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 is required to appoint alternate signatories to ensure that the signing process remains compliant and secure. The bill specifies that another county commissioner, who is not a family member of 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 signatory. 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 related to the signing of warrants, orders, or checks. If an unauthorized person signs the name of any designated signatory using mechanical or electrical devices or otherwise, they will be guilty of a felony, facing a prison sentence of two to ten years upon conviction. This amendment aims to enhance the integrity and accountability of financial transactions within county government by addressing potential conflicts of interest among family members in key financial roles.

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