WEST virginia legislature

2018 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4347

By Delegates Moore, Shott, Hanshaw, Kessinger, Harshbarger, Summers, Sobonya, Fast, Queen, Byrd and Capito

[Introduced January 30, 2018; Referred
to the Committee on Roads and Transportation then Finance.]

A BILL to amend and reenact §15-2-24d of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §17B-2-6a, all relating to voluntary contributions to the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund; allowing taxpayers to make voluntary contributions from the taxpayer's state income tax refund to the State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund; permitting each person applying for the issuance of or renewal of a driver's license to voluntarily contribute to the State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund; requiring the Division of Motor Vehicles to provide a form through which such voluntary contributions can be made; and requiring the Division of Motor Vehicles to remit the voluntary contributions on a monthly basis to the State Treasurer for deposit in the State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

CHAPTER 15. PUBLIC SAFETY.

ARTICLE 2. WEST VIRGINIA STATE POLICE.

§15-2-24d. State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund.

The State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund is hereby created within the Treasury of the state. The fund shall be administered by the superintendent and shall consist of all moneys made available for the operations of the State Police Forensic Laboratory from any source, including, but not limited to, all fees, all gifts, grants, bequests, or transfers from any source, any moneys that may be appropriated and designated for the forensic laboratory by the Legislature, and all interest or other return earned from investment of the fund. Expenditures from the fund shall be for the operations of the State Police Forensic Laboratory 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 article three, chapter twelve of this code and upon the fulfillment of the provisions set forth in article two, chapter eleven-b of this code: Provided, That for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, expenditures are authorized from collections rather than pursuant to an explicit appropriation by the Legislature.

(b) Each taxpayer may voluntarily contribute a portion of the taxpayer’s state income tax refund to the State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund by designating the contribution on the state personal income tax return form. The bureau shall approve the wording of the designation on the income tax return form. The State Tax Commissioner shall determine by July 1 of each year the total amount designated pursuant to this subsection and shall report that amount to the State Treasurer who shall credit that amount to the State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund.

CHAPTER 17B. MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER'S LICENSES.

ARTICLE 2. ISSUANCE OF LICENSE, EXPIRATION, AND RENEWAL.

§17B-2-6a. Voluntary contribution to State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund.

(a) Each person applying for the issuance or renewal of a driver's license under this article, when paying the fee therefor may voluntarily contribute an additional amount to the State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund by designating the additional amount on the form provided by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

(b) The Division of Motor Vehicles shall prepare and provide to each applicant for the issuance or renewal of a driver's license under this article, a form through which the applicant may voluntarily contribute an additional amount to the State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund. The applicant may include an additional amount as part of the payment made for the fee or may make a separate payment.

(c) The Division of Motor Vehicles shall remit voluntary contributions made under this section on a monthly basis to the State Treasurer for deposit into the State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund established under §15-2-24d of this code.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit individuals to voluntarily contribute to the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund.

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