(a) The West Virginia National Guard is authorized to participate in asset forfeiture and seizure programs established by the United States government relating to drug interdiction and counter-drug activities, pursuant to the provisions of 32 U. S. C. §112.

Terms Used In West Virginia Code 15-1B-27

  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Asset forfeiture: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10

(b) (1) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special revenue account, designated the West Virginia National Guard Counterdrug Forfeiture Fund which shall be administered by the Adjutant General.

(2) Any balance in the account at the end of the fiscal year shall not revert to the general revenue fund but shall remain in the account, and be expended as provided in this section. The fund shall consist of property seized or forfeited to the United States under any federal asset, forfeiture or sharing program and shared with the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug Program.

(3) Expenditures from the fund shall be for the purposes set forth in this section and are not authorized from collections, but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twelve of this code and upon the fulfillment of the provisions set forth in article two, chapter eleven-b of this code: Provided, That for fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, expenditures are authorized from collections rather than pursuant to an appropriation by the Legislature. Expenditures from the fund shall be for facilities, equipment, administrative expenses and to defray any other necessary expenses incidental to and associated with the program.

(c) The Adjutant General shall propose rules pursuant to article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code for the operation of any asset forfeiture and asset sharing program by the West Virginia National Guard Counterdrug Support Program and for the operation of the special revenue fund account established under this section.