The proposed bill aims to establish the Truth in Giving Act in West Virginia, which mandates thrift operators to disclose specific information to donors and customers regarding the nature of their operations. It defines key terms such as "charitable organization," "drop box," and "thrift operator," and requires thrift operators that are either charitable organizations or 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities to provide their name, address, and contact information at donation sites and during sales. For thrift operators that are not charitable organizations, they must disclose their ownership information and include a statement indicating that donations support a for-profit business. The bill outlines the required manner of disclosure, including signage on drop boxes and at retail locations.

Additionally, the bill empowers the Secretary of State to investigate violations of these disclosure requirements and establishes both criminal and civil penalties for non-compliance. Offenders may face fines and potential jail time, with penalties increasing for repeat offenses. The bill also stipulates that any recovered funds from violations will be split between the state General Revenue Fund and the Secretary of State's operational account. Lastly, it authorizes the Secretary of State to propose rules to implement the provisions of the Truth in Giving Act effectively.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 29-19A-1, 29-19A-2, 29-19A-3, 29-19A-4, 29-19A-5