ENROLLED

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 108

              (By Mr. Speaker (Mr. Miley) Delegates

            Armstead, Manchin, Boggs, Young, White,

         Barker, Sponaugle, Diserio, Ashley and O’Neal)

[Adopted March 8, 2014]

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, amending article X thereof, by adding thereto a new section, designated section twelve, relating to exempting property owned by certain nonprofit youth organizations from taxation whether or not said property is used by the nonprofit organization for its nonprofit purpose; conditioning tax exemption on enactment of certain legislation; numbering and designating such proposed amendment; and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of such proposed amendment.

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, two thirds of the members elected to each house agreeing thereto:

    That the question of ratification or rejection of an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia be submitted to the voters of the state at the next general election to be held in the year 2014, which proposed amendment is that article X thereof be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section twelve, to read as follows:

ARTICLE X. TAXATION AND FINANCE.

§12. Nonprofit youth organization revenue exemption.

    Notwithstanding any provision of this Constitution to the contrary, real property in this state which is owned by a non-profit organization that has as its primary purpose the development of youth through adventure, educational or recreational activities for young people and others, which property contains facilities built at a cost of not less than $100,000,000 and which property is capable of supporting additional activities within the region and the State of West Virginia is exempt from ad valorem property taxation whether or not such property is used for the nonprofit organization’s nonprofit purpose to generate revenue for the benefit of the non-profit organization subject to any requirements, limitations and conditions as may be prescribed by general law: Provided, That the tax exemption authorized by the provisions of this section shall not become effective until the Legislature adopts enabling legislation authorizing the exemption’s implementation and concurrently prescribing requirements, limitations and conditions for the use of the tax exempt facility that protect local and regionally located businesses from use of the tax exempt facility in a manner that causes unfair competition and unreasonable loss of revenue to those businesses.

    Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of article eleven, chapter three of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, such proposed amendment is hereby numbered “Amendment No. 1” and designated as the “Nonprofit Youth Organization Tax Exemption Support Amendment” and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows: “To amend the State Constitution to exempt from property tax certain properties in this state owned by nonprofit youth organizations and built at cost of at least $100 million whether or not the property is used for the nonprofit youth organization’s charitable or nonprofit purpose to help raise funds for the benefit of the nonprofit youth organization. If approved, the Legislature would be required to enact laws that would protect local and regional businesses from unfair competition and unreasonable loss of revenue caused by the nonprofit organization use of the tax exemption.”