This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to clarify the imposition and collection of special emergency ambulance service fees by county commissions. It introduces a new structure for assessing fees on lodging businesses, which includes hotels, motels, inns, and similar establishments. Specifically, it states that a lodging business will be charged one emergency ambulance service fee per facility or parcel, regardless of the number of guests or suites. Additionally, cabin and campsite owners will be assessed fees similarly to hotels and motels, with specific provisions based on the number of cabins or campsites on the property. If there are fewer than 12 cabins or campsites, the owner pays a single fee; if there are 12 or more, additional fees may be assessed, but the total cannot exceed one fee for every full 12 units.

The bill also modifies the use of proceeds from the special emergency ambulance service fees, allowing funds to be used for a broader range of expenses associated with emergency ambulance services, including land acquisition, construction, and equipment. It maintains that county commissions can establish different user classes and rates, provided they are reasonable and uniformly applied. Overall, the bill aims to ensure equitable treatment of small lodging businesses in relation to emergency ambulance service fees, preventing disproportionately high charges based on their capacity and economic scale.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 7-15-17