H. B. 2008
(By Delegate Boggs)
[Introduced February 14, 2001; referred to the
Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section seventeen, article five,
chapter seven of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to authority of
county officials or employees to become members of voluntary
associations; prohibiting public funds from being expended to
any association or organization which lobbies state or federal
legislative or regulatory bodies.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section seventeen, article five, 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 5. FISCAL AFFAIRS.
§7-5-17. Authority of county officials or employees to become
members of voluntary associations.
Any county official or employee is hereby authorized to become
associated and to participate as a member in any voluntary state
association or organization, in the discretion of the county court
commission, from which benefits commensurate with the expense will
be derived by the county. The county court commission is
authorized to expend funds for such purpose and to reimburse such
the person or persons for the actual amount expended by him or her
for food and lodging while in attendance at meetings of such
associations, within this state, with mileage not to exceed the
rate of ten cents per mile, to be computed according to the
distance by the nearest practicable route for travel to and from
such any meeting: Provided, That no public funds may be expended
to any association or organization which lobbies the Legislature,
the United States Congress or any state or federal regulatory body.
Any association or organization which derives seventy-five percent
or more of its total funding from membership dues, beginning the
first day of September of each year shall cause to be published in
accordance with section one, article three, chapter fifty-nine of
this code, a financial statement in a Class 1-0 legal advertisement
published in each county from which the organization derives public
funds. This financial statement shall list, in the aggregate and
by type, all sources of revenue and all major categories of
expenses.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit public funds
from being expended to any association or organization which
lobbies.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.