive, complete a report consisting of the number of individuals employed to construct such project, the county and state where they reside, and the total hours worked by each employee on such project and shall submit such report to the economic development authority or public authority awarding such financial incentive within thirty days of the completion of the project.
(c) Upon completion of any public improvement project awarded by state, county and municipal authorities or agencies, a contractor shall, as a condition of the contract, complete a report consisting of the number of individuals employed to construct such project, the county and state where they reside, and the total hours worked by each employee on such project and submit such report to the state, county or municipal authority or agency awarding the contract within thirty days of the completion of the project.
(d) The reports required by the provisions of this article shall be supplied to the commissioner of labor who shall maintain the records as a source of research material to determine the efficacy of such projects. The reports and all information contained in the reports shall be considered public records.