WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2023 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

Senate Bill 429

By Senators Smith and Taylor

[Introduced January 23, 2023; referred
to the Committee on Government Organization]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §7-1-3uu, relating to requiring county commissions to impose a Health and Safety Fee of $1.00 per day or activity per person for tourism and recreational activities; listing applicable activities; and defining collection by the county and state, providing distribution timelines to the counties, and requirements for use of the funds disbursed.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1. COUNTY COMMISSIONS GENERALLY.

§7-1-3uu. Health and Safety Fee.

(a) Every county commission shall collect a $1.00 Health and Safety Fee per person per activity/day for the following tourism and recreation activities:

(1) Hotel/Motel/Cabin/Condominium/Airbnb/VRBO rentals;

(2) RV or tent camping fees;

(3) Car rental;

(4) Boat rental;

(5) Boat rides;

(6) ATV/motorcycle/bicycle rental;

(7) Bus excursions/charter (this shall be per person per day);

(8) Ski lift usage;

(9) Whitewater rafting;

(10) Guided fishing or hunting excursions;

(11) Zip line, rock climbing, paddle boarding, and similar outdoor adventure activities;

(12) Carnival, fair, or amusement park visits;

(13) Train rides;

(14) Museum or historical home tours;

(15) Concerts or music festivals;

(b) The County Commissions for each county shall provide these funds to the state for accounting quarterly;

(c) The State shall return the funds collected by each county semi-annually;

(d) The monies returned to the county semi-annually must be earmarked specifically for use in emergency services readiness, and to be divided equally among EMS and fire departments.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create a statewide Health and Safety Fee that would allow visitors to help contribute to the readiness cost of emergency services through a $1.00 per day/activity fee that would be distributed to the counties twice per year.

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