§54-3-4. Construction of article; assistance for dislocation, etc., occurring prior to effective date.

Neither the provisions of this article nor any rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to section three of this article are intended to abrogate or derogate the provisions of section twenty, article two-a, chapter seventeen of this code, and, to the extent not in conflict with said section twenty, the West Virginia department of highways shall be considered to be an acquiring agency within the meaning of this article. To the extent that such department may expend funds or make payments pursuant to the provisions of this article and such rules and regulations, such expenditures or payments are hereby declared to be a cost of highway construction and may be expended and paid from the state road fund.

Neither the provisions of this article nor any rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to section three of this article shall be construed or interpreted so as to create any element of value or damage not in existence prior to the effective date of this article in any condemnation proceedings brought under the power of eminent domain exercised by any state agency except to the extent, if any, required by applicable law of the United States; but, notwithstanding any other provision of law, whenever an acquiring agency in a condemnation proceeding pays a sum into court as representing the fair market value of property to be acquired, the amount of the award or verdict pertaining to such property shall not be less than such sum.

Any acquiring agency may provide assistance as contemplated in such federal act even though the dislocation or acquisition occasioning the same occurred prior to the effective date of this article if federal funds are available for the payment of any such assistance.