The bill proposes the establishment of the West Virginia Coal Marketing Program, which will be administered by the Governor. The program aims to protect and expand West Virginia's coal markets and facilities while addressing the impacts that changes in the coal market have on local communities. The Governor is required to allocate funds specifically for projects that benefit the coal market and to report annually to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance regarding the funded projects, including details such as amounts and recipients. Additionally, the bill creates a dedicated account for the program, allowing for continuous appropriation of funds and the acceptance of various contributions to support its initiatives.

To fund the program, the bill appropriates $1 million from the general fund to the newly created West Virginia Coal Marketing Program account, which can only be used for the program's purposes. The Governor is also tasked with creating any necessary rules for the program's implementation. The provisions of this article will take effect 90 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 22-37-1, 22-37-2, 22-37-3, 22-37-4