The bill amends the Code of West Virginia regarding the Industrial Access Road Fund, specifically sections 17-3A-1, 17-3A-2, and 17-3A-4. It clarifies the use of funds, which are designated for constructing and maintaining industrial access roads to sites involved in manufacturing, distribution, and other economic activities. The bill introduces a provision that exempts certain projects from the surety requirement, allowing counties or municipalities to guarantee the construction of industrial sites. Additionally, it establishes a 90-day response deadline for the Division of Highways to approve or comment on formal requests for fund usage, and it raises the allocated funding limit per fiscal year.

Furthermore, the bill outlines restrictions on the use of the fund, specifying that it cannot be used for utility adjustments or for constructing access roads to various facilities such as schools and shopping centers. It also stipulates that funds may only be allocated once the industrial site is operational or under contract, and it limits the amount of unmatched funds that can be allocated to any one county or municipality in a fiscal year. The changes aim to streamline the process for accessing funds while ensuring that they are used effectively for economic development projects.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 17-3A-1, 17-3A-2, 17-3A-4
Committee Substitute: 17-3A-1, 17-3A-2, 17-3A-4
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 17-3A-1, 17-3A-2, 17-3A-4
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 17-3A-1, 17-3A-2, 17-3A-4