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Engrossed Version House Bill 2891 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
ENGROSSED

H. B. 2891



(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegate Trump)

[By Request of the Executive]

[Introduced; referred to the

Committee on Government Organization then Finance.]




A BILL to repeal §5-1B-1, §5-1B-2, §5-1B-3, §5-1B-4, §5-1B-5, §5-1B-6, §5-1B-7 and §5-1B-8 of the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §5A-6-1, §5A-6-2, §5A-6-3, §5A-6-4, §5A-6-5, §5A-6-6, §5A-6-7 and §5A-6-8; to amend and reenact §5A-7-4 of said code; to amend and reenact §5A-8-15 of said code; to amend and reenact §5B-3-4 and §5B-3-5 of said code; to amend and reenact §5F-2-2 of said code; and to amend and reenact §11-10A-6 and §11-10A-7 of said code, all relating to the reorganization of the executive branch of state government; transferring the Office of Technology from the Office of the Governor to the Department of Administration; providing that the Director of Information Services and Communications Division shall report to the Chief Technology Officer; providing that the Director of Information Services and Communications Division shall develop and maintain an information systems disaster recovery system; revising the membership of the Records Management and Preservation Act; limiting the time period for department secretaries to transfer funds within their respective departments; requiring secretaries of departments to cooperate with the Office of Pharmaceutical Advocate in purchasing prescription drugs; modifying the term of the chief administrative law judge of the Office of Tax Appeals; and providing that the Governor has the authority to appoint two administrative law judges to the Office of Tax Appeals.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §5-1B-1, §5-1B-2, §5-1B-3, §5-1B-4, §5-1B-5, §5-1B-6, §5-1B-7 and §5-1B-8 of the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be repealed; that said code be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §5A-6-1, §5A-6-2, §5A-6-3, §5A-6-4, §5A-6-5, §5A-6-6, §5A-6-7 and §5A-6-8; that §5A-7-4 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §5A-8-15 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §5B-3-4 and §5B-3-5 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §5F-2-2 of said code be amended and reenacted; and that §11- 10A-6 and 11-10A-7 of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
CHAPTER 5A. DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION.

ARTICLE 6. OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY
§5A-6-1. Findings and purposes.

The Legislature finds and declares that information technology is essential to finding practical solutions to the everyday problems of government, and that the management goals and purposes of government are furthered by the development of compatible, linked information systems across government. Therefore, it is the purpose of this article to create, as an integral part of the Department of Administration, the Office of Technology with the authority to advise and make recommendations to all state spending units on their information systems.
§5A-6-2. Definitions.
As used in this article:
(a) "Information systems" means computer-based information equipment and related services designed for the automated transmission, storage, manipulation and retrieval of data by electronic or mechanical means;
(b) "Information technology" means data processing and telecommunications hardware, software, services, supplies, personnel, maintenance and training, and includes the programs and routines used to employ and control the capabilities of data processing hardware;
(c) "Information equipment" includes central processing units, front-end processing units, miniprocessors, microprocessors and related peripheral equipment such as data storage devices, networking equipment, services, routers, document scanners, data entry equipment, terminal controllers, data terminal equipment, computer-based word processing systems other than memory typewriters and equipment and systems for computer networks;
(d) "Related services" include feasibility studies, systems design, software development and time-sharing services whether provided by state employees or others;
(e) "Telecommunications" means any transmission, emission or reception of signs, signals, writings, images or sounds of intelligence of any nature by wire, radio or other electromagnetic or optical systems. The term includes all facilities and equipment performing those functions that are owned, leased or used by the executive agencies of state government;
(f) "Chief Technology Officer" means the person holding the position created in section three of this article and vested with authority to assist state spending units in planning and coordinating information systems that serve the effectiveness and efficiency of the individual state spending units, and further the overall management goals and purposes of government; and
(g) "Experimental program to stimulate competitive research" (EPSCoR) means the West Virginia component of the national EPSCoR program which is designed to improve the competitive research and development position of selected states through investments in academic research laboratories and laboratory equipment. The recognized West Virginia EPSCoR, which is part of the office of technology, is the responsible organization for the coordination and submission of proposals to all federal agencies participating in the EPSCoR program.
§5A-6-3. Office of Technology; Chief Technology Officer; appointment and qualifications.

There is hereby created the Office of Technology within the Department of Administration. There shall also be a Chief Technology Officer, who shall be appointed by and shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Governor. The Chief Technology Officer shall have knowledge in the field of information technology, experience in the design and management of information systems and an understanding of the special demands upon government with respect to budgetary constraints, the protection of privacy interests and federal and state standards of accountability. §5A-6-4. Powers and duties; professional staff.
(a) With respect to all state spending units the Chief Technology Officer may:
(1) Develop an organized approach to information resource management for this state;
(2) Provide, with the assistance of the Information Services and Communications Division of the Department of Administration, technical assistance to the administrators of the various state spending units in the design and management of information systems;
(3) Evaluate, in conjunction with the information services and communications division, the economic justification, system design and suitability of information equipment and related services, and review and make recommendations on the purchase, lease or acquisition of information equipment and contracts for related services by the state spending units;
(4) Develop a mechanism for identifying those instances where systems of paper forms should be replaced by direct use of information equipment and those instances where applicable state or federal standards of accountability demand retention of some paper processes;
(5) Develop a mechanism for identifying those instances where information systems should be linked and information shared, while providing for appropriate limitations on access and the security of information;
(6) Create new technologies to be used in government, convene conferences and develop incentive packages to encourage the utilization of technology;
(7) Engage in any other activities as directed by the governor; and
(8) Charge a fee to the state spending units for evaluations performed and technical assistance provided under the provisions of this section. All fees collected by the Chief Technology Officer shall be deposited in a special account in the state treasury to be known as the "Chief Technology Officer Administration Fund". Expenditures from the fund shall be made by the chief technology officer for the purposes set forth in this article and are not authorized from collections but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twelve of this code and upon the fulfillment of the provisions set forth in article two, chapter eleven-b of this code. Amounts collected which are found from time to time to exceed the funds needed for purposes set forth in this article may be redesignated for other purposes by appropriation of the Legislature.
(b) With respect to executive agencies only, the Chief Technology Officer may:
(1) Develop a unified and integrated structure for information systems for all executive agencies;
(2) Establish, based on need and opportunity, priorities and time lines for addressing the information technology requirements of the various executive agencies of state government;
(3) Exercise such authority inherent to the chief executive of the state as the Governor may, by executive order, delegate, to overrule and supersede decisions made by the administrators of the various executive agencies of government with respect to the design and management of information systems and the purchase, lease or acquisition of information equipment and contracts for related services;
(4) Draw upon staff of other executive agencies for advice and assistance in the formulation and implementation of administrative and operational plans and policies; and
(5) Recommend to the Governor transfers of equipment and human resources from any executive agency and the most effective and efficient uses of the fiscal resources of executive agencies, to consolidate or centralize information-processing operations.
(c) The Chief Technology Officer may employ the personnel necessary to carry out the work of the office and may approve reimbursement of costs incurred by employees to obtain education and training.
§5A-6-5. Notice of request for proposals by state spending units required to make purchases through the State Purchasing Division.

Any state spending unit that is required to submit a request for proposal to the State Purchasing Division prior to purchasing goods or services shall notify the Chief Technology Officer, in writing, of any proposed purchase of goods or services related to its information and telecommunication systems. The notice shall contain a brief description of the goods and services to be purchased. The state spending unit shall provide the notice to the Chief Technology Officer at the same time it submits its request for proposal to the State Purchasing Division.
§5A-6-6. Notice of request for proposals by state spending units exempted from submitting purchases to the State Purchasing Division.

(a) Any state spending unit that is not required to submit a request for proposal to the State Purchasing Division prior to purchasing goods or services shall notify the Chief Technology Officer, in writing, of any proposed purchase of goods or services related to its information or telecommunication systems. The notice shall contain a detailed description of the goods and services to be purchased. The state spending unit shall provide the notice to the Chief Technology Officer a minimum of ten days prior to the time it requests bids on the provision of the goods or services.
(b) If the Chief Technology Officer evaluates the suitability of the information and telecommunication equipment and related services under the provisions of subdivision (3), subsection (a), section four of this article and determines that the goods or services to be purchased are not suitable, he or she shall, within ten days of receiving the notice from the state spending unit, notify the state spending unit, in writing, of any recommendations he or she has regarding the proposed purchase of the goods or services. If the state spending unit receives a written notice from the Chief Technology Officer within the time period required by this section, the state spending unit shall not put the goods or services out for bid less than fifteen days following receipt of the notice from the Chief Technology Officer. §5A-6-7. Biannual report.
The Chief Technology Officer shall report biannually to the Legislative Joint Committee on Government and Finance on the activities of his or her office. §5A-6-8. Exemptions.
The provisions of this article do not apply to the Legislature or the Judiciary.
ARTICLE 7. INFORMATION SERVICES AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION.
§5A-7-4. Powers and duties of division generally; professional staff; telephone service.

(a) The Division is responsible for providing technical services and assistance to the various state spending units with respect to developing and improving data processing and telecommunications functions. The Division may provide training and direct data processing services to the various state agencies. The Division shall, upon request of the Chief Technology Officer, within the office of the governor provide technical assistance in evaluating the economic justification, system design and suitability of equipment and systems used in state government. The Director shall report to the Chief Technology Officer secretary.
(b) The Director is responsible for the development of personnel to carry out the technical work of the Division and may approve reimbursement of costs incurred by employees to obtain education and training.
(c) In consultation with the Adjutant General, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, the Superintendent of the State Police and the Director of the Office of Emergency Services, the Director is responsible for the development and maintenance of an information systems disaster recovery system for the State of West Virginia with sites in one or more locations isolated from reasonably perceived threats to the primary operation of state government. The Director shall develop specifications, funding mechanisms and participation requirements for all executive branch agencies to protect the State's essential data, information systems and critical government services in times of emergency, inoperativeness, or disaster. Each executive branch agency shall assist the Director in planning for its specific needs and provide to the Director any information or access to information systems or equipment that may be required in carrying out this purpose. No statewide or executive branch agency procurement of disaster recovery services may be initiated, let or extended without the expressed consent of the Director.
(c) (d) The Director may assess each state spending unit for the cost of any evaluation of the economic justification, system design and suitability of equipment and systems used by the state spending unit or any other technical assistance that is provided or performed by the Chief Technology Officer and the Division under the provisions of section four, article one-b six of this chapter.
(d) (e) The Director shall transfer any moneys received as a result of the assessments that he or she makes under subsection (c) (d) of this section to the Office of chief Technology officer. The Director shall report quarterly to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance on all assessments made pursuant to subsection (c) (d) of this section.
(e) (f) The Director shall maintain an accounting system for all telephone service to the state.
(f) (g) The provisions of this article do not apply to the Legislature or the Judiciary.
ARTICLE 8. PUBLIC RECORDS MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION ACT. §5A-8-15. Records management and preservation of county records;
alternate storage of county records; Records Management and Preservation Board created; qualifications and appointment of members; reimbursement of expenses; staffing; rule-making authority; study of records management needs of state agencies; grants to counties.

The Legislature finds that the use of electronic technology and other procedures to manage and preserve public records by counties should be uniform throughout the state where possible.
(a) The governing body and the chief elected official of any unit of each county, hereinafter referred to as a county government entity, whether organized and existing under a charter or under general law, shall promote the principles of efficient records management and preservation of local records. Such county governing entity may, as far as practical, follow the program established for the uniform management and preservation of county records as set out in a rule or rules proposed for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code as proposed by the Records Management and Preservation Board established herein.
(b) In the event any such governing body or the chief elected official of a unit of a county government entity decides to destroy or otherwise dispose of a county record, the governing body or such chief elected official may, prior to destruction or disposal thereof, offer the record to the Director of the Section of Archives and History of the Division of Culture and History for preservation of the record as a document of historical value. Unless authorized by the Supreme Court of Appeals, the records of courts of record and magistrate courts are not affected by the provisions of this section.
(c) A preservation duplicate of a county government entity record may be stored in any format, approved by the Board as hereinafter established, where the image of the original record is preserved in a form, including CD-ROM and optical image storage media, in which the image thereof is incapable of erasure or alteration and from which a reproduction of the stored record may be retrieved which truly and accurately depicts the image of the original county government record.
Except for those formats, processes and systems used for the storage of records on the effective date of this section, no alternate format for the storage of county government entity records described in this section is authorized for the storage of county government entity records unless the particular format has been approved pursuant to a legislative rule promulgated by the Board as herein created in accordance with the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The Board as herein established may prohibit the use of any format, process or system used for the storage of records upon its determination that the same is not reasonably adequate to preserve the records from destruction, alteration or decay.
Upon creation of a preservation duplicate which stores an original county government entity record in an approved format in which the image thereof is incapable of erasure or alteration and from which a reproduction of the stored record may be retrieved which truly and accurately depicts the image of the original record, the county government entity may destroy or otherwise dispose of the original in accordance with the provisions of section seven-c, article one, chapter fifty-seven of this code.
(d) There is hereby created a Records Management and Preservation Board for county government entities, to be composed of nine members.
(1) Three members shall serve ex officio. One member shall be the Commissioner of the Division of Culture and History who shall be the chairman of the Board. One member shall be the Administrator of the Supreme Court of Appeals. One member shall be the administrator of the governor's office of Chief Technology Officer or his or her designee.
(2) The Governor shall appoint six members of the Board with the advice and consent of the Senate. Not more than five appointments to the Board may be from the same political party and not more than three members may be appointed from the same congressional district. Of the six members appointed by the governor: (i) Three appointments shall be county elected officials, one of whom shall be a clerk of the county commission, one of whom shall be a circuit court clerk and one of whom shall be a county commissioner, to be selected from a list of nine names, including the names of three clerks of county commissions and three circuit court clerks submitted to the Governor by the West Virginia association of counties and the names of three county commissioners submitted to the governor jointly by the West Virginia association of counties and the West Virginia county commissioners association; (ii) one appointment shall be a county prosecuting attorney to be selected from a list of three names submitted by the West Virginia prosecuting attorneys institute; (iii) one appointment shall be an attorney licensed in West Virginia and in good standing as a member of the state bar with experience in real estate and mineral title examination, to be selected from a list of three names submitted by the state bar; and (iv) one appointment shall be a representative of a local historical or genealogical society.
(e) The members of the Board shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the Board. In the event the expenses are paid, or are to be paid, by a third party, the member shall not be reimbursed by the state.
(f) The staff of the Board shall consist of the Director of the Archives and History Section of the Division of Culture and History and such staff as he or she may designate to assist him or her.
(g) On or before the first day of July, two thousand one, the Board shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to establish a system of records management and preservation for county governments: Provided, That, for the retention and disposition of records of courts of record and magistrate courts, the implementation of the rule is subject to action of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. The proposed rule or rules shall include provisions for establishing a program of grants to county governments for making records management and preservation uniform throughout the state. The Board is not authorized to propose or promulgate emergency rules under the provisions of this section.
(h) On or before the first day of April, two thousand two, the Board, in cooperation with the administrator and state executive agencies under the general authority of the Governor, shall conduct a study of the records management and preservation needs of state executive agencies. Should the Board determine a need for a uniform records management and preservation system for such agencies, it shall recommend that the administrator propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to provide for the implementation of a uniform records management and preservation system for state executive agencies.
(i) In addition to the fees charged by the clerk of the county commission under the provisions of section ten, article one, chapter fifty-nine of this code, the clerk shall charge and collect an additional one-dollar fee for every document containing less than ten pages filed for recording and an additional one-dollar fee for each additional ten pages of such document filed for recording. At the end of each month, the clerk of the county commission shall deposit into the special public records and preservation account as herein established in the State Treasury all fees collected: Provided, That the clerk may retain not more than ten percent of such fees for costs associated with the collection of the fees. Clerks shall be responsible for accounting for the collection and deposit in the state treasury of all fees collected by such clerk under the provisions of this section.
There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special account entitled the "public records and preservation revenue account". The account shall consist of all fees collected under the provisions of this section, legislative appropriations, interest earned from fees, investments, gifts, grants or contributions received by the Board. Expenditures from the account 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 appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twelve of this code and upon the fulfillment of the provisions set forth in article two, chapter five-a eleven-b of this code: Provided, That for the fiscal year ending the thirtieth day of June, two thousand one, expenditures are authorized from collections rather than pursuant to an appropriation by the Legislature.
Subject to the above provision, the Board may expend the funds in the account to implement the provisions of this article. In expending funds from the account, the Board shall allocate not more than fifty percent of such funds for grants to counties for records management, access and preservation purposes. The Board shall provide for applications, set guidelines and establish procedures for distributing grants to counties including a process for appealing an adverse decision on a grant application. Expenditures from the account shall be for the purposes set forth in this section, including the cost of additional staff of the Division of Archives and History.
CHAPTER 5B. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1985.

ARTICLE 3. WEST VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY: A VISION SHARED.

§5B-3-4. Commission review of procedural rules, interpretive rules and existing legislative rules.

(a) The Joint Commission on Economic Development may review any procedural rule, interpretive rule or existing legislative rule and make recommendations concerning the rules to the Legislature.
(b) The Development Office and the Tourism Commission established pursuant to article two of this chapter, the Economic Development Authority established pursuant to article fifteen, chapter thirty-one of this code, the Bureau of Employment Programs established pursuant to article four, chapter twenty-one-a of this code, the Workers' Compensation Commission established pursuant to article one, chapter twenty-three of this code, the Workforce Investment Commission established pursuant to article two-c of this chapter, West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust, Regional Planning and Development Councils, West Virginia Rural Development Council, governor's Office of Technology and West Virginia Clearinghouse for Workforce Education shall each file a copy of its legislative rules with the commission as provided for in this section. Each agency that proposes legislative rules in accordance to the provisions of article three, three-a or three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code relating to economic development or workforce development shall file the rules with the Joint Commission at the time the rules are filed with the Secretary of State prior to the public comment period or public hearing required in said chapter.
§5B-3-5. Joint commission on economic development studies.
(a) The Joint Commission on Economic Development shall study the following:
(1) The feasibility of establishing common regional configurations for such purposes as local workforce investment areas, regional educational service agencies and for all other purposes the commission considers feasible. The study should review the existing levels of cooperation between state and local economic developers, complete an analysis of possible regional configurations and outline examples of other successful regional systems or networks found throughout the world. If the study determines that the common regional configurations are feasible, the commission shall recommend legislation establishing common regional designations for all purposes the commission considers feasible. In making the designation of regional areas, the study shall take into consideration, but not be limited to, the following:
(A) Geographic areas served by local educational agencies and intermediate educational agencies;
(B) Geographic areas served by post-secondary educational institutions and area vocational education schools;
(C) The extent to which the local areas are consistent with labor market areas;
(D) The distance that individuals will need to travel to receive services provided in the local areas; and
(E) The resources of the local areas that are available to effectively administer the activities or programs;
(2) The effectiveness and fiscal impact of incentives for attracting and growing businesses, especially technology-intensive companies; and
(3) A comprehensive review of West Virginia's existing economic and community development resources and the recommendation of an organizational structure, including, but not limited to, the reorganization of the Bureau of Commerce and the Development Office that would allow the state to successfully compete in the new global economy.
(b) In order to effectuate in the most cost-effective and efficient manner the studies required in this article, it is necessary for the Joint Commission to assemble and compile a tremendous amount of information. The Development Office will assist the Joint Commission in the collection and analysis of this information. The Tourism Commission established pursuant to article two of this chapter, the Economic Development Authority established pursuant to article fifteen, chapter thirty-one of this code, the Bureau of Employment Programs established pursuant to article four, chapter twenty-one-a of this code, the Workers' Compensation Commission established pursuant to article one, chapter twenty-three of this code, the Workforce Investment Commission established pursuant to article two-c of this chapter, West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust, regional planning and development councils, West Virginia Rural Development Council, governor's Office of Technology and West Virginia Clearinghouse for Workforce Education all shall provide a copy of the agency's annual report as submitted to the Governor in accordance with the requirements set forth in section twenty, article one, chapter five of this code to the West Virginia Development Office. The Development Office shall review, analyze and summarize the data contained in the reports, including its own annual report, and annually submit its findings to the Joint Commission on or before the thirty-first day of December.
(c) The Legislative Auditor shall provide to the Joint Commission a copy of any and all reports on agencies listed in subsection (b) of this section, which are required under article ten, chapter four of this code.
(d) The Joint Commission shall complete the studies set forth in this section and any other studies the Joint Commission determines to undertake prior to the first day of December of each year and may make recommendations, including recommended legislation for introduction during the regular session of the Legislature.
CHAPTER 5F. ORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

ARTICLE 2. TRANSFER OF AGENCIES AND BOARDS.
5F-2-2. Power and authority of secretary of each department.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the secretary of each department shall have plenary power and authority within and for the department to:
(1) Employ and discharge within the office of the secretary such employees as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the secretary, which employees shall serve at the will and pleasure of the secretary;
(2) Cause the various agencies and boards to be operated effectively, efficiently and economically, and develop goals, objectives, policies and plans that are necessary or desirable for the effective, efficient and economical operation of the department;
(3) Eliminate or consolidate positions, other than positions of administrators or positions of board members, and name a person to fill more than one position;
(4) Delegate, assign, transfer or combine responsibilities or duties to or among employees, other than administrators or board members;
(5) Reorganize internal functions or operations;
(6) Formulate comprehensive budgets for consideration by the Governor, and transfer within the department funds appropriated to the various agencies of the department which are not expended due to cost savings resulting from the implementation of the provisions of this chapter: Provided, That no more than twenty-five percent of the funds appropriated to any one agency or board may be transferred to other agencies or boards within the department: Provided, however, That no funds may be transferred from a special revenue account, dedicated account, capital expenditure account or any other account or funds specifically exempted by the Legislature from transfer, except that the use of appropriations from the State Road Fund transferred to the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation is not a use other than the purpose for which such funds were dedicated and is permitted: Provided further, That if the Legislature by subsequent enactment consolidates agencies, boards or functions, the secretary may transfer the funds formerly appropriated to such agency, board or function in order to implement such consolidation. The authority to transfer funds under this section shall expire on the thirtieth day of June, two thousand six five;
(7) Enter into contracts or agreements requiring the expenditure of public funds, and authorize the expenditure or obligating of public funds as authorized by law: Provided, That the powers granted to the secretary to enter into contracts or agreements and to make expenditures or obligations of public funds under this provision shall not exceed or be interpreted as authority to exceed the powers heretofore granted by the Legislature to the various commissioners, directors or board members of the various departments, agencies or boards that comprise and are incorporated into each secretary's department under this chapter;
(8) Acquire by lease or purchase property of whatever kind or character and convey or dispose of any property of whatever kind or character as authorized by law: Provided, That the powers granted to the secretary to lease, purchase, convey or dispose of such property shall not exceed or be interpreted as authority to exceed the powers heretofore granted by the Legislature to the various commissioners, directors or board members of the various departments, agencies or boards that comprise and are incorporated into each secretary's department under this chapter;
(9) Conduct internal audits;
(10) Supervise internal management;
(11) Promulgate rules, as defined in section two, article one, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to implement and make effective the powers, authority and duties granted and imposed by the provisions of this chapter, such promulgation to be in accordance with the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code;
(12) Grant or withhold written consent to the proposal of any rule, as defined in section two, article one, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, by any administrator, agency or board within the department, without which written consent no proposal of a rule shall have any force or effect;
(13) Delegate to administrators such duties of the secretary as the secretary may deem appropriate from time to time to facilitate execution of the powers, authority and duties delegated to the secretary; and
(14) Take any other action involving or relating to internal management not otherwise prohibited by law.
(b) The secretaries of the departments hereby created shall engage in a comprehensive review of the practices, policies and operations of the agencies and boards within their departments to determine the feasibility of cost reductions and increased efficiency which may be achieved therein, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) The elimination, reduction and restrictions in the use of the state's vehicle or other transportation fleet;
(2) The elimination, reduction and restrictions in the preparation of state government publications, including annual reports, informational materials and promotional materials;
(3) The termination or rectification of terms contained in lease agreements between the state and private sector for offices, equipment and services;
(4) The adoption of appropriate systems for accounting, including consideration of an accrual basis financial accounting and reporting system;
(5) The adoption of revised procurement practices to facilitate cost-effective purchasing procedures, including consideration of means by which domestic businesses may be assisted to compete for state government purchases; and
(6) The computerization of the functions of the state agencies and boards.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, none of the powers granted to the secretaries herein shall be exercised by the secretary if to do so would violate or be inconsistent with the provisions of any federal law or regulation, any federal-state program or federally delegated program or jeopardize the approval, existence or funding of any such program and the powers granted to the secretary shall be so construed.
(d) The layoff and recall rights of employees within the classified service of the state as provided in subsections five and six, section ten, article six, chapter twenty-nine of this code shall be limited to the organizational unit within the agency or board and within the occupational group established by the classification and compensation plan for the classified service of the agency or board in which the employee was employed prior to the agency or board's transfer or incorporation into the department: Provided, That the employee shall possess the qualifications established for the job class. The duration of recall rights provided in this subsection shall be limited to two years or the length of tenure, whichever is less. Except as provided in this subsection, nothing contained in this section shall be construed to abridge the rights of employees within the classified service of the state as provided in sections ten and ten-a, article six, chapter twenty-nine of this code, or the right of classified employees of the Board of Regents to the procedures and protections set forth in article twenty-six-b, chapter eighteen of this code. (e) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary the secretary of each department with authority over programs which are payors for prescription drugs, including but not limited to, the Public Employees Insurance Agency, the Children's Health Insurance Program, the Division of Corrections, the Division of Juvenile Services, the Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority, the Workers' Compensation Fund, state colleges and universities, public hospitals, state or local institutions such as nursing homes, veteran's homes, the Division of Rehabilitation, public health departments and the Bureau of Medical Services or other programs which are payors for prescription drugs, shall cooperate with the Office of the Pharmaceutical Advocate established pursuant to section four, article sixteen-d, chapter five of this code for the purpose of purchasing prescription drugs for any program over which they have authority.
CHAPTER 11. TAXATION.

ARTICLE 10A. WEST VIRGINIA OFFICE OF TAX APPEALS. §11-10A-6. Chief Administrative Law Judge; appointment, term and
vacancy; qualifications; compensation; conflicts of interest prohibited; removal.

(a) The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint the Chief Administrative Law Judge from a list of three qualified nominees submitted to the Governor by the Board of Governors of the West Virginia State Bar for a sixfour-year term. An appointment to fill a vacancy in the position shall be for the unexpired term.
(b) Prior to appointment, the Chief Administrative Law Judge shall be a citizen of the United States and a resident of this state who is admitted to the practice of law in this state and who has five years of full-time or equivalent part-time experience as an attorney with federal or state tax law expertise or as a judge of a court of record.
(c) The salary of the Chief Administrative Law Judge shall be set by the Secretary of the Department of Tax and Revenue created in section two, article one, chapter five-f of this code. The salary shall be within the salary range for comparable chief administrative law judges as determined by the State Personnel Board created by section six, article six, chapter twenty-nine of this code.
(d) The Chief Administrative Law Judge, during his or her term shall:
(1) Devote his or her full time to the duties of the position;
(2) Not otherwise engage in the active practice of law or be associated with any group or entity which is itself engaged in the active practice of law: Provided, That nothing in this paragraph may be construed to prohibit the Chief Administrative Law Judge from being a member of a national, state or local bar association or committee, or of any other similar type group or organization, or to prohibit the Chief Administrative Law Judge from engaging in the practice of law by representing himself, herself or his or her immediate family in their personal affairs in matters not subject to this article.
(3) Not engage directly or indirectly in any activity, occupation or business interfering or inconsistent with his or her duties as Chief Administrative Law Judge;
(4) Not hold any other appointed public office or any elected public office or any other position of public trust; and
(5) Not be a candidate for any elected public office, or serve on or under any committee of any political party.
(e) The Governor may remove the Chief Administrative Law Judge only for incompetence, neglect of duty, official misconduct or violation of subsection (d) of this section, and removal shall be in the same manner as that specified for removal of elected state officials in section six, article six, chapter six of this code.
§11-10A-7. Powers and duties of Chief Administrative Law Judge; all employees, except Chief Administrative Law Judge members of classified service; qualifications of administrative law judges; closure of Tax Division Office of Hearings and Appeals and transfer of employees to Office of Tax Appeals.

(a) The Chief Administrative Law Judge is the chief executive officer of the Office of Tax Appeals and he or she may employ up to two administrative law judges, no more than one person to serve as executive director, no more than one staff attorney and other clerical personnel as necessary for the proper administration of this article. The Chief Administrative Law Judge may delegate administrative duties to other employees, but the Chief Administrative Law Judge shall be responsible for all official delegated acts.
(1) Upon the request of the Chief Administrative Law Judge, the Governor may appoint up to two administrative law judges as necessary for the proper administration of this article.
(1)(2) All employees of the Office of Tax Appeals, except the Chief Administrative Law Judge, shall be in the classified service and shall be governed by the provisions of the statutes, rules and policies of the classified service in accordance with the provisions of article six, chapter twenty-nine of this code.
(2)(3) Prior to employment by the Office of Tax Appeals, all administrative law judges shall be admitted to the practice of law in this state and have at least two years of full-time or equivalent part-time experience as an attorney with federal or state tax law expertise.
(3)(4) The Chief Administrative Law Judge and all administrative law judges shall be members of the public employees retirement system and do not qualify as participants in the judicial retirement system during their tenure with the office of tax appeals.
(4)(5) Notwithstanding any provisions of this code to the contrary, the Chief Administrative Law Judge shall employ any person not a temporary or probationary employee employed full-time and in good standing by the Tax Division in its hearings office applying for a position with the Office of Tax Appeals. A former Tax Division employee employed by the Office of Tax Appeals under the provisions of this subdivision shall retain his or her classified service classification, salary and benefits: Provided, That if an employee is currently classified as a chief administrative law judge, he or she may not retain that classification and must be reclassified as determined by the Secretary of the Department of tax and Revenue.
(b) The Chief Administrative Law Judge shall:
(1) Direct and supervise the work of the legal staff;
(2) Make hearing assignments;
(3) Maintain the records of the Office of Tax Appeals;
(4) Review and approve decisions of administrative law judges as to legal accuracy, clarity and other requirements;
(5) Publish decisions in accordance with the provisions of section sixteen of this article;
(6) Submit to the Legislature, on or before the fifteenth day of February, an annual report summarizing the Office of Tax Appeals' activities since the end of the last report period, including a statement of the number and type of matters handled by the Office of Tax Appeals during the preceding fiscal year and the number of matters pending at the end of the year; and
(7) Perform the other duties necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of this article.
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