WEST virginia legislature

2022 Regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4097

By Delegates Holstein, Steele,
Summers, Maynard, Barnhart, Wamsley, Keaton and Mandt

[Introduced January 17, 2022; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §3-1A-9, relating to prohibiting nonpublic funding sources for election administration and related expenses without prior written approval by the State Election Commission.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1A. STATE ELECTION COMMISSION AND SECRETARY OF STATE.

§3-1A-9. Nonpublic funding sources for election administration and related expenses.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the Secretary of State, county commissions, clerks of county commissions, municipal governing bodies, and all other public officials and bodies responsible for overseeing, administering, or regulating an election held within the State of West Virginia may not receive, accept, or expend gifts, donations, or funding from private individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, or any third party not provided through ordinary state or county appropriations without prior written approval by the State Election Commission.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit nonpublic funding sources for election administration and related expenses without prior written approval by the State Election Commission.

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