This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to exempt volunteer fire departments and part-time volunteer fire departments from being classified as automobile brokers or unlicensed dealers when conducting vehicle raffles. Specifically, these organizations are permitted to raffle no more than four vehicles per month through in-person or online events without the regulatory requirements that apply to commercial dealers. The bill also introduces new legal language that exempts these departments from the requirement to use a licensed platform provider for online raffles, thereby easing the fundraising process for these volunteer organizations.

Additionally, the bill modifies the definition of an automobile broker, stating that individuals or entities arranging the sale of more than two new or used motor vehicles per calendar year for a fee or commission will be classified as such, with exceptions for licensed dealers and financial institutions. Violations of this provision are classified as misdemeanors, with penalties including fines up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to sixty days, or both. The overall intent of the legislation is to support volunteer fire departments in their fundraising efforts while balancing necessary regulatory oversight.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 17A-6-1, 17A-6-1a, 47-21A-2, 47-21A-8