HOUSE COM SUB (1 LINE)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
H. B. 2556
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss)

(Originating in the Committee on Finance)

[February 14, 2003]

A BILL to amend article two, chapter thirty-three of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section fifteen-a, relating to requiring the insurance commissioner to issue an annual communication to state and local governmental entities and nonprofit organizations to increase awareness of certain flood insurance issues.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That article two, chapter thirty-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 fifteen-a, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. INSURANCE COMMISSIONER.

§33-2-15a. Annual flood insurance communication to public entities by commissioner.

(a) The commissioner shall annually issue a communication to West Virginia state and local governmental entities and nonprofit organizations which shall have the following objectives:

(1) To make state and local governmental entities and nonprofit organizations aware of the 1988 amendments to the federal Robert T. Stafford Emergency Assistance and Disaster Relief Act which impose penalties in the form of reductions in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief funds on public entities who fail to purchase adequate flood insurance on all property located in identified flood hazard areas;

(2) To make state and local governmental entities and nonprofit organizations generally aware of the magnitude of risk exposure and potential financial loss that may result from these penalties; and

(3) To make state and local governmental entities and nonprofit organizations aware that low-cost, federally subsidized flood insurance may be available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

(b) The commissioner may propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to effectuate the provisions of this section.