The bill amends West Virginia Code §14-2-17a to establish a streamlined process for handling road condition claims against the state. This new procedure is specifically designed for claims that do not arise from the current fiscal year's appropriations, allege property damage due to conditions on state highways, and are supported by the Division of Highways, which agrees to stipulate to the claim amount. The stipulated claims must not exceed $3,000.

Under the new process, the Clerk of the Claims Commission will prepare a stipulation for the claim, which must be approved by the commission. Once approved, the clerk will send a release to the claimant, who must sign and return it. Upon receipt of the executed release, the Division of Highways will certify the claim and requisition payment to the State Auditor, who will issue a warrant to the claimant without further review, provided there is a sufficient unexpended balance in the appropriation. This expedited process aims to facilitate quicker resolutions for eligible road condition claims.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 14-2-17a
Engrossed Version: 14-2-17a
Enrolled Version: 14-2-17a