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Introduced Version House Bill 3175 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

H. B. 3175


         (By Delegates Savilla, Andes, Gearheart,

            Ellington, Snuffer, Hall and Armstead)


         [Introduced February 17, 2011; referred to the

         Committee on Government Organization then the Judiciary.]

 

 

A BILL to amend and reenact §17-16A-13a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to public notice and hearing requirements of the Parkways Authority.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §17-16A-13a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 16A. WEST VIRGINIA PARKWAYS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND  TOURISM AUTHORITY.

§17-16A-13a. Public notice and hearing requirements.

    (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the law to the contrary, on and after July 1, 2010, the Parkways Authority is authorized after prior public notice and hearing, as set forth in this section, to:

    (1) Fix initial rates, tolls or charges along any portion of a parkway project, or approve any proposal or contract that would require the Parkways Authority to fix any initial rates, tolls or charges along any portion of a parkway project;

    (2) Increase any rates, tolls or charges along any portion of the parkway project, or approve any proposal or contract that would result in or require an increase in any rates or tolls along any portion of the parkway project;

    (3) Issue any refunding bond pursuant to sections twenty-one and twenty-two of this article which would require the Parkways Authority to increase rates, tolls or charges;

    (4) Approve any contract or project which would require or result in an increase in the rates, tolls or charges along any portion of the parkway project; or

    (5) Take any other action which would require or result in an increase in the rates, tolls or charges along any portion of the parkway project.

    (b) The Parkways Authority shall publish notice of any proposed contract, project or bond which would require the Parkways Authority to fix any initial toll rates or charges, result in an increase of any toll rates or charges or extend any bond repayment obligation, along with the associated initial rate, rate increase or revised bond repayment period, by a Class II legal advertisement in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, published and of general circulation in each county which borders the parkway project or proposed parkway project affected by the proposed contract, project or bond.

    (c) Once notice has been provided in accordance with the provisions of this section, the Parkways Authority shall conduct a public hearing in each county which borders the parkway project or proposed parkway project affected by the proposed contract, project or bond, and any citizen may communicate by writing to the Parkways Authority his or her opposition to or approval of such proposal, initial rate or toll, rate or toll increase or amended bond terms. The public notice and written public comment period shall be conducted not less than forty-five days from the publication of the notice and the affected public must be provided with at least twenty days' notice of each scheduled public hearing.

    (d) All studies, records, documents and other materials which were considered by the Parkways Authority before recommending the approval of any such project or recommending the adoption of any such initial rate or increase shall be made available for public inspection for a period of at least twenty days prior to the scheduled hearing at a convenient location in each county where a public hearing is held.

    (e) At the conclusion of all required public hearings, the Parkways Authority shall render a final decision which shall include written findings of fact supporting its final decision on any proposed project which would result in or require initial rates, a rate increase, or prior to finally approving any proposed initial rate or toll or rate or toll increase, and such required findings and conclusions must reference and give due consideration to the public comments and additional evidence offered during the public hearings.

    (f) On and after July 1, 2010, any final action taken by the Parkways Authority to approve or implement any proposed initial rate, rate increase, contract or project which would require or result in a proposed initial rate or toll or a proposed increase of any rate or tolls along any portion of the parkway project without first satisfying the public notice and hearing requirements of this section, shall be null and void.

    (g) On and after July, 1, 2011, any final action taken by the Parkways Authority to approve or implement any proposed initial rate, rate increase, contract or project which would require or result in a proposed initial rate or toll or a proposed increase of any rate or tolls along any portion of the parkway project shall be required to be subjected to a vote of the residents of the county affected by the proposed initial rate or toll or a proposed increase of any rate or tolls. A majority of all voters participating in such election is required to approve the proposed initial rate or toll or a proposed increase of any rate or tolls before it can be implemented.

 

 

 

    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require a popular vote of the residents of the county affected by a proposed initial rate or toll or a proposed increase of any rate or tolls.

 

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

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