§5B-2Q-9. Funding.

(a) The department may receive private and public grants and donations, and appropriations from the Legislature, to fund the program. All moneys collected shall be deposited in a special revenue account in the State Treasury to be known as the “West Virginia Youth Summer Employment and Career Readiness Fund”, which is hereby created and shall administered by the Secretary of the Department of Commerce. Expenditures from the fund shall be for the purposes set forth in this article and are not authorized from collections but are to be made only in accordance with appropriations by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of §12-3-1 et seq. of this code and upon fulfillment of the provisions of §11B-2-1 et seq. of this code: Provided, That for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027, expenditures are authorized from collections rather than pursuant to appropriations by the Legislature.

(b) The department shall make applications for any available federal, public, non-profit or private grants and donations in support of the program. The department may, if it is a condition of such grant or donation, direct the grant or donation toward any portion of a priority youth population to which the grant or donation is directed.