H. B. 3230


(By Delegates Hutchins, Kominar, Moore,
Overington, Andes, Armstead, Doyle and Azinger)

[Introduced February 23, 2007; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.]



A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §4-13-1, relating to prohibiting the naming of a publicly funded building, road, structure or project which receives any operating or construction moneys from state sources or state taxpayers; and assessing personal liability for violations.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §4-13-1, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 13. NAMING OF PUBLICLY FUNDED BUILDINGS, ROADS, STRUCTURES AND PROJECTS.

§4-13-1. Naming a publicly funded building, road, structure or project for a living elected official prohibited.

(a) A publicly funded building, road, structure or project which receives any operating or construction moneys from state sources or state taxpayers
may not be named for a living elected official by any governmental entity in this state: Provided, That the provisions of this section do not apply to the naming of a publicly funded building, road, structure or project after a deceased former elected state official.
(b) Any executive, board member, director or other responsible state official authorizing the naming of any publicly funded building, road, structure or project for a living elected official in violation of the provisions of this section is personally liable to the governmental entity involved for any costs incurred by that entity as a result of the violation.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit
the naming of a publicly funded building, road, structure or project which receives any operating or construction moneys from state sources or state taxpayers for a living, elected official by any governmental entity. The bill also provides that any responsible governmental official authorizing the naming of a building, road, structure or project for a living elected official is liable to the governmental entity for any costs incurred by a violation.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.