HB2590 S GOV AMT

STEWART 7965

    The Committee on Government Organization moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:

    Eng. Com. Sub. for House Bill No. 2590--A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §31-21-1, §31-21-2, §31-21-3, §31-21-4, §31-21-5, §31-21-6, §31-21-7, §31-21-8, §31-21-9, §31-21-10, §31-21-11, §31-21-12, §31-21-13, §31-21-14, §31-21-15, §31-21-16, §31-21-17, §31-21-18, §31-21-19 and §31-21-20, all relating to authorizing the creation of a public nonprofit corporation and governmental instrumentality to facilitate the redevelopment of former commercial, industrial and mining properties subject to federal and state regulations because of contamination or pollution discharge; providing short title; declaring policy and purpose of article; defining terms; creating West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation; requiring corporation to apply for recognition of nonprofit status; providing eligibility for properties to participate; stating certain tax requirements; setting forth powers and limitations of West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation; providing for board of directors and composition of same; providing for creation of voluntary land stewardship program; providing for underwriting review of land stewardship program applicants; authorizing establishment of state certified sites program; setting forth minimum standards for certification under state certified sites program and assessment of fees therefor; authorizing establishment of voluntary state land bank program; prohibiting the transfer of certain liabilities to land bank by prior owner; permitting land stewardship corporation to preserve property value of properties held by land stewardship corporation; authorizing land bank to acquire, dispose or otherwise manage real property; providing requirements for handling of contaminated properties by land stewardship corporation; providing for liberal construction of article; authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection to investigate corporation activities and take necessary actions; exempting corporation from certain state and local taxes; specifying payments in lieu of tax and tax exemption for leased property; requiring corporation to notify certain county officials upon receipt of an application for a site to participate in the land bank program; requiring audits and biannual reports; providing procedure for dissolution of land stewardship corporation upon completion of purpose and for disposal of properties possessed by the corporation; providing provision for conflict of interest of land stewardship corporation officers, employees and board members; stating preservation of sovereign immunity; and providing that obligations of land stewardship corporation are not obligations of the Department of Environmental Protection or the state.

Adopted

Rejected