
H. B. 4558
(By Delegates Kominar, Proudfoot, Fletcher,
Stalnaker, Boggs and Browning)
(Originating in the Committee on Finance)
[February 20, 2002]
A BILL to
amend and reenact section three, article twelve-c,
chapter eleven of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended
;
to amend and reenact section
two hundred two, article two, chapter thirty-one-b of said
code
;
to amend and reenact section one thousand two, article
ten of said chapter; to amend and reenact section eight,
article one-a, chapter thirty-eight of said code; to amend and
reenact section five hundred twenty-five, article nine,
chapter forty-six of said code; to amend and reenact sections
thirty-one and thirty-three, article three, chapter fifty-six
of said code; and to amend and reenact section two, article
one, chapter fifty-nine of said code, all relating to fees for
articles of organization for limited liability companies and
certificate of authority for foreign limited liability
companies; providing for the deposit of certain fees; and removing certain contradictory language.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That
section three, article twelve-c, chapter eleven
of the
code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted;
that section two hundred two,
article two, chapter thirty-one-b
of said code
be amended and
reenacted; that section one thousand two, article ten of said
chapter be amended and reenacted; that section eight, article one-
a, chapter thirty-eight of said code be amended and reenacted; that
section five hundred twenty-five, article nine, chapter forty-six
of said code be amended and reenacted; that sections thirty-one and
thirty-three, article three, chapter fifty-six of said code be
amended and reenacted; and that section two, article one, chapter
fifty-nine of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as
follows:
CHAPTER 11. TAXATION.
ARTICLE 12C. CORPORATE LICENSE TAX.
§11-12C-3. Payment and collection of tax; deposit of money; return
required.
(a) Payment and collection of tax. -- When application is made
to the secretary of state for a certificate of incorporation or
authority to do business in this state, it shall be the duty of the
applicant to pay all taxes and fees due under this article; and it shall be the duty of the secretary of state to collect the
corporate license tax for the first year before issuing such the
certificate. Thereafter, on or before the first day of the license
tax year next following the date of the certificate, and on or
before the first day of each succeeding license tax year, such the
corporation shall pay and the tax commissioner shall collect such
the
tax for a full license tax year together with the statutory
attorney fee: Provided, That if the application is made on or
after the first day of the second month preceding the beginning of
the next license tax year, and before the first day of such the
license tax year, the secretary of state shall collect the tax for
the full year beginning on such the
first day of the next license
tax year in addition to the initial tax, together with the
statutory attorney fee.
(b) Deposit of money. -- The money so received by the
secretary of state and the tax commissioner shall be paid by them
into the state treasury. The first year license tax received by
the secretary of state pursuant to the provisions of this article
shall be deposited by the secretary of state as follows: One-half
shall be deposited in the state general revenue fund and one-half
shall be deposited in the services fees and collections account
established by section two, article one, chapter fifty-nine of this
code. The license tax received by the tax commissioner every year after the initial registration shall be deposited into the state
general revenue fund.
(c) Returns. -- Payment of the tax and statutory attorney fee
required under the provisions of this section shall be accompanied
by a return on forms provided by the tax commissioner for that
purpose. The tax commissioner shall upon completion of processing
such the
return, forward it to the secretary of state, together
with a list of all corporations which have paid such the
tax. Such
The
return shall contain: (1) The address of its principal office;
(2) the names and mailing addresses of its officers and directors;
(3) the name and mailing address of the person on whom notice of
process may be served; and (4) the name and address of the
corporation's parent corporation and of each subsidiary of the
corporation licensed to do business in this state and such any
other information as the tax commissioner deems considers
appropriate. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
contrary, the secretary of state shall, upon request of any person,
disclose: (A) The address of the corporation's principal office;
(B) the names and addresses of its officers and directors; (C) the
name and mailing address of the person on whom notice of process
may be served; and (D) the name and address of each subsidiary of
the corporation and the corporation's parent corporation.
CHAPTER 31B. UNIFORM LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ACT.
ARTICLE 2. ORGANIZATION.
§31B-2-202. Organization.
(a) One or more persons may organize a limited liability
company, consisting of one or more members, by delivering articles
of organization to the office of the secretary of state for filing,
together with a fee in the amount of one hundred dollars
as
prescribed by section two, article one, chapter fifty-nine of this
code.
(b) Unless a delayed effective date is specified, the
existence of a limited liability company begins when the articles
of organization are filed.
(c) The filing of the articles of organization by the
secretary of state is conclusive proof that the organizers
satisfied all conditions precedent to the creation of a limited
liability company.
ARTICLE 10. FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES.
§31B-10-1002. Application for certificate of authority.
(a) A foreign limited liability company may apply for a
certificate of authority to transact business in this state by
delivering an application to the secretary of state for filing,
together with a fee in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars
as
prescribed by section two, article one, chapter fifty-nine of this
code.
The application must set forth:
(1) The name of the foreign company or, if its name is
unavailable for use in this state, a name that satisfies the
requirements of section 10-1005;
(2) The name of the state or country under whose law it is
organized;
(3) The street address of its principal office;
(4) The name and address of each member having authority to
execute instruments on behalf of the limited liability company;
(5) The address of its initial designated office in this
state;
(6) The name and street address of its initial agent for
service of process in this state;
(7) Whether the duration of the company is for a specified
term and, if so, the period specified;
(8) Whether the company is manager-managed, and, if so, the
name and address of each initial manager; and
(9) Whether the members of the company are to be liable for
its debts and obligations under a provision similar to section 3-
303(c).
(b) A foreign limited liability company shall deliver with the
completed application a certificate of existence or a record of
similar import authenticated by the secretary of state or other official having custody of company records in the state or country
under whose law it is organized.
CHAPTER 38. LIENS.
ARTICLE 1A. TRUSTEES OF SECURITY TRUSTS.
§38-1A-8. How service of process or notice made.
Service of such process or notice shall be made by mailing or
delivering to the office of said secretary of state three copies of
such process or notice, with a notation thereon of the residence
address of the trustee upon whom service is being had, as stated in
the security trust; if the address of the trustee be not stated in
the security trust, the notation shall state the address of the
beneficiary of such trust as given in the security trust; and
service thereof shall be complete upon the receipt in said office
of such notice or process bearing such notation and accompanied by
the fee required by section two, article one, chapter fifty-nine of
this code, which shall be taxed as costs in the suit, action or
proceeding. The secretary of state shall pay into the state
treasury all funds so coming into his hands, and shall keep one
copy of all such process and notices, with a record of the day and
hour of service thereof.
CHAPTER 46. UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE.
ARTICLE 9. SECURED TRANSACTIONS; SALES OF ACCOUNTS AND CHATTEL
PAPER.
§46-9-525. Fees.
(a) Initial financing statement or other record: general
rule. -- Except as otherwise provided in subsection (e) of this
section, the fee for filing and indexing a record under this part,
other than an initial financing statement of the kind described in
subsection (b) of this section, is the amount specified in
subsection (c) of this section, if applicable, plus:
(1) Ten dollars if the record is communicated in writing and
consists of one or two pages;
(2) Ten dollars if the record is communicated in writing and
consists of more than two pages; and
(3) Ten dollars if the record is communicated by another
medium authorized by filing-office rule.
(b) Initial financing statement: Public-finance and
manufactured housing transactions. -- Except as otherwise provided
in subsection (e) of this section, the fee for filing and indexing
an initial financing statement of the following kind is the amount
specified in subsection (c) of this section, if applicable, plus:
(1) Ten dollars if the financing statement indicates that it
is filed in connection with a public-finance transaction;
(2) Ten dollars if the financing statement indicates that it
is filed in connection with a manufactured-home transaction.
(c) Number of names. -- The number of names required to be indexed does not affect the amount of the fee in subsections (a)
and (b) of this section.
(d) Response to information request. -- The fee for responding
to a request for information from the filing office, including for
issuing a certificate showing whether there is on file any
financing statement naming a particular debtor, is:
(1) Five dollars if the request is communicated in writing;
(2) Five dollars if the request is communicated by another
medium authorized by filing-office rule; and
(3) Fifty cents per page for each active lien.
(e) Record of mortgage. -- This section does not require a fee
with respect to a record of a mortgage which is effective as a
financing statement filed as a fixture filing or as a financing
statement covering as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut
under section 9-502(c). However, the recording and satisfaction
fees that otherwise would be applicable to the record of the
mortgage apply.
(f) Deposit of funds. -- All fees and moneys collected by the
secretary of state pursuant to the provisions of this article shall
be deposited by the secretary of state in a separate fund in the
state treasury and shall be expended solely for the purposes of
this article, as follows: One-half shall be deposited in the state
fund, general revenue, and one-half shall be deposited in the service fees and collections account established by section two,
article one, chapter fifty-nine of this code for the operation of
the office of the secretary of state. Any balance remaining on the
thirtieth day of June, two thousand one, in the existing special
revenue account entitled "uniform commercial code" as established
by chapter two hundred four, acts of the Legislature, regular
session one thousand nine hundred eighty-nine, shall be transferred
to the service fees and collections account established by section
two, article one, chapter fifty-nine of this code for the operation
of the office of the secretary of state. The secretary of state
shall dedicate sufficient resources from that fund or other funds
to provide the services required in this article, unless otherwise
provided by appropriation or other action by the Legislature.
CHAPTER 56. PLEADING AND PRACTICE.
ARTICLE 3. WRITS, PROCESS AND ORDER OF PUBLICATION.
§56-3-31. Actions by or against nonresident operators of motor
vehicles involved in highway accidents; appointment
of secretary of state, insurance company, as agents;
service of process.
(a) Every nonresident, for the privilege of operating a motor
vehicle on a public street, road or highway of this state, either
personally or through an agent, appoints the secretary of state, or
his or her successor in office, to be his or her agent or attorney-in-fact upon whom may be served all lawful process in any
action or proceeding against him or her in any court of record in
this state arising out of any accident or collision occurring in
the state of West Virginia in which such nonresident may be
involved: Provided, That in the event process against a
nonresident defendant cannot be effected through the secretary of
state, as provided by this section, for the purpose only of service
of process, such nonresident motorist shall be deemed to have
appointed as his or her agent or attorney-in-fact any insurance
company which has a contract of automobile or liability insurance
with said nonresident defendant.
(b) For purposes of service of process as provided in this
section, every insurance company shall be deemed the agent or
attorney-in-fact of every nonresident motorist insured by such
company if the insured nonresident motorist is involved in any
accident or collision in this state and service of process cannot
be effected upon said nonresident through the office of the
secretary of state. Upon receipt of process as hereinafter
provided, the insurance company may, within thirty days, file an
answer or other pleading or take any action allowed by law on
behalf of the defendant.
(c) A nonresident operating a motor vehicle in this state,
either personally or through an agent, is deemed to acknowledge the appointment of the secretary of state, or, as the case may be, his
or her automobile insurance company, as his or her agent or
attorney-in-fact, or the agent or attorney-in-fact of his or her
administrator, administratrix, executor or executrix in the event
the nonresident dies, and furthermore is deemed to agree that any
process against him or her or against his or her administrator,
administratrix, executor or executrix, which is served in the
manner hereinafter provided, shall be of the same legal force and
validity as though said nonresident or his or her administrator,
administratrix, executor or executrix were personally served with
a summons and complaint within this state.
Any action or proceeding may be instituted, continued or
maintained on behalf of or against the administrator,
administratrix, executor or executrix of any nonresident who dies
during or subsequent to an accident or collision resulting from the
operation of a motor vehicle in this state by the nonresident or
his or her duly authorized agent.
(d) At the time of filing a complaint against a nonresident
motorist who has been involved in an accident or collision in the
state of West Virginia and before a summons is issued thereon, the
plaintiff, or someone for him or her, shall execute a bond in the
sum of one hundred dollars before the clerk of the court in which
the action is filed, with surety to be approved by said clerk, conditioned that on failure of the plaintiff to prevail in the
action he or she will reimburse the defendant, or cause the
defendant to be reimbursed, the necessary expense incurred in the
defense of the action in this state. Upon the issue of a summons
the clerk will certify thereon that the bond has been given and
approved.
(e) Service of process upon a nonresident defendant shall be
made by leaving the original and two copies of both the summons and
complaint, together with the bond certificate of the clerk, and the
fee required by section two, article one, chapter fifty-nine of
this code with the secretary of state, or in his or her office, and
said service shall be sufficient upon the nonresident defendant or,
if a natural person, his or her administrator, administratrix,
executor or executrix: Provided, That notice of service and a copy
of the summons and complaint shall be sent by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, by the secretary of state
to the nonresident defendant. The return receipt signed by the
defendant or his or her duly authorized agent shall be attached to
the original summons and complaint and filed in the office of the
clerk of the court from which process is issued. In the event the
registered or certified mail sent by the secretary of state is
refused or unclaimed by the addressee or if the addressee has moved
without any forwarding address, the registered or certified mail returned to the secretary of state, or to his or her office,
showing thereon the stamp of the post-office department that
delivery has been refused or not claimed or that the addressee has
moved without any forwarding address, shall be appended to the
original summons and complaint and filed in the clerk's office of
the court from which process issued. The court may order such
continuances as may be reasonable to afford the defendant
opportunity to defend the action.
(f) The fee remitted to the secretary of state at the time of
service, shall be taxed in the costs of the proceeding. and the
secretary of state shall pay into the state treasury all funds so
coming into his or her hands from such service The secretary of
state shall keep a record in his or her office of all service of
process and the day and hour of service thereof.
(g) In the event service of process upon a nonresident
defendant cannot be effected through the secretary of state as
provided by this section, service may be made upon the defendant's
insurance company. The plaintiff must file with the clerk of the
circuit court an affidavit alleging that the defendant is not a
resident of this state; that process directed to the secretary of
state was sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested; that the registered or certified mail was returned to
the office of the secretary of state showing the stamp of the post-office department that delivery was refused or that the notice
was unclaimed or that the defendant addressee moved without any
forwarding address; and that the secretary of state has complied
with the provisions of subsection (e) herein. Upon receipt of
process the insurance company may, within thirty days, file an
answer or other pleading and take any action allowed by law in the
name of the defendant.
(h) The following words and phrases, when used in this
article, shall, for the purpose of this article and unless a
different intent on the part of the Legislature is apparent from
the context, have the following meanings:
(1) "Duly authorized agent" means and includes, among others,
a person who operates a motor vehicle in this state for a
nonresident as defined in this section and chapter, in pursuit of
business, pleasure or otherwise, or who comes into this state and
operates a motor vehicle for, or with the knowledge or acquiescence
of, a nonresident; and includes, among others, a member of the
family of such nonresident or a person who, at the residence, place
of business or post office of such nonresident, usually receives
and acknowledges receipt for mail addressed to the nonresident.
(2) "Motor vehicle" means and includes any self-propelled
vehicle, including motorcycle, tractor and trailer, not operated
exclusively upon stationary tracks.
(3) "Nonresident" means any person who is not a resident of
this state or a resident who has moved from the state subsequent to
an accident or collision, and among others includes a nonresident
firm, partnership, corporation or voluntary association, or a firm,
partnership, corporation or voluntary association that has moved
from the state subsequent to an accident or collision.
(4) "Nonresident plaintiff or plaintiffs" means a nonresident
who institutes an action in a court in this state having
jurisdiction against a nonresident in pursuance of the provisions
of this article.
(5) "Nonresident defendant or defendants" means a nonresident
motorist who, either personally or through his or her agent,
operated a motor vehicle on a public street, highway or road in
this state and was involved in an accident or collision which has
given rise to a civil action filed in any court in this state.
(6) "Street", "road" or "highway" means the entire width
between property lines of every way or place of whatever nature
when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter
of right, for purposes of vehicular traffic.
(7) "Insurance company" means any firm, corporation,
partnership or other organization which issues automobile insurance.
(i) The provision for service of process herein is cumulative and
nothing herein contained shall be construed as a bar to the plaintiff in any action from having process in such action served
in any other mode and manner provided by law.
§56-3-33. Actions by or against nonresident persons having certain
contracts with this state; authorizing secretary of
state to receive process; bond and fees; service of
process; definitions; retroactive application.
(a) The engaging by a nonresident, or by his or her duly
authorized agent, in any one or more of the acts specified in
subdivisions (1) through (7) of this subsection shall be deemed
equivalent to an appointment by such nonresident of the secretary
of state, or his or her successor in office, to be his or her true
and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all lawful process in
any action or proceeding against him or her, in any circuit court
in this state, including an action or proceeding brought by a
nonresident plaintiff or plaintiffs, for a cause of action arising
from or growing out of such act or acts, and the engaging in such
act or acts shall be a signification of such nonresident's
agreement that any such process against him or her, which is served
in the manner hereinafter provided, shall be of the same legal
force and validity as though such nonresident were personally
served with a summons and complaint within this state:
(1) Transacting any business in this state;
(2) Contracting to supply services or things in this state;
(3) Causing tortious injury by an act or omission in this
state;
(4) Causing tortious injury in this state by an act or
omission outside this state if he or she regularly does or solicits
business, or engages in any other persistent course of conduct, or
derives substantial revenue from goods used or consumed or services
rendered in this state;
(5) Causing injury in this state to any person by breach of
warranty expressly or impliedly made in the sale of goods outside
this state when he or she might reasonably have expected such
person to use, consume or be affected by the goods in this state:
Provided, That he or she also regularly does or solicits business,
or engages in any other persistent course of conduct, or derives
substantial revenue from goods used or consumed or services
rendered in this state;
(6) Having an interest in, using or possessing real property
in this state; or
(7) Contracting to insure any person, property or risk located
within this state at the time of contracting.
(b) When jurisdiction over a nonresident is based solely upon
the provisions of this section, only a cause of action arising from
or growing out of one or more of the acts specified in subdivisions
(1) through (7), subsection (a) of this section may be asserted against him or her.
(c) At the time of filing a complaint and before a summons is
issued thereon, the plaintiff, or someone for him or her, shall
execute a bond in the sum of one hundred dollars before the clerk
of the court, with surety to be approved by said clerk, conditioned
that on failure of the plaintiff to prevail in the action or
proceeding that he or she will reimburse the defendant, or cause
him or her to be reimbursed, the necessary taxable costs incurred
by him or her in and about the defense of the action or proceeding
in this state, and upon the issuance of a summons, the clerk shall
certify thereon that such bond has been given and approved.
Service shall be made by leaving the original and two copies of
both the summons and the complaint with the certificate aforesaid
of the clerk thereon, and the fee required by section two, article
one, chapter fifty-nine of this code with the secretary of state,
or in his or her office, and such service shall be sufficient upon
such nonresident: Provided, That notice of such service and a copy
of the summons and complaint shall forthwith be sent by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, by the secretary of
state to the defendant at his or her nonresident address and the
defendant's return receipt signed by himself or herself or his or
her duly authorized agent or the registered or certified mail so
sent by the secretary of state which is refused by the addressee and which registered or certified mail is returned to the secretary
of state, or to his or her office, showing thereon the stamp of the
post-office department that delivery has been refused, shall be
appended to the original summons and complaint and filed therewith
in the clerk's office of the court from which process issued. If
any defendant served with summons and complaint fails to appear and
defend within thirty days of service, judgment by default may be
rendered against him or her at any time thereafter. The court may
order such continuances as may be reasonable to afford the
defendant opportunity to defend the action or proceeding.
(d) The fee remitted to the secretary of state at the time of
service shall be taxed in the costs of the action or proceeding.
and the secretary of state shall pay into the state treasury all
funds so coming into his hands from such service The secretary of
state shall keep a record in his or her office of all such process
and the day and hour of service thereof.
(e) The following words and phrases, when used in this
section, shall for the purpose of this section and unless a
different intent be apparent from the context, have the following
meanings:
(1) "Duly authorized agent" means and includes among others a
person who, at the direction of or with the knowledge or
acquiescence of a nonresident, engages in such act or acts and includes among others a member of the family of such nonresident or
a person who, at the residence, place of business or post office of
such nonresident, usually receives and receipts for mail addressed
to such nonresident.
(2) "Nonresident" means any person, other than voluntary
unincorporated associations, who is not a resident of this state or
a resident who has moved from this state subsequent to engaging in
such act or acts, and among others includes a nonresident firm,
partnership or corporation or a firm, partnership or corporation
which has moved from this state subsequent to any of said such act
or acts.
(3) "Nonresident plaintiff or plaintiffs" means a nonresident
of this state who institutes an action or proceeding in a circuit
court in this state having jurisdiction against a nonresident of
this state pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(f) The provision for service of process herein is cumulative
and nothing herein contained shall be construed as a bar to the
plaintiff in any action or proceeding from having process in such
action served in any other mode or manner provided by the law of
this state or by the law of the place in which the service is made
for service in that place in an action in any of its courts of
general jurisdiction.
(g) This section shall not be retroactive and the provisions hereof shall not be available to a plaintiff in a cause of action
arising from or growing out of any of said acts occurring prior to
the effective date of this section.
CHAPTER 59. FEES, ALLOWANCES AND COSTS;
NEWSPAPERS; LEGAL ADVERTISEMENTS.
ARTICLE 1. FEES AND ALLOWANCES.
§59-1-2. Fees to be charged by secretary of state.

(a) Except as may be otherwise provided in this code, the
secretary of state shall charge for services rendered in his or her
office the following fees to be paid by the person to whom the
service is rendered at the time it is done:
(1) For filing, recording, indexing, preserving a record of
and issuing a certificate relating to the formation, amendment,
change of name, registration of trade name, merger, consolidation,
conversion, renewal, dissolution, termination, cancellation,
withdrawal revocation and reinstatement of business entities
organized within the state, as follows:
(A) Articles of incorporation of for-profit
corporation
$50.00
(B) Articles of incorporation of nonprofit
corporation
25.00
(C) Articles of organization of limited liability
company
100.00
(C) (D) Agreement of a general partnership
50.00

(D) (E) Certificate of a limited partnership
100.00

(E) (F) Agreement of a voluntary association
50.00

(F) (G) Articles of organization of a business trust
50.00

(G) (H) Amendment or correction of articles of incorporation,
including change of name or increase of capital stock, in
addition to any applicable license tax
25.00

(H) (I) Amendment or correction, including change of name, of
articles of organization of business trust, limited liability
partnership, limited liability company or professional limited
liability company or of certificate of limited partnership
or agreement of voluntary association
25.00

(I) (J) Amendment and restatement of articles of
incorporation, certificate of limited partnership, agreement of
voluntary association or articles of organization of limited
liability partnership, limited liability company or professional
limited liability company or business trust
25.00

(J) (K) Registration of trade name, otherwise designated as a
true name, fictitious name or D.B.A. (doing business as) name for
any domestic business entity as permitted by law
25.00

(K) (L) Articles of merger of two corporations, limited
partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited liability
companies or professional limited liability companies, voluntary associations or business trusts.
25.00

(L) (M) Plus for each additional party to the merger in
excess of two. . . .
15.00

(M) (N) Statement of conversion, when permitted, from one
business entity into another business entity, in addition to the
cost of filing the appropriate documents to organize the
surviving entity
25.00

(N) (O) Articles of dissolution of a corporation, voluntary
association or business trust, or statement of dissolution of a
general partnership
25.00

(O) (P) Revocation of voluntary dissolution of a corporation,
voluntary association or business trust
15.00

(P) (Q) Articles of termination of a limited liability
company, cancellation of a limited partnership or statement of
withdrawal of limited liability partnership
25.00

(Q) (R) Reinstatement of a limited liability company or
professional limited liability company after administrative
dissolution
25.00
(2) For filing, recording, indexing, preserving a record of
and issuing a certificate relating to the registration, amendment,
change of name, merger, consolidation, conversion, renewal,
withdrawal or termination within this state of business entities
organized in other states or countries, as follows:
(A) Certificate of authority of for-profit
corporation
$100.00
(B) Certificate of authority of nonprofit corporation
50.00
(C) Certificate of authority of foreign limited liability
companies ..................................................150.00

(C) (D) Certificate of exemption from certificate
of authority
25.00

(D) (E) Registration of a general partnership
50.00

(E) (F) Registration of a limited partnership
150.00

(F) (G) Registration of a limited liability partnership for
two-year term
500.00

(G) (H) Registration of a voluntary association
50.00

(H) (I) Registration of a trust or business trust
50.00

(I) (J) Amendment or correction of certificate of authority of
a foreign corporation, including change of name or increase of
capital stock, in addition to any applicable license tax
25.00

(J) (K) Amendment or correction of certificate of limited
partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability
company or professional limited liability company, voluntary
association or business trust
25.00

(K) (L) Registration of trade name, otherwise designated as a
true name, fictitious name or D.B.A. (doing business as) name for
any foreign business entity as permitted by law
25.00

(L) (M) Amendment and restatement of certificate of authority
or of registration of a corporation, limited partnership, limited
liability partnership, limited liability company or professional
limited liability company, voluntary association or business
trust
25.00

(M) (N) Articles of merger of two corporations, limited
partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited liability
companies or professional limited liability companies, voluntary
associations or business trusts
25.00

(N) (O) Plus for each additional party to the merger in excess
of two
5.00

(O) (P) Statement of conversion, when permitted, from one
business entity into another business entity, in addition to the
cost of filing the appropriate articles or certificate to organize
the surviving entity
25.00

(P) (Q) Certificate of withdrawal or cancellation of a
corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership,
limited liability company, voluntary association or business
trust
25.00
(3) For receiving, filing and recording a change of the
principal or designated office, change of the agent of process
and/or change of officers, directors, partners, members or
managers, as the case may be, of a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability
company or other business entity as provided by law
15.00
(4) For receiving, filing and preserving a reservation of a
name for each one hundred twenty days or for any other period in
excess of seven days prescribed by law for a corporation, limited
partnership, limited liability partnership or limited
liability company
15.00
(5) For issuing a certificate relating to a corporation or
other business entity, as follows:
(A) Certificate of good standing of a domestic or foreign
corporation
$10.00
(B) Certificate of existence of a domestic limited liability
company, and certificate of authorization foreign limited
liability company
10.00
(C) Certificate of existence of any business entity, trademark
or service mark registered with the secretary of state
10.00
(D) Certified copy of corporate charter or comparable
organizing documents for other business entities
15.00
(E) Plus, for each additional amendment, restatement or other
additional document
5.00
(F) Certificate of registration of the name of a foreign
corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or
limited liability partnership
25.00
(G) And for the annual renewal of the name
registration
10.00
(H) Any other certificate not herein specified
10.00
(6) For issuing a certificate other than those relating to
business entities, as provided in this subsection, as follows:
(A) Certificate or apostille relating to the authority of
certain public officers, including the membership of boards and
commissions
$10.00
(B) Plus, for each additional certificate pertaining to the
same transaction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.00
(C) Any other certificate not herein specified
10.00
(D) For acceptance, indexing and recordation of service of
process any corporation, limited partnership, limited liability
partnership, limited liability company, voluntary association,
business trust, insurance company, person or other entity as
permitted by law
15.00
(E) For shipping and handling expenses for execution of
service of process by certified mail upon any defendant within the
United States, which fee is to be deposited to the special revenue
account established in this section for the operation of the office
of the secretary of state.
5.00
(F) For shipping and handling expenses for execution of
service of process upon any defendant outside the United States by registered mail, which fee is to be deposited to the special
revenue account established in this section for the operation of
the office of the secretary of state.
15.00
(7) For a search of records of the office conducted by
employees of or at the expense of the secretary of state upon
request, as follows:
(A) For any search of archival records maintained at sites
other than the office of the secretary of state, no less than
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10.00
(B) For searches of archival records maintained at sites
other than the office of the secretary of state which require more
than one hour, for each hour or fraction thereof consumed in making
such search
10.00
(C) For any search of records maintained on site for the
purpose of obtaining copies of documents or printouts of
data
5.00
(D) For any search of records maintained in electronic
format which requires special programming to be performed by the
state information services agency or other vendor, any actual cost,
but not less than
25.00
(E) The cost of the search shall be in addition to the cost of
any copies or printouts prepared or any certificate issued pursuant
thereto or based thereon.
(F) For recording any paper for which no specific fee is
prescribed
5.00
(8) For producing and providing photocopies or printouts of
electronic data of specific records upon request, as follows:
(A) For a copy of any paper or printout of electronic data, if
one sheet
$1.00
(B) For each sheet after the first
.50
(C) For sending the copies or lists by fax
transmission
5.00
(D) For producing and providing photocopies of lists, reports,
guidelines and other documents produced in multiple copies for
general public use, a publication price to be established by the
secretary of state at a rate approximating 2.00 plus .10 per page
and rounded to the nearest dollar.
(E) For electronic copies of records obtained in data format
on disk, the cost of the record in the least expensive available
printed format, plus, for each required disk, which shall be
provided by the secretary of state
5.00

(b) The secretary of state may promulgate legislative rules
for charges for on-line electronic access to database information
or other information maintained by the secretary of state.

(c) For any other work or service not enumerated in this
subsection, the fee prescribed elsewhere in this code or a rule promulgated under the authority of this code.

(d) The records maintained by the secretary of state are
prepared and indexed at the expense of the state and those records
shall not be obtained for commercial resale without the written
agreement of the state to a contract including reimbursement to the
state for each instance of resale.

(e) The secretary of state may provide printed or electronic
information free of charge as he or she considers necessary and
efficient for the purpose of informing the general public or the
news media.

(f) There is hereby established in the state treasury a
special revenue account to be known as the "service fees and
collections" account. Expenditures from the account shall be used
for the operation of the office of the secretary of state and are
not authorized from collections, but are to be made only in
accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance
with the provisions of article three, chapter twelve of this code
and upon the fulfillment of the provisions set forth in article
two, chapter five-a of this code. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this code, one half of all the fees and service
charges established in the following sections and for the following
purposes shall be deposited by the secretary of state or other
collecting agency to that special revenue account and used for the operation of the office of the secretary of state;

(1) The annual attorney-in-fact fee for corporations and
limited partnerships established in section five, article twelve-c,
chapter eleven of this code;

(2) The fees received for the sale of the state register, code
of state rules and other copies established by rule and authorized
by section seven, article two, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code;

(3) The registration fees, late fees and legal settlements
charged for registration and enforcement of the charitable
organizations and professional solicitations established in
sections five, nine and fifteen-b, article nineteen, chapter
twenty-nine of this code;

(4) The annual attorney-in-fact fee for limited liability
companies as designated in section one hundred eight, article one,
chapter thirty-one-b of this code and established in section two
hundred eleven, article two of said chapter;

(5) The filing fees and search and copying fees for uniform
commercial code transactions established by section five hundred
twenty-five, article nine, chapter forty-six of this code;

(6) The annual attorney-in-fact fee for licensed insurers
established in section twelve, article four, chapter thirty-three
of this code;

(7) The fees for the application and record maintenance of all notaries public established by section one hundred seven, article
one, chapter twenty-nine-c of this code;

(8) The fees for the application and record maintenance of
commissioners for West Virginia as established by section twelve,
article four, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

(9) The fees for registering credit service organizations as
established by section five, article six-c, chapter forty-six-a of
this code;

(10) The fees for registering and renewing a West Virginia
limited liability partnership as established by section one,
article ten, chapter forty-seven-b of this code;

(11) The filing fees for the registration and renewal of
trademarks and service marks established in section seventeen,
article two, chapter forty-seven of this code;

(12) All fees for services, the sale of photocopies and data
maintained at the expense of the secretary of state as provided in
this section; and

(13) All registration, license and other fees collected by the
secretary of state not specified in this section.

(g) Any balance in the service fees and collections account
established by this section which exceeds five hundred thousand
dollars as of the thirtieth day of June, two thousand three, and
each year thereafter, shall be expired to the state fund, general revenue fund.