The bill amends West Virginia Code §7-5-4, which governs the payment of money from the county treasury and the signing of orders by designated officials. It introduces a new process for designating signatories when two or more of the designated signatories—specifically the county commission president, sheriff, and county clerk—are family or household members. In such cases, the county commission must appoint alternate signatories: another county commissioner who is not related to any other signatory will sign for the president, while the chief tax deputy will sign for the sheriff unless they are also a family member, in which case a resident of the county will be appointed as a substitute. The county clerk is not subject to substitution.

Additionally, the bill clarifies the definition of "family or household member" by referencing existing law and establishes penalties for forgery. If an unauthorized person signs the name of any designated signatory using a mechanical or electrical device or otherwise, they will be guilty of a felony, facing a prison sentence of two to ten years upon conviction. This legislative change aims to enhance the integrity of financial transactions within county government by ensuring that signatory processes are transparent and secure, particularly in cases of familial relationships among officials.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 7-5-4
Committee Substitute: 7-5-4
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 7-5-4
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 7-5-4