WEST virginia Legislature

2016 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4247

By Delegates Marcum, Rodighiero, Eldridge, Phillips, P. White, Moye, Bates, Westfall, J. Nelson, Wagner and Frich

[Introduced January 25, 2016; Referred
to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then Finance.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §20-2B-2a, relating to the Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Fund; providing sufficient funding to maintain the Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Area, including its facilities; providing the Director of the Division of Natural Resources shall provide legislative rules designed to fulfil the purpose of providing sufficient funding; and, providing the Mingo county commission administer funds provided by the Division of Natural Resources to accomplish sufficient renovations and improvements to facilities and explore alternative means of funding while administering.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §20-2B-2a, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 2B. WILDLIFE ENDOWMENT FUND.

§20-2B-2a.The Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Fund and advisory board.

 (a) There is hereby created the Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Fund to be used to preserve and maintain the Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Area consisting of twelve thousand eight hundred and fifty six pristine acres in Mingo County of steep terrain with narrow valleys and ridgetops. In addition to the numerous species of wildlife native to this area, including bears, deer, grouse, raccoons, squirrels, wild turkeys as well as wild elk intended for introduction to the area, the terrain contains second growth mixed hardwoods and hemlock with a thick understory of mountain laurel and rhododendron. The Laurel Lake contained therein teems with smallmouth bass, channel catfish and bluegill.  Accordingly, the Legislature hereby finds and declares the area is of vast importance to the state and a compelling interest exists to maintain the natural beauty of the area and to protect and preserve the natural flora and fauna indigenous thereto. The Legislature further finds that the existing facilities thereon, including a swimming pool, tennis court, playground and picnic areas are in need of renovation and improvement.

(b) The Division of Natural Resources shall provide sufficient funds for the purposes prescribed herein. The director shall propose legislative rules designed to fulfil the purpose of this section. The Mingo County commission shall administer the funds provided by the division to renovate and improve existing facilities while seeking to establish additional revenue sources to be used to support the purposes of the fund created by this section.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide sufficient funding to maintain the Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Area, including its facilities. The bill further provides the director of the Division of Natural Resources shall provide legislative rules designed to fulfil the purpose of providing sufficient funding.

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