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§16-16-1. Citation of article.
This article may be referred to as the "Housing Cooperation Law."

§16-16-2. Declaration of purpose and necessity.
It has been found and declared in the "Housing Authorities Law" (chapter ninety-three, acts of the Legislature, second extraordinary session, one thousand nine hundred thirty-three) that there exist in the state unsafe and unsanitary housing conditions and a shortage of safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations for persons of low income; that these conditions necessitate excessive and disproportionate expenditures of public funds for crime prevention and punishment, public health and safety, fire and accident protection, and other public services and facilities; and that the public interest requires the remedying of these conditions. It is hereby found and declared that the assistance herein provided for the remedying of the conditions set forth in the "Housing Authorities Law" constitutes a public use and purpose and an essential governmental function for which public moneys may be spent, and other aid given; that it is a proper public purpose for any state public body to aid any housing authority operating within its boundaries or jurisdiction or any housing project located therein, as the state public body derives immediate benefits and advantages from such an authority or project; and that the provisions hereinafter enacted are necessary in the public interest.

§16-16-3. Definitions.
The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this article, shall have the following respective meanings, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:

"Housing authority" shall mean any housing authority created pursuant to chapter ninety-three, acts of the Legislature, second extraordinary session, one thousand nine hundred thirty-three, and any amendments thereto.

"Housing project" shall mean any work or undertaking of a housing authority pursuant to such chapter, and any amendments thereto, or any similar work or undertaking of the federal government.

"State public body" shall mean any city, town, village, county, municipal corporation, commission, district, authority, other subdivision or public body of the state.

"Governing body" shall mean the council, board, commission, or other body having charge of the fiscal affairs of a state public body.

"Federal government" shall include the United States of America, the United States housing authority, or any other agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the United States of America.

§16-16-4. Powers conferred upon state public bodies.
For the purpose of aiding and cooperating in the planning, undertaking, construction or operation of housing projects located within the area in which it is authorized to act, any state public body may, upon such terms, with or without consideration, as it may determine:

Dedicate, sell, convey or lease any of its interest in any property, or grant easements, licenses or any other rights or privileges therein to a housing authority or the federal government;

Cause parks, playgrounds, recreational, community, educational, water, sewer or drainage facilities, or any other works which it is otherwise empowered to undertake, to be furnished adjacent to or in connection with housing projects;

Furnish, dedicate, close, pave, install, grade, regrade, plan or replan streets, roads, roadways, alleys, sidewalks or other places which it is otherwise empowered to undertake;

Plan or replan, zone or rezone any part of such state public body; make exceptions from building regulations and ordinances; any city or town also may change its map;

Cause services to be furnished to the housing authority of the character which such state public body is otherwise empowered to furnish;

Enter into agreements with respect to the exercise by such state public body of its powers relating to the repair, closing or demolition of unsafe, insanitary, or unfit dwellings;

Employ (notwithstanding the provisions of any other law) any funds belonging to or within the control of such state public body, including funds derived from the sale or furnishing of property or facilities to a housing authority, in the purchase of the bonds or other obligations of a housing authority; and exercise all the rights of any holder of such bonds or other obligations;

Do any and all things necessary or convenient to aid and cooperate in the planning, undertaking, construction or operation of such housing project;

Incur the entire expense of any public improvements made by such state public body in exercising the powers granted in this article; and

Enter into agreements (which may extend over any period, notwithstanding any provision or rule of law to the contrary), with a housing authority respecting action to be taken by such state public body pursuant to any of the powers granted by this article. Any law or statute to the contrary notwithstanding, any sale, conveyance, lease or agreement provided for in this section may be made by a state public body without appraisal, public notice, advertisement or public bidding.

§16-16-5. City or county may lend or donate money to housing authority; reimbursement.
Any city or county located in whole or in part within the area of operation of a housing authority shall have the power from time to time to lend or donate money to such authority. A housing authority, when it has money available therefor, shall make reimbursements for all such loans made to it.

§16-16-6. How exercise of powers granted to state public body authorized.
The exercise by a state public body of the powers herein granted may be authorized by resolution of the governing body of such state public body adopted by a majority of the members of its governing body present at a meeting of said governing body, which resolution may be adopted at the meeting at which such resolution is introduced. Such a resolution or resolutions shall take effect immediately and need not be laid over or published or posted.

§16-16-7. Additional and supplemental powers conferred.
The powers conferred by this article shall be in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session