§12-4-14. West Virginia Grant Transparency and Accountability Act; Accountability of grantees receiving state funds or grants, procedures, reporting, auditing, investigations, and recovery; sworn statements by volunteer fire departments; rule making, criminal penalties.

(a) This section may be cited as the West Virginia Grant Transparency and Accountability Act. The West Virginia Grant Transparency and Accountability Act is intended to develop a coordinated, nonredundant process for the effective oversight and monitoring of state grant recipients, thereby ensuring quality programs and limiting fraud, waste, and abuse.

(b) For the purposes of this section:

(1) "Grantor" means a state spending unit awarding a state grant.

(2) "Grantee" means any entity receiving a state grant, including a state spending unit, local government, corporation, partnership, association, individual, or other legal entity.

(3) "Subgrantee" means an entity, including a state spending unit, local government, corporation, partnership, association, individual, or other legal entity, that receives grant money from a grantee that was awarded a state grant.

(4) "Report" means an engagement, such as an agreed-upon procedures engagement or other attestation engagement, performed and prepared by a certified public accountant to test whether state grants were spent as intended. The term "report" does not mean a full-scope audit or review of the entity receiving the state grant.

(5) "State grant" means funding provided by a grantor, regardless of the original source of the funds, to a grantee upon application for a specific purpose. The term "state grant" does not include: (A) Payments for goods and services purchased by a state spending unit; (B) compensation to state employees and public officials; (C) reimbursements to state employees and public officials for travel or incidental expenses; (D) grants of student aid; (E) government transfer payments; (F) direct benefits provided under state insurance and welfare programs; (G) funds reimbursed to a person for expenditures made for qualified purposes when receipts for the expenditures are required prior to receiving the funds; (H) retirement benefits; (I) federal pass-through funds that are subject to the federal Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996, 31 U.S.C. § 7501 et seq., and the funds required to match the federal funds; (J) distributions to volunteer and part-volunteer fire departments and fire companies made pursuant to §33-3-14d, §33-3-33, §33-12C-7 of this code; (K) money received from the Fire Service Equipment and Training Fund as provided in §29-3-5f of this code; and (L) grants made by the West Virginia Water Development Authority.

(6) "West Virginia debarred list" means the list maintained by the State Auditor that contains the names of individuals and entities that are ineligible, either temporarily or permanently, from receiving an award of state grant funds.

(7) "State Auditor" means the State Auditor of West Virginia, by himself or herself, or by any person appointed, designated, or approved by the State Auditor to perform the service.

(8) "Stop payment order" means a communication from the grantor to the State Auditor and the State Treasurer, following procedures established by the State Auditor, causing the cessation of payments to a grantee or subgrantee as a result of the grantee or subgrantee's failure to comply with one or more terms of the state grant or subgrant, violations of law, or the initiation of an audit or investigation.

(9) "Stop payment procedure" means the procedure created by the State Auditor which effects a stop payment order or the lifting of a stop payment order.

(c)(1) Any grantee who receives one or more state grants in the amount of $50,000 or more in the aggregate in a state's fiscal year shall file with the grantor and the State Auditor a report of the disbursement of the state grant funds. When the grantor causes an audit, by an independent certified public accountant, to be conducted of the state grant funds, the audit is performed using generally accepted government auditing standards, and a copy of the audit is available for public inspection, no report is required to be filed under this section. An audit performed that complies with Office of Management and Budget circular A-133, and submitted within the period provided in this section, may be substituted for the report.

(2) Any grantee who receives a state grant in an amount less than $50,000, or who is not required to file a report because an audit has been conducted or substituted as provided by subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall file with the grantor and State Auditor a sworn statement of expenditures made under the state grant.

(3) Subgrant of state grant funds – If any grantee obtains state grant funds and grants any part, or all of those funds, to a subgrantee for a specific purpose or purposes, the granted funds shall be treated as a state grant.

(4) Reports and sworn statements of expenditures required by this section shall be filed within two years of the end of the grantee's fiscal year in which the disbursement of state grant funds by the grantor was made. The report shall be made by an independent certified public accountant at the cost of the grantee. State grant funds may be used to pay for the report if the applicable grant provisions allow. The scope of the report is limited to showing that the state grant funds were spent for the purposes intended when the state grant was made.

(5) In the event the State Auditor determines that applicable reporting or record-keeping provisions for state grants are delinquent or not in compliance with this code, the State Auditor shall notify the State Treasurer and no further state grant funds appropriated to the grantor under the specific state grant shall be encumbered or expended until such time as the State Auditor determines that all applicable reporting or record-keeping provisions are brought into compliance: Provided, That such suspension of funding does not violate federal law or regulations, or unreasonably prevent or detrimentally impact, the ability of the agency grantor to receive federal support or funding.

(6) Each grantor shall designate a Chief Accountability Officer, to the extent possible from within its existing staff, who shall serve as a liaison to the State Auditor, and shall be responsible for the grantor's implementation of, and compliance with, the law, rules, and terms of state grants. Such position may be held concurrently with any other designated position.

(d)(1) Grantors or the State Auditor shall issue stop payment orders for failure to file required reports. Any grantee failing to file a required report or sworn statement of expenditures within the two-year period as provided in this section for state grant funds, is barred from subsequently receiving state grants until the grantee has filed the report or sworn statement of expenditures and is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this section.

(2) Any grantor shall report any grantee failing to file a required report or sworn statement of expenditures within the required period provided in this section to the State Auditor for purposes of debarment from receiving state grants.

(3) The State Auditor shall maintain a searchable and publicly accessible database listing all awarded state grants. All grantors shall provide a list of grantees and subgrantees to the State Auditor and all other information regarding state grant funds and grantees as required by law or rule.

(e)(1) The grantor administering the state grant shall notify the grantee of the reporting requirements set forth in this section.

(2) All grantors shall, prior to awarding a state grant, verify that the grantee is not barred from receiving state grants pursuant to this section. The verification process shall, at a minimum, include:

(A) A requirement that the grantee seeking the state grant provide a sworn statement from an authorized representative that the grantee has filed all reports and sworn statements of expenditures for state grants received as required under this section; and

(B) Confirmation from the State Auditor by the grantor that the grantee has not been identified as one who has failed to file a report or sworn statement of expenditures under this section. Confirmation may be accomplished by accessing the computerized database provided for in this section.

(3) If any report or sworn statement of expenditures submitted pursuant to the requirements of this section provides evidence of a reportable condition or violation, the grantor shall provide a copy of the report or sworn statement of expenditures to the State Auditor within 30 days of receipt by the grantor.

(4) The grantor and State Auditor shall maintain copies of reports and sworn statements of expenditures required by this section and make the reports or sworn statements of expenditures available for public inspection, as well as for use in audits and performance reviews of the grantor.

(5) Stop payment procedures – The State Auditor, in cooperation with grantors, shall promulgate legislative, procedural, and interpretive rules in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code in implementing the provisions of this section which shall include, but not be limited to:

(A) Procedures concerning issuing and lifting stop payments and other corrective actions;

(B) Factors to be considered in determining whether to issue a stop payment order including whether or not a stop payment order is in the best interest of the state;

(C) Factors to be considered in determining whether a stop payment order should be lifted; and

(D) Procedures for notification to the grantee or subgrantee of the issuance of a stop payment order, the lifting of a stop payment order, and any other related information.

(6) Informal Conference – Whenever a grantor reasonably believes that state grant funds are subject to recovery, the grantor shall provide the grantee the opportunity for at least one informal conference to determine the facts and issues and to resolve any conflicts before taking any formal recovery actions.

(7) Formal Procedures for Recovery –

(A) If a grantor determines that certain state grant funds are to be recovered, then, prior to taking any action to recover the state grant funds, the grantor shall provide the grantee of the funds a written notice of the intended recovery. This notice shall identify the funds and the amount to be recovered and the specific facts which permit recovery.

(B) A grantee shall have 35 days from the receipt of the notice required in paragraph (A) of this subdivision to return the state grant funds or request a hearing in writing to show why recovery is not justified or proper.

(C) If a grantee requests a hearing pursuant to paragraph (B) of this subdivision, then:

(i) The hearing shall be conducted under §29A-5-1 et seq. of this code, and be presided over by the grantor director or their designee;

(ii) The grantor shall hold the hearing at which, the grantee or designated representative may present evidence and witnesses to show why recovery should not be permitted; and

(iii) After the conclusion of the hearing, the grantor shall make a final decision and issue a written final recovery order in compliance with §29A-5-3 of this code and send a copy of the order to the grantee and the State Auditor.

(D)(i) If a grantee requests a hearing pursuant to paragraph (B) of this subdivision, then the grantor may not take any action of recovery until at least 35 days after the grantor has issued a final recovery order pursuant to the requirements of paragraph (C) of this subdivision.

(ii) If a grantee does not return the state grant funds or request a hearing as permitted in paragraph (B) of this subdivision, then the grantor may proceed with recovery of the state grant funds identified in the notice issued pursuant to the requirements of paragraph (A) of this subdivision, at any time after the expiration of the 35 day request period established in paragraph (B) of this subdivision.

(8) Recovery of State Grant Funds by Grantor Agency – Any state grant funds which have been misspent or are being improperly held are subject to recovery by the grantor. The grantor shall take affirmative and timely action to recover all misspent or improperly held state grant funds. In order to effectuate the recovery of such state grant funds, the grantor may use any one, or a combination of, the following:

(A) Offset the amounts against existing state grants or future state grants to be made by the grantor making the recovery;

(B) Request offsets of the amounts from existing state grants or future state grants to be made by other grantors;

(C) Initiate any debt collection method authorized by law against any private person, business, or entity;

(D) Remove the grantee from the grantor programs and debar the grantee's participation in future state grant programs for a period not to exceed three years, or until removed from the West Virginia debarred list; or

(E) Request further action under subdivision (9) of this subsection to recover state grant funds and otherwise enforce all applicable laws.

(9) Recovery of State Grant Funds – The Attorney General, independently or on behalf of the State Auditor, may take any action within his or her authority to recover any state grant funds which have been misapplied or are being improperly held and have all the powers of collection established in this act in addition to any other powers authorized by law, including, without limitation, to file lawsuits to recover state grant funds.

(10) All state grant funds, whose use is not restricted by law or otherwise appropriated, which are recovered by the grantor, or State Auditor, and expired or unexpended state grant funds remaining at state grant completion or termination, shall be deposited in a special revenue fund, which is hereby created and established in the State Treasury to be known as the Grant Recovery Fund. The moneys in the fund, with all interest or other earnings thereon, shall be expended only upon appropriation by the Legislature.

(11) The State Auditor has authority to promulgate procedural and interpretive rules and propose legislative rules for promulgation in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code to assist in implementing the provisions of this section. The rules shall set forth uniform administrative requirements and reporting procedures for state grants and subgrants to ensure compliance. Grantors shall not impose additional or inconsistent requirements unless specifically required by state or federal law.

(12) Conflicts of interest – The State Auditor shall adopt rules regarding conflict of interest policies for state grants. Grantors, grantees, and subgrantees must disclose, in writing, any potential conflicts of interest to the grant applicant prior to awarding the state grant.

(f)(1) Any grantor administering a state grant shall, in the manner designated by the State Auditor, notify the State Auditor of the maximum amount of funds to be disbursed, the identity of the grantee authorized to receive the funds, the grantee's fiscal year and federal employer identification number, and the purpose and nature of the state grant within 30 days of making the state grant or authorizing the disbursement of the funds, whichever is later.

(2) The State Treasurer shall provide the Legislative Auditor the information concerning formula distributions to volunteer and part-volunteer fire departments, made pursuant to §33-3-14d, §33-3-33, and §33-12C-7 of this code, the Legislative Auditor requests, and in the manner designated by the Legislative Auditor.

(3) The State Auditor shall maintain the West Virginia debarred list identifying grantees who have failed to file reports and sworn statements required by this section. The list shall be in the form of a computerized database that shall be accessible by grantors and the public over the Internet, unless public disclosure would violate federal law or regulations.

(g) An audit of state grant funds may be authorized at any time by the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to be conducted by the State Auditor in cooperation with the Legislative Auditor at no cost to the grantee.

(h) Any report submitted pursuant to the provisions of this section may be filed electronically in accordance with the provisions of §39A-1-1 et seq. of this code.

(i) Any grantee who files a fraudulent sworn statement of expenditures under subsection (b) of the section, a fraudulent sworn statement under subsection (d) of this section, or a fraudulent report under this section, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one year nor more than five years, or both fined and imprisoned.

(j) Prohibition on use of state grant funds for prohibited political activity –

(1) For the purpose of this section, "prohibited political activity" means activity directed toward the success or failure of a political party, candidate for political office, or ballot issue, and includes, without limitation, express advocacy for the election or defeat of a political party, candidate, or ballot issue.

(2) Grantors, grantees, subgrantees, and personnel thereof shall not knowingly use state grant funds, or goods or services purchased with state grant funds, to engage, either directly or indirectly, in a prohibited political activity.

(3) Grantors, grantees, subgrantees and personnel thereof shall not be knowingly compensated from state grant funds for time spent engaging in a prohibited political activity.

(4) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any organization described in 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) or 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(4) receiving a state grant from engaging in any federally permissible activity regarding advocacy, indirect and direct lobbying, and political activity, provided that the specific funds acquired by a state grant or grantor shall not be used for those activities that are permitted by federal law but prohibited by this section.

(5) A grantor, grantee, subgrantee, or personnel thereof who knowingly uses state grant funds for prohibited political activity in violation of this section, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one year nor more than five years, or both fined and imprisoned.

(k) Reporting – Effective on or before December 31, 2022, and every three years thereafter, the State Auditor shall submit to the Joint Legislative Committee on Government and Finance a report that demonstrates the efficiencies, cost savings, and reductions in fraud, waste, and abuse. The report shall include, but not be limited to, facts describing:

(1) The number and names of entities placed on the West Virginia Debarred List;

(2) The number of stop payment orders issued to grantees;

(3) Any savings realized as a result of the implementation of this act;

(4) A statement of funds recovered and funds in the recovery process;

(5) Any reductions in the number of duplicative audit report reviews; and

(6) The overall number of state grants awarded that given year and the total amount of dollars awarded by each grantor.