This bill amends West Virginia Code §5A-3-63 to clarify that the prohibitions on contracting with companies that boycott Israel also apply to exempt agencies. The legislation emphasizes the state's commitment to denouncing the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement against Israel, which it associates with anti-Semitism and economic harm to Israel. It defines "boycott of Israel" and "company," specifying that a public entity cannot enter into contracts valued at $100,000 or more without a written certification from the company affirming it is not engaged in such boycotts.

Additionally, the bill includes a provision that expands the definition of "public entity" to encompass any spending unit exempted from certain requirements of the chapter. It establishes that any contract violating these provisions will be considered void against public policy and grants the Director of the Purchasing Division the authority to create rules for implementation. The amendments are set to take effect on July 1, 2022, and will apply to contracts entered into after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5A-3-63