H. B. 2759


(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and

Delegate Trump)

[Introduced February 12, 1999; referred to the

Committee on Finance.]




A BILL to amend and reenact section six, article twenty-six, chapter five; section twelve, article four and section three, article five, chapter twelve; section nineteen, article twenty-two, chapter twenty-nine; and section twenty- one, article two, chapter sixty, all of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, all relating to the legislative auditor; and specifying the frequency with which the legislative auditor is to conduct certain audits.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section six, article twenty-six, chapter five; section twelve, article four and section three, article five, chapter twelve; section nineteen, article twenty-two, chapter twenty-nine; and section twenty-one, article two, chapter sixty, all of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
CHAPTER 5. GENERAL POWERS AND AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR,

SECRETARY OF STATE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL; BOARD

OF PUBLIC WORKS; MISCELLANEOUS AGENCIES, COMMISSIONS,

OFFICES, PROGRAMS, ETC.

ARTICLE 26. GOVERNOR'S CABINET ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
§5-26-6. Children's fund created; purpose.
(a) The cabinet shall establish a children's fund for the sole purpose of awarding grants, loans and loan guaranties for child abuse and neglect prevention activities. Gifts, bequests or donations for this purpose, in addition to appropriations to the fund, shall be deposited in the state treasury in a special revenue account that is independent from any executive or other department of government, other than the office of the governor. Any moneys deposited in the children's trust fund created pursuant to article six-c, chapter forty-nine of this code on the effective date of this section, and any interest accruing to such fund, shall be deposited in the children's fund created pursuant to this section, and the children's trust fund shall thereafter be discontinued.
(b) Each state taxpayer may voluntarily contribute a portion of the taxpayer's state income tax refund to the children's fund by so designating the contribution on the state personal income tax return form. The cabinet shall approve the wording of the designation on the income tax return form, which designation shall appear on tax forms. as of the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-one The tax commissioner shall determine by the first day of July of each year the total amount designated pursuant to this subsection and shall report that amount to the state treasurer, who shall credit that amount to the children's fund.
(c) All interest accruing from investment of moneys in the children's fund shall be credited to the fund. and The legislative auditor shall conduct an annual audit of the fund before the first day of July, two thousand three and at least every three fiscal years thereafter.
(d) Grants, loans and loan guaranties may be awarded from the children's fund by the cabinet for child abuse and neglect prevention activities.
CHAPTER 12. PUBLIC MONEYS AND SECURITIES.

ARTICLE 4. ACCOUNTS, REPORTS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS.

§12-4-12. Treasurer authorized to provide check-cashing service; establishment and audit of cash funds.

The treasurer may provide a check-cashing service at his or her office in the capitol building and may charge fees for such the service for each check cashed and for each check returned for insufficient funds. For this purpose, he or she may establish from receipts in the treasury not more than two cash funds each in an initial amount not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars. He The treasurer shall designate certain employees in his or her office who are to provide the service and have charge of such the funds, and may require such the employees to be bonded either individually or by blanket bonds. The cost of such the bond or bonds shall be paid out of the treasurer's current expense appropriation.
The fees received for such the service shall be deposited in the cash funds and itemized accounts of such the receipts shall be maintained. Any check determined by the treasurer to be uncollectible shall be charged against the fund from which it was cashed. Before the first day of July, two thousand one and at least every three fiscal years thereafter, the legislative auditor shall at least annually, but may at any time, audit the cash funds and all accounts and records relating to the service provided pursuant to this section. If the amount of either cash fund, after charges for uncollectible checks, exceeds one hundred thousand dollars at the conclusion of any audit, the treasurer shall transfer such the excess to the general revenue fund.
ARTICLE 5. PUBLIC SECURITIES.

§12-5-3. Legislative auditor to examine and list securities.

Before the first day of July, two thousand one and at least every two fiscal years thereafter, the legislative auditor annually shall examine and list all of the securities in the custody of the state treasurer. A copy of the list so examined and certified shall be transmitted to the state treasurer and the department of finance and administration.
CHAPTER 29. MISCELLANEOUS BOARDS AND OFFICERS.

ARTICLE 22. STATE LOTTERY ACT.

§29-22-19. Post audit of accounts and transactions of office.

Before the first day of July, two thousand one and at least every two fiscal years thereafter, the legislative auditor shall conduct a yearly post audit of all accounts and transactions of the state lottery office. The cost of the audit shall be paid out of the state lottery fund moneys designated for payment of operating expenses. The commission shall have an annual audit performed by an independent certified public accountant, and such audit the audits may be accepted by the legislative auditor in lieu of performance of its yearly post audit.
CHAPTER 60. STATE CONTROL OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.

ARTICLE 2. ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CONTROL COMMISSIONER.

§60-2-21. Audit.

At the close of each fiscal year Before the first day of July, two thousand one and at least every two fiscal years thereafter, the legislative auditor shall audit the affairs of the West Virginia alcohol beverage control commissioner and report the results of the audit to the governor. The cost of the audit shall be paid from the operating fund.

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