WEST virginia legislature

2016 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4290

By Delegates Marcum and P. White

[Introduced January 27, 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; requiring the Director of the Division of Natural Resources to collaborate with the Mingo County Commission to explore alternative means of funding the fund; and, creating the Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Fund advisory board.

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 an upgrade and maintenance. 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 division shall consult with the county commission of Mingo County in an effort of collaboration intended to seek and establish additional revenue sources to be used to support the purposes of the fund created by this section.

(b) The Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Board is hereby created. The board shall consist of the director of the Division of Natural Resources, the county commissioners of Mingo County and all members of the natural resources commission whose primary purpose is to seek, establish and provide sufficient funding for the purposes set forth in subsection (a) of 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 while requiring the director of the Division of Natural Resources to collaborate with the Mingo County Commission to explore alternative means of funding the fund. The bill also creates the Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Fund advisory board.

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