§19-12A-4. Transfer of institutional farms, farm equipment, farm facilities, inventories and agricultural products to commission; utility continuance; provisions for uninterrupted operation; transfer of funds.

(a) On July 1, 1976, the department of mental health shall transfer all institutional farms and all easements, mineral rights, appurtenances, farm equipment, agricultural products, inventories and farm facilities thereon, or attached thereto, to the commission as set forth below:

(1) The Colin Anderson institutional farm, located at St. Marys, Pleasants County, which shall include not less than six hundred fifty acres;

(2) The Huntington State Hospital institutional farm, located at Barboursville, Cabell County, which shall include not less than six hundred ninety-seven acres;

(3) The Lakin State Hospital institutional farm, located at Lakin, Mason County, which shall include not less than nine hundred fifty acres;

(4) The Spencer State Hospital institutional farm, located at Spencer, Roane County, which shall include not less than one hundred nine acres;

(5) The Weston State Hospital institutional farm, located at Weston, Lewis County, which shall include not less than five hundred seventy acres; and

(6) The Roney's Point Branch Hospital institutional farm located at Triadelphia, Ohio County, which shall include not less than one hundred thirty acres.

(b) On July 1, 1976, the state commissioner of public institutions shall transfer all institutional farms and all easements, mineral rights, appurtenances, farm equipment, agricultural products, inventories and farm facilities thereon or attached thereto to the commission as set forth below:

(1) The Huttonsville Correctional Center institutional farm, located at Huttonsville, Randolph County, which shall include not less than five thousand two hundred acres, including all of the tract of land commonly known as Becky's Creek farm;

(2) The Hopemont State Hospital institutional farm, located at Terra Alta, Preston County, which shall include not less than five hundred acres;

(3) The West Virginia Industrial School for Boys institutional farm, located at Pruntytown, Taylor County, which shall include not less than one thousand five hundred eighty-seven acres;

(4) The West Virginia Prison for Women institutional farm, located at Pence Springs, Summers County, which shall include not less than one hundred eighty acres;

(5) The Pinecrest State Hospital institutional farm, located at Beckley, Raleigh County, which shall include not less than two hundred twenty acres;

(6) The West Virginia Penitentiary institutional farm, located at Moundsville, Marshall County, which shall contain not less than one hundred forty-one acres;

(7) The Denmar State Hospital institutional farm, located at Beard, Pocahontas County, which shall include not less than one hundred twelve acres;

(8) The Andrew S. Rowan Memorial Home institutional farm, located at Sweet Springs, Monroe County, which shall include not less than six hundred fifty acres;

(9) The West Virginia Children's Home institutional farm, located at Elkins, Randolph County, which shall include not less than one hundred fifty acres; and

(10) The West Virginia Industrial Home for Girls institutional farm, located at Industrial, Harrison County, which shall include not less than twenty acres.

(c) In the event a water supply system, a sewage disposal system or any other utility or service facility involved in the operation of an institution is hereby transferred to the commission, an easement is hereby granted to the institution affected to enable the institution to continue, uninterrupted, the water supply system, the sewage disposal system or the utility or service facility so transferred.

If an institutional farm is dependent upon a water supply system, a sewage disposal system or any other utility or service facility located on the property of an institution, an easement is hereby granted to the commission to enable the commission to continue, uninterrupted, the water supply system, the sewage disposal system or the utility or service facility involved.

In all cases where an institution and a farm under the control of the commission are jointly dependent on the same water supply system, sewage disposal system, utility or service facility, the cost shall be prorated on the basis of the amount used by the institution and the institutional farm.

(d) In order to provide for the uninterrupted operation of institutional farms, the commission shall, before June 25, 1976, meet and establish a farm management plan. Before June 25, 1976, the commission shall employ a farm management director and establish an employee system. The commission and the farm management director shall meet and confer with the commissioner of public institutions and the director of the department of mental health prior to July 1, 1976, to facilitate the orderly transfer of the institutional farms. The state commissioner of public institutions and the director of the department of mental health shall cooperate fully with the commission to ensure that farming operations are not discontinued prior to their transfer to the commission.

(e) After June 30 but no later than July 15, 1976, all funds remaining in all institutional farms' special revenue accounts shall be transferred to the general revenue account of the state and all institutional farms' special revenue accounts shall be abolished.