HB 5355 — Allowing volunteer fire departments to use fire protection funding for certain purchases

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION IntroducedCommittee Substitute for House Bill 5355 By Delegates Statler, Rohrbach, Mallow, Toney, Ellington, Sheedy, Summers, Riley, Williams, Hanshaw (Mr.

Speaker), and Jennings [Introduced[Originating Januaryin 30,the 2024;Committee on Government Organization;

ReferredReported to the Committee on FireFebruary Departments21, and2024] EmergencyCS Medicalfor Services then Government Organization] Intr HB 2024R33275355 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amendedamended; by adding thereto a new section, designated §15A-11-12, relating to allowing volunteer fire departments to use Fire Protection Fund monies to fund expenses associated with the implementation of the State Auditor’s West Virginia Checkbook fiscal reporting system.

and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §15A-11-12, relating to the Fire Protection Fund and its use by volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments;

making a legislative finding;

defining a term;

providing that volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments may use monies from the Fire Protection Fund to pay expenses associated with the required implementation of the State Auditor’s West Virginia Checkbook fiscal reporting system.

– A new provision in §33-3-33 of this code requires volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments in this state to utilize the State Auditor's West Virginia Checkbook fiscal reporting system on or before January 1, 2026, in order to remain eligible to receive any funds.

Because volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments have expenses associated with the transition to this online system, such departments should be able to utilize funds from the Fire Protection Fund to cover such expenses.

– "Expenses" include, but are not limited to, those items that are required or helpful for the implementation of the State Auditor's West Virginia Checkbook fiscal reporting system for volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments, including but not limited to computers, programming, the use of a Certified Public AccountAccountant ("CPA"), and other technology and associated expenses.

– Volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments may utilize Fire Protection Fund monies to pay for expenses associated with the transition to the State Auditor's West Virginia Checkbook fiscal reporting system.

1 CS for HB 5355 NOTE:

The purpose of this bill is to allow volunteer and part-volunteer fire companies and departments to use fire protection funding for certain purchases associated with the State Auditor's West Virginia Checkbook fiscal reporting system.