The proposed bill aims to establish the West Virginia Unfunded Federal Mandate Accountability Act, which seeks to address the financial burdens imposed on the state by federal unfunded mandates. It includes legislative findings that highlight the significant resources required by state and local governments to comply with federal requirements without adequate funding. The bill outlines the Governor's authority to collect detailed information from state agencies regarding compliance costs and mandates, mandates annual comprehensive reviews by these agencies, and requires the documentation of all associated costs.

Additionally, the bill stipulates the preparation of an annual Unfunded Mandate Report by the Governor, which will detail all identified federal unfunded mandates, their costs, and the impact on the state budget. It also includes provisions for public hearings on these costs, the integration of the unfunded mandate assessment into the state budget cycle, and an implementation timeline for state agencies to complete their assessments. The Act is set to take effect 90 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5-1F-1, 5-1F-2, 5-1F-3, 5-1F-4, 5-1F-5, 5-1F-6, 5-1F-7, 5-1F-8, 5-1F-9, 5-1F-10, 5-1F-11, 5-1F-12, 5-1F-13, 5-1F-14, 5-1F-15, 5-1F-16, 5-1F-17