H. B. 4548


(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chambers, and Delegate Staton)
(Introduced February 22, 1994; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.)





A BILL to amend article eight, chapter three of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section two-a, relating to financial reporting by political inaugural parties.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That article eight, chapter three of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section two-a, all to read as follows:
 ARTICLE 8. REGULATION AND CONTROL OF ELECTIONS.
 § 3-8-2a. Reporting by inaugural committees.
(a) Each inaugural committee established for the purpose of financing all or any part of an inaugural ceremony or activity for any person elected to any office, other than any federal office, shall file and keep records of receipts and expenditures which it makes in support of inauguration activities. All such receipts and expenditures are subject to regulation under the provisions of this article. Verified financial statements of receipts and expenditures shall be made and filed as public records in the office of the secretary of state by all inaugural committees or by their financial agents, representatives, or any person acting for and on behalf of any inauguration activities:
 Provided That any inaugural ceremony or activity that requires a total expenditure of funds by an inaugural committee of one thousand dollars or any lesser amount shall be exempt from the filing and recordkeeping requirements of this section.
For purposes of this section, "inaugural committee" means one or more persons who receive contributions and make expenditures in support of inauguration activities for any candidate elected to any office, other than any federal office.
(b) All inaugural committees shall file verified financial statements with the secretary of state, on forms as prescribed by the secretary of state, not more than thirty days after the date of the inauguration of the elected official for whose inauguration the inaugural committee was formed.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide for a financial reporting requirement by inaugural committees.

Section two-a is new, and therefore any underscoring has been eliminated.