WEST virginia Legislature

2017 First Extraordinary session

Introduced

House Bill 122

By Delegate Kessinger

[Introduced June 14, 2017; Referred
to the Committee on Government Organization]

A BILL to repeal §29-20-2, §29-20-3, §29-20-4, §29-20-5 and §29-20-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §29-20-1 of said code, all relating to termination of the Women’s Commission; declaring Women’s Commission to cease all public activities by June 30, 2017; directing commission to wind up affairs, arrange for disposition of funds, assets, equipment and records, and close all accounts and obligations on or before July 31, 2017; and repealing provisions of code related to Women’s Commission.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That §29-20-2, §29-20-3, §29-20-4, §29-20-5 and §29-20-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be repealed; and that §29-20-1 of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 20. WOMEN’S COMMISSION.

§29-20-1. Membership; appointment and terms of members; organization; reimbursement for expenses. Termination of the Women’s Commission.

The West Virginia commission on the status of women is hereby abolished, and there is hereby continued within the Department of Health and Human Resources the West Virginia women's commission, to consist of eighteen members, seven of whom shall be ex officio members, not entitled to vote: The Attorney General, the state superintendent of Schools, the commissioner of labor, the commissioner of the bureau of human resources of the Department of Health and Human Resources, the director of the Human Rights Commission, the director of the Division of Personnel and the chancellor of the board of directors of the state college system. Each ex officio member may designate one representative employed by his or her department to meet with the commission in his or her absence. The Governor shall appoint the additional eleven members, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from among the citizens of the state. The Governor shall designate the chairman and vice chairman of the commission and the commission may elect such other officers as it deems necessary. The members shall serve a term beginning July 1, 1977, three to serve for a term of one year, four to serve for a term of two years and the remaining four to serve for a term of three years. The successors of the members initially appointed as provided herein shall be appointed for a term of three years each in the same manner as the members initially appointed under this article, except that any person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his or her predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. Each member shall serve until the appointment and qualification of his or her successor.

No member may receive any salary for his or her services, but each may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties out of funds received by the commission under section four of this article, except that in the event the expenses are paid, or are to be paid, by a third party, the members shall not be reimbursed by the commission The Women’s Commission is declared to be terminated and shall cease all public activities as of June 30, 2017.  The commission shall promptly wind up its affairs, terminate all contracts, arrange for the disposition of its funds, assets, equipment and records and shall complete all necessary tasks for closing its accounts and obligations on or before July 31, 2017.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to terminate the Women’s Commission and discontinue its functions.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.