ENROLLED

Senate Bill No. 693

(By Senator Tomblin, Mr. President)

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[Passed March 10, 2006; in effect from passage.]

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AN ACT to amend and reenact §14-2-18, §14-2-19 and §14-2-20 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to the Court of Claims; and requiring direction of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance in certain circumstances.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §14-2-18, §14-2-19 and §14-2-20 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE.
§14-2-18. Advisory determination procedure.

The Governor or the head of a state agency may refer to the court for an advisory determination the question of the legal or equitable status, or both, of a claim against the state or a state agency. This procedure shall apply only to such claims as are within the jurisdiction of the court. The procedure shall be substantially as follows:
1. There shall be filed with the clerk the record of the claim, including a full statement of the facts, the contentions of the claimant and such other materials as the rules of the court may require. The record shall submit specific questions for the court's consideration.
2. The clerk shall examine the record submitted. If he or she finds that it is adequate under the rules, he or she shall give a copy of all materials submitted to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance. If the Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall so direct, the clerk shall place the claim on a special docket. If the clerk finds the record inadequate, he or she shall refer it back to the officer submitting it with the request that the necessary additions or changes be made.
3. When a claim is reached on the special docket, the court shall prepare a brief opinion for the information and guidance of the officer. The claim shall be considered informally and without hearing. A claimant shall not be entitled to appear in connection with the consideration of the claim.
4. The opinion shall be filed with the clerk. A copy shall be transmitted to the officer who referred the claim.
An advisory determination shall not bar the subsequent consideration of the same claim if properly submitted by, or on behalf of, the claimant. Such subsequent consideration, if undertaken, shall be de novo.
§14-2-19. Claims under existing appropriations.
A claim arising under an appropriation made by the Legislature during the fiscal year to which the appropriation applies, and falling within the jurisdiction of the court, may be submitted by:
1. A claimant whose claim has been rejected by the state agency concerned or by the State Auditor.
2. The head of the state agency concerned in order to obtain a determination of the matters in issue.
3. The State Auditor in order to obtain a full hearing and consideration of the merits.
When such submittal is made, the clerk shall give a copy of the submittal to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance. If the Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall so direct, the clerk shall place such claim on its docket. Upon its placement on the docket, the regular procedure, so far as applicable, shall govern the consideration of the claim by the court. If the court finds that the claimant should be paid, it shall certify the approved claim and award to the head of the appropriate state agency, the State Auditor and to the Governor. The governor may thereupon instruct the Auditor to issue his or her warrant in payment of the award and to charge the amount thereof to the proper appropriation. The Auditor shall forthwith notify the state agency that the claim has been paid. Such an expenditure shall not be subject to further review by the Auditor upon any matter determined and certified by the court.
§14-2-20. Claims under special appropriations.

Whenever the Legislature makes an appropriation for the payment of claims against the state, then accrued or arising during the ensuing fiscal year, the determination of claims and the payment thereof may be made in accordance with this section. However, this section shall apply only if the Legislature in making its appropriation specifically so provides and only after specific direction to hear the claim is given by the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
The claim shall be considered and determined by the regular or shortened procedure, as the case may be, and the amount of the award shall be fixed by the court. The clerk shall certify each approved claim and award, and requisition relating thereto, to the Auditor. The Auditor thereupon shall issue his or her warrant to the Treasurer in favor of the claimant. The Auditor shall issue his or her warrant without further examination or review of the claim except for the question of a sufficient unexpended balance in the appropriation.