The bill proposes the establishment of a new article in the West Virginia code, specifically Article 17-9-1, which outlines a pilot program for snow removal across all 55 counties in the state. The Division of Highways will categorize roads into four priority levels for snow removal: Priority 1 for major routes, Priority 2 for school bus routes, Priority 3 for remaining routes, and Priority 4 for park and forest routes. The bill emphasizes the need for reliable snow removal, particularly in Monongalia and Preston Counties, where current services have been inadequate.

Under this pilot program, the Division of Highways will issue a Request for Proposal to engage multiple vendors for snow removal on secondary roads in the specified counties. The bill stipulates that vendors will not be granted sovereign immunity and allows the Secretary of the Division of Highways to terminate contracts with vendors that do not meet satisfactory standards, with a notice period of 30 days. This initiative aims to improve snow removal services and address the hardships faced by residents due to unreliable snow clearing.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 17-9-1
Committee Substitute: 17-9-1