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.