West Virginia Code 3-8-4 – Treasurers and financial agents; written designation requirements
(a) No person may act as the treasurer of any political action committee or political party committee supporting, aiding, or opposing the nomination, election, or defeat of any candidate for an office encompassing an election district larger than a county unless a written statement of organization, on a form to be prescribed by the Secretary of State, is filed with the Secretary of State. A change of treasurer or financial agent may be made at any time by filing a written statement with the Secretary of State.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 3-8-4
- Candidate: means an individual who:
(A) Has filed a certificate of announcement under §. See West Virginia Code 3-8-1a
- Election: means any primary, general, or special election conducted under the provisions of this code or under the charter of any municipality at which the voters nominate or elect candidates for public office. See West Virginia Code 3-8-1a
- Financial agent: means any individual acting for and by himself or herself, or any two or more individuals acting together or cooperating in a financial way to aid or take part in the nomination or election of any candidate for public office, or to aid or promote the success or defeat of any political party at any election. See West Virginia Code 3-8-1a
- Local: refers to the election of candidates to a city, county, or municipal office and any issue to be voted on by only the residents of a particular political subdivision. See West Virginia Code 3-8-1a
- Name: means the full first name, middle name, or initial, if any, and full legal last name of an individual and the full name of any association, corporation, committee, or other organization of individuals, making the identity of any person who makes a contribution apparent by unambiguous reference. See West Virginia Code 3-8-1a
- Office: shall be construed to mean "public office" which shall include (1) any elective office provided for by the Constitution or laws of the United States or of this state to which a salary or other compensation attaches, and (2) membership in a Constitutional convention. See West Virginia Code 3-1-2
- Person: means an individual, corporation, partnership, committee, association, and any other organization or group of individuals. See West Virginia Code 3-8-1a
- Political action committee: means a committee organized by one or more persons, the primary purpose of which is to support or oppose the nomination or election of one or more candidates. See West Virginia Code 3-8-1a
- Political committee: means any candidate committee, political action committee, or political party committee. See West Virginia Code 3-8-1a
- Political party: means a political party as that term is defined by §. See West Virginia Code 3-8-1a
(b) No person may act as the treasurer for any candidate committee for a candidate for any office encompassing an election district larger than a county, any legislative office, or any circuit judgeship unless a written statement of organization designating that person as the treasurer or financial agent is filed with the Secretary of State. A change of treasurer or financial agent may be made at any time by filing a written statement with the Secretary of State.
(c) No person may act as treasurer of any political committee advocating for candidates to be nominated or elected by the voters of a county or a district therein, except legislative and circuit judge candidates, unless a written statement of organization designating him or her as the treasurer is filed with the clerk of the county commission or the Secretary of State. A change of treasurer may be made at any time by filing a written statement with the clerk of the county commission.
(d) Prior to engaging in any activity, a political committee shall file a statement of organization required by subsection (a) of this section. A statement of organization form required by this section shall be certified as accurate and true and signed by the treasurer and the chairman of the committee, and shall include the following information:
(1) The name of the political committee;
(2) The name of the treasurer;
(3) The mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the committee;
(4) The mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the treasurer, if different from the committee information;
(5) The name of the chairman of the committee;
(6) The affiliate organization, if any;
(7) The type of political committee, as determined by the description of types of committees included in the definitions of “political committee” and “political action committee” in § 3-8-1a of this code; and
(8) Whether the committee will participate in statewide or local elections.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, a filing designating a treasurer for a state, county, or municipal political committee may be made any time before the committee either accepts or spends funds. Once a designation is made by a state, county, or municipal political committee, no additional designations are required under this section until a successor treasurer is designated.
(f) A state, county, or municipal political committee may terminate a designation made pursuant to this section by making a written request to terminate the designation on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State and by filing a report of financial information required in § 3-8-5 of this code indicating that the political committee has no funds or debts remaining in the committee’s account. This written request shall be filed with either the Secretary of State or the clerk of the county commission as provided by subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section.