H. B. 2255
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, By Request)
[Introduced January 15, 1999; referred to the
Committee on Political Subdivisions then Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section three-d, article one, chapter
seven of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to requiring
volunteer fire departments to file a financial statement
with the county commission on standard forms to be devised
and provided by the state tax department.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section three-d, article one, chapter seven of the code
of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. COUNTY COMMISSIONS GENERALLY.
§7-1-3d. Levy for, establishment and operation of fire
prevention units; financial aid; duty of volunteer
fire departments receiving public funds to file
financial statement with county clerk.
The county court in any county is authorized to levy for and
may erect, maintain and operate fire stations and fire prevention
units and equipment therefor in the county: Provided, however,
That should a county court commission establish a separate fire
protection unit in any city in West Virginia which is now
operating under the provisions of the state civil service act for
paid fire departments then such new unit shall be operated in
accordance with the provisions of said civil service act. Any
county court commission may render financial aid to any one or
more public fire protection facilities in operation in the county
for the general benefit of the public in the prevention of fires:
Provided, however, That any volunteer fire department operating
in any county in this state which receives any source of public
moneys shall file a financial statement with the clerk of the
county commission on or before the fifteenth day of January for
the preceding year on a standardized form devised and provided by
the state tax commissioner. The statement shall reflect all
public moneys received during the course of the year as well as
all expenditures made by the volunteer fire department.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require volunteer fire
departments to file financial statements with the county
commission on standard forms to be devised and provided by the
state tax department.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.