Email: Chapter 18, Article 30A, Section 3
§18-30A-3. Definitions.
(a) For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Account owner" means the person who opens and invests money into a Jumpstart Savings Account, as provided in this article.
"Advanced Career Education" or ACE, shall mean the same as that term is used in §18-25-11 of this code.
(2) "Beneficiary" means the person designated as a beneficiary at the time an account is established, or the individual designated as the beneficiary when the beneficiary is changed.
(3) The "board" means the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia College and Jumpstart Savings Programs created in §18-30-4 of this code.
(4) "Contribution" means any amount of money deposited into a Jumpstart Savings Account according to the procedures established and required by the board or the Treasurer.
(5) "Deduction" as used in this article has the same meaning as when used in a comparable context in the laws of the United States relating to income taxes, unless a different meaning is clearly required. Deduction means and refers to a deduction allowable under the federal income tax code for the purpose of determining federal taxable income or federal adjusted gross income, unless text clearly indicates otherwise.
(6) "Distributee" has the same meaning provided in §11-21-12m of this code.
(7) "Distribution" means any disbursement from an account.
(8) The term "family member", as used to describe a person’s relationship to a designated beneficiary, includes any of the following:
(A) The spouse of the beneficiary;
(B) A child of the beneficiary or a descendant of the beneficiary’s child;
(C) A brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister of the beneficiary;
(D) The father or mother of the beneficiary, or an ancestor of either;
(E) A first cousin of the beneficiary;
(F) A stepfather or stepmother of the beneficiary;
(G) A son or daughter of a brother or sister of the beneficiary;
(H) A brother or sister of the father or mother of the beneficiary;
(I) A son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of the beneficiary; or
(J) The spouse of any person described in paragraphs (B) through (I) of this subdivision.
(K) Any term set forth in this subdivision means and includes such term as established through a lawful adoption, including, but not limited to, adoptions of a child or children, or other natural person, by a natural person or natural persons who are not the father, mother, or stepparent of the child or person.
(9) "Labor organization" means any organization, agency, association, union, or employee representation committee of any kind that exists, in whole or in part, to assist employees in negotiating with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, or other terms or conditions of employment.
(10) The "program" refers to the Jumpstart Savings Program established by this article.
(11) "Qualified expense" means an account distribution, or any amount thereof, expended by an account beneficiary in the taxable year of receipt of the distribution or the next succeeding taxable year that:
(A) Is allowable as a federal personal income tax deduction pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 162, as an ordinary and necessary business expense, and is incurred in carrying on a qualifying profession;
(B) Is allowable as a federal personal income tax deduction pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 195(b), as a business start-up expenditure, and is incurred in carrying on a qualifying profession; or
(C) Is expended for goods, services, or other expenses that qualify for a federal personal income tax deduction for depreciation or amortization over time, pursuant to a provision of 26 U.S.C. § 161-199a and that are used to carry on a qualifying profession; or
(D) Is not allowable as any one of the federal personal income tax deductions described in paragraphs (A) through (C) of this subdivision and is expended for:
(i) The purchase of tools, equipment, or supplies used exclusively in a qualifying profession;
(ii) Costs to establish a business in this state to practice a qualifying profession; or
(iii) Fees for required certification or licensure in a qualifying profession: Provided, That in no event shall any dues, fees, subscriptions, or any other payments to a labor organization constitute qualified expenses for the purposes of this article; and
(iv) Is not reimbursed by the taxpayer’s employer.
(12) "Qualifying profession" means an occupation, profession, or trade for which the designated beneficiary is required to:
(A) Complete an apprenticeship program registered and certified with the United States Department of Labor, as provided in 29 U.S.C. § 50;
(B) Complete an apprenticeship program required by any provision of this code or a legislative rule promulgated pursuant to this code;
(C) Earn a license or certification from an Advanced Career Education (ACE) career center; or
(D) Earn an associate degree or certification from a community and technical college or from a school or program, authorized by the West Virginia Council for Community or Technical College Education or a similar agency in another state, to award associates degrees or technical certifications;
(E) Earn a license or certification from a career and technical education or vocational training program at a public secondary school; or
(F) Complete any other apprenticeship or educational program consistent with the purposes of this article, as approved by the board.
(13) The "Treasurer" refers to the West Virginia State Treasurer or his or her designee.
(b) The amendments to this section adopted during the regular session of the Legislature, 2023, are effective January 1, 2023.