WEST virginia legislature

2024 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

House Bill 5355

By Delegates Statler, Rohrbach, Mallow, Toney, Ellington, Sheedy, Summers, Riley, Williams, Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker), and Jennings

[Originating in the Committee on Government Organization; Reported on February 21, 2024]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §15A-11-12, relating to the Fire Protection Fund and its use by volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments; making a legislative finding; defining a term; providing that volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments may use monies from the Fire Protection Fund to pay expenses associated with the required implementation of the State Auditor’s West Virginia Checkbook fiscal reporting system.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 11. FIRE COMMISSION.

§15A-11-12. Certain expenses to be paid by Fire Protection Fund.

(a) Legislative findings. – A new provision in §33-3-33 of this code requires volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments in this state to utilize the State Auditor's West Virginia Checkbook fiscal reporting system on or before January 1, 2026, in order to remain eligible to receive any funds. Because volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments have expenses associated with the transition to this online system, such departments should be able to utilize funds from the Fire Protection Fund to cover such expenses.

(b) Definition. – "Expenses" include, but are not limited to, those items that are required or helpful for the implementation of the State Auditor's West Virginia Checkbook fiscal reporting system for volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments, including but not limited to computers, programming, the use of a Certified Public Accountant ("CPA"), and other technology and associated expenses.

(c) Enactment. – Volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments may utilize Fire Protection Fund monies to pay for expenses associated with the transition to the State Auditor's West Virginia Checkbook fiscal reporting system.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments to use fire protection funding for certain purchases associated with the State Auditor's West Virginia Checkbook fiscal reporting system.

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