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Introduced Version House Bill 4063 History

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

H. B. 4063

 

         (By Delegates Hamilton, Phillips, Crosier, D. Poling,

               D. Campbell, M. Poling, Iaquinta, Ireland,

                     O’Neal, Lane and Ellem)


         [Introduced January 13, 2012; referred to the

         Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.]

 

A BILL to amend and reenact §7-14-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §7-14B-3 of said code; to amend and reenact §8-14-7 of said code; and to amend and reenact §8-15-12 of said code, all relating to civil service commissions in political subdivisions; qualifications of members; restrictions and disqualifications from membership on commissions; updating the provisions; and stylistic changes.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §7-14-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; that §7-14B-3 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §8-14-7 of said code be amended and reenacted; and that §8-15-12 of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:

CHAPTER 7. COUNTY COMMISSIONS AND OFFICERS.

ARTICLE 14. CIVIL SERVICE FOR DEPUTY SHERIFFS.

§7-14-3. Civil Service Commission.

    (a) The Civil Service Commission in each county is continued. The commissioners shall, unless sooner removed, continue to serve until their respective terms expire and their successors have been appointed and qualified. Each county Civil Service Commission consists of the following three members:

    (1) One commissioner appointed by the county bar association;    (2) One commissioner appointed by the county’s deputy sheriff's association; and

    (3) One commissioner appointed by the county commission.

    (b) The commissioners’ terms are for four years and shall be staggered.

    © All appointments to the commission shall be made in a timely manner so as not to create a vacancy for longer than sixty days. If the county bar association or the county’s deputy sheriff's association fails to make an appointment within sixty days, then the county commission shall make the appointment.

    (d) Each commissioner must be a resident of this state and a qualified voter of the county during the appointment term. Only two commissioners may be of the same political party.

    (e) A person is not eligible for appointment or reappointment if he or she:

    (1) Has been convicted of a felony or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

    (2) Is a relative, as defined in section three, article one, chapter six-b, to:

    (A) A county commissioner of the county from which the appointment is made; or

    (B) The president or chairman or similarly situated official of the county deputy sheriff's association or the county bar association, from which the appointment is made;

    (3) Holds any other office, other than the office of notary public, under the United States, this state, or any municipality, county or other political subdivision thereof;

    (4) Serves on any political committee; or

    (5) Takes an active part in the management of any political campaign.

    (f) The commission shall annually elect one of its members as president who serves at the will and pleasure of the commission.

    (g) A commissioner immediately and automatically forfeits membership to the commission if he or she:

    (1) Is convicted of a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction; or

    (2) Becomes a nonresident of this state.

    (h) The county commission may remove a commissioner for neglect of duty, incompetence, official misconduct or good cause, which reason shall be stated in writing and made a part of the records of the Civil Service Commission.

    (I) After the county commission has removed a commissioner, the county commission shall within ten days file, in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county, a petition stating:

    (1) The reason for the removal; and

    (2) A request for the circuit court to confirm the county commission’s action.

    (j) A copy of the petition shall be served upon the removed commissioner simultaneously with the filing of the petition in the office of the clerk of the circuit court. The petition has precedence on the docket of the circuit court and shall be heard by the court as soon as practicable.

    (k) If a term of the circuit court is not being held at the time of the filing of the petition, then the petition shall be heard at the next succeeding term of the circuit court. The removed commissioner shall remain removed until a hearing is had upon the petition. The circuit court shall hear and decide the issues presented by the petition. The county commission or the removed commissioner may appeal the decision of the circuit court to the Supreme Court of Appeals.

    (l) If the county commission fails to file its petition in the office of the clerk of the circuit court within ten days after the removal of the commissioner, then the commissioner immediately resumes his or her position as a member of the Civil Service Commission.

    (m) A resident of the county may file charges against and seek the removal of any commissioner. The charges shall be filed in the form of a petition in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county. A copy of the petition shall be served upon the commissioner sought to be removed. The petition shall be heard as a civil action by the circuit court of the county for which the commissioner serves. The party against whom the decision of the circuit court is rendered may appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Appeals.

ARTICLE 14B. CIVIL SERVICE FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.

§7-14B-3. Civil Service Commission.

    (a) There shall be a Civil Service Commission in each county with a population of at least twenty-five thousand and each commission is continued. The commissioners shall, unless sooner removed, continue to serve until their respective terms expire and their successors have been appointed and qualified. Each county Civil Service Commission consists of the following five members:

    (1) Two commissioners appointed by the county bar association;    (2) One commissioner appointed by the county’s correctional officers’ association; and

    (3) Two commissioners appointed by the county commission.

    (b) The commissioners’ terms are for six years and shall be staggered.

    © All appointments to the commission shall be made in a timely manner so as not to create a vacancy for longer than sixty days. If the county bar association or the county’s correctional officers’ association fails to make an appointment within sixty days, then the county commission shall make the appointment.

    (d) Each commissioner must be a resident of this state and a qualified voter of the county during the appointment term. Only three commissioners may be of the same political party.

    (e) A person is not eligible for appointment or reappointment if he or she:

    (1) Has been convicted of a felony or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

    (2) Is a relative, as defined in section three, article one, chapter six-b, to:

    (A) A county commissioner of the county from which the appointment is made; or

    (B) The president or chairman or similarly situated official of the county correctional officers’ association or the county bar association, from which the appointment is made;

    (3) Holds any other office, other than the office of notary public, under the United States, this state, or any municipality, county or other political subdivision thereof;

    (4) Serves on any political committee; or

    (5) Takes an active part in the management of any political campaign.

    (f) The commission shall annually elect one of its members as president who serves at the will and pleasure of the commission.

    (g) A commissioner immediately and automatically forfeits membership to the commission if he or she:

    (1) Is convicted of a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction; or

    (2) Becomes a nonresident of this state.

    (h) The county commission may remove a commissioner for neglect of duty, incompetence, official misconduct or good cause, which reason shall be stated in writing and made a part of the records of the Civil Service Commission.

    (I) After the county commission has removed a commissioner, the county commission shall within ten days file, in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county, a petition stating:

    (1) The reason for the removal; and

    (2) A request for the circuit court to confirm the county commission’s action.

    (j) A copy of the petition shall be served upon the removed commissioner simultaneously with the filing of the petition in the office of the clerk of the circuit court. The petition has precedence on the docket of the circuit court and shall be heard by the court as soon as practicable.

    (k) If a term of the circuit court is not being held at the time of the filing of the petition, then the petition shall be heard at the next succeeding term of the circuit court. The removed commissioner shall remain removed until a hearing is had upon the petition. The circuit court shall hear and decide the issues presented by the petition. The county commission or the removed commissioner may appeal the decision of the circuit court to the Supreme Court of Appeals.

    (l) If the county commission fails to file its petition in the office of the clerk of the circuit court within ten days after the removal of the commissioner, then the commissioner immediately resumes his or her position as a member of the Civil Service Commission.

    (m) A resident of the county may file charges against and seek the removal of any commissioner. The charges shall be filed in the form of a petition in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county. A copy of the petition shall be served upon the commissioner sought to be removed. The petition shall be heard as a civil action by the circuit court of the county for which the commissioner serves. The party against whom the decision of the circuit court is rendered may appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Appeals.

CHAPTER 8. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.

ARTICLE 14. LAW AND ORDER; POLICE FORCE OR DEPARTMENTS; POWERS, AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND POLICEMEN; POLICE MATRONS; SPECIAL SCHOOL ZONE AND PARKING LOT OR PARKING BUILDING POLICE OFFICERS; CIVIL SERVICE FOR CERTAIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

§8-14-7. Policemen's Civil Service Commission generally.

    (a) There shall be a Policemen's Civil Service Commission in each Class I and Class II municipality having a paid police department and each commission is continued. The commissioners shall, unless sooner removed, continue to serve until their respective terms expire and their successors have been appointed and qualified. Each Civil Service Commission consists of the following three members:

    (1) One commissioner appointed by the mayor of the municipality;

    (2) One commissioner appointed by the local fraternal order of police; and

    (3) One commissioner appointed by the local chamber of commerce, if there is one, or a local businessmen’s association.

    (b) The commissioners’ terms are for four years and shall be staggered.

    © All appointments to the commission shall be made in a timely manner so as not to create a vacancy for longer than sixty days. If there is no local chamber of commerce or local businessmen’s association, or the local chamber of commerce or local businessmen’s association fails to make an appointment within sixty days, then the other two commissioners shall make the appointment by mutual agreement.

    (d) Each commissioner must be a resident of this state and a qualified voter of the municipality during the appointment term. Only two commissioners may be of the same political party.

    (e) A person is not eligible for appointment or reappointment if he or she:

    (1) Has been convicted of a felony or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

    (2) Is a relative, as defined in section three, article one, chapter six-b, to:

    (A) The mayor of the municipality from which the appointment is made; or

    (B) The president or chairman or similarly situated official of the local fraternal order of police or the local chamber of commerce or local businessmen’s association, from which the appointment is made;

    (3) Holds any other office, other than the office of notary public, under the United States, this state, or any municipality, county or other political subdivision thereof;

    (4) Serves on any political committee; or

    (5) Takes an active part in the management of any political campaign.

    (f) The commission shall annually elect one of its members as president who serves at the will and pleasure of the commission.

    (g) A commissioner immediately and automatically forfeits membership to the commission if he or she:

    (1) Is convicted of a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction; or

    (2) Becomes a nonresident of this state.

    (h) The mayor of the municipality may remove a commissioner for neglect of duty, incompetence, official misconduct or good cause, which reason shall be stated in writing and made a part of the records of the Civil Service Commission.

    (I) After the mayor has removed a commissioner, the mayor shall within ten days file, in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the municipality or a major portion of the municipality is located, a petition stating:

    (1) The reason for the removal; and

    (2) A request for the circuit court to confirm the mayor’s action.

    (j) A copy of the petition shall be served upon the removed commissioner simultaneously with the filing of the petition in the office of the clerk of the circuit court. The petition has precedence on the docket of the circuit court and shall be heard by the court as soon as practicable.

    (k) If a term of the circuit court is not being held at the time of the filing of the petition, then the petition shall be heard at the next succeeding term of the circuit court. The removed commissioner shall remain removed until a hearing is had upon the petition. The circuit court shall hear and decide the issues presented by the petition. The mayor or the removed commissioner may appeal the decision of the circuit court to the Supreme Court of Appeals.

    (l) If the mayor fails to file its petition in the office of the clerk of the circuit court within ten days after the removal of the commissioner, then the commissioner immediately resumes his or her position as a member of the Civil Service Commission.

    (m) A resident of the municipality may file charges against and seek the removal of any commissioner. The charges shall be filed in the form of a petition in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the municipality or a major portion of the municipality is located. A copy of the petition shall be served upon the commissioner sought to be removed. The petition shall be heard as a civil action by the circuit court of the county for which the commissioner serves. The party against whom the decision of the circuit court is rendered may appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Appeals.

ARTICLE 15. FIRE FIGHTING; FIRE COMPANIES AND DEPARTMENTS; CIVIL SERVICE FOR PAID FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

§8-15-12. Firefighters’ Civil Service Commission generally.

    (a) There shall be a Firefighters’ Civil Service Commission in each municipality having a paid fire department and each commission is continued. The commissioners shall, unless sooner removed, continue to serve until their respective terms expire and their successors have been appointed and qualified. Each Civil Service Commission consists of the following three members:

    (1) One commissioner appointed by the mayor of the municipality;

    (2) One commissioner appointed by the local international association of firefighters, if there is one, or by the local central body of the West Virginia Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, if there is one, or by the West Virginia Federation of Labor AFL-CIO; and

    (3) One commissioner appointed by the local chamber of commerce, if there is one, or a local businessmen’s association.

    (b) The commissioners’ terms are for four years and shall be staggered.

    © All appointments to the commission shall be made in a timely manner so as not to create a vacancy for longer than sixty days. If there is no local chamber of commerce or local businessmen’s association, or the local chamber of commerce or local businessmen’s association fails to make an appointment within sixty days, then the other two commissioners shall make the appointment by mutual agreement.

    (d) Each commissioner must be a resident of this state and a qualified voter of the municipality during the appointment term. Only two commissioners may be of the same political party.

    (e) A person is not eligible for appointment or reappointment if he or she:

    (1) Has been convicted of a felony or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

    (2) Is a relative, as defined in section three, article one, chapter six-b, to:

    (A) The mayor of the municipality from which the appointment is made;

    (B) The president or chairman or similarly situated official of the local international association of firefighters, the local central body of the West Virginia Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, or the West Virginia Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, from which the appointment is made; or

    © The president or chairman or similarly situated official of the local chamber of commerce or local businessmen’s association, from which the appointment is made.

    (3) Holds any other office, other than the office of notary public, under the United States, this state, or any municipality, county or other political subdivision thereof;

    (4) Serves on any political committee; or

    (5) Takes an active part in the management of any political campaign.

    (f) The commission shall annually elect one of its members as president who serves at the will and pleasure of the commission.

    (g) A commissioner immediately and automatically forfeits membership to the commission if he or she:

    (1) Is convicted of a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction; or

    (2) Becomes a nonresident of this state.

    (h) The mayor of the municipality may remove a commissioner for neglect of duty, incompetence, official misconduct or good cause, which reason shall be stated in writing and made a part of the records of the Civil Service Commission.

    (I) After the mayor has removed a commissioner, the mayor shall within ten days file, in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the municipality or a major portion of the municipality is located, a petition stating:

    (1) The reason for the removal; and

    (2) A request for the circuit court to confirm the mayor’s action.

    (j) A copy of the petition shall be served upon the removed commissioner simultaneously with the filing of the petition in the office of the clerk of the circuit court. The petition has precedence on the docket of the circuit court and shall be heard by the court as soon as practicable.

    (k) If a term of the circuit court is not being held at the time of the filing of the petition, then the petition shall be heard at the next succeeding term of the circuit court. The removed commissioner shall remain removed until a hearing is had upon the petition. The circuit court shall hear and decide the issues presented by the petition. The mayor or the removed commissioner may appeal the decision of the circuit court to the Supreme Court of Appeals.

    (l) If the mayor fails to file its petition in the office of the clerk of the circuit court within ten days after the removal of the commissioner, then the commissioner immediately resumes his or her position as a member of the Civil Service Commission.

    (m) A resident of the municipality may file charges against and seek the removal of any commissioner. The charges shall be filed in the form of a petition in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the municipality or a major portion of the municipality is located. A copy of the petition shall be served upon the commissioner sought to be removed. The petition shall be heard as a civil action by the circuit court of the county for which the commissioner serves. The party against whom the decision of the circuit court is rendered may appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Appeals.


    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require that commissioners have not been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude and that they not be related to a county commissioner from which the appointment is made or to the president or chairman of a similarly situated association or of the county bar association from which the appointment is made.


    This bill has been completely rewritten; therefore, it has been completely underscored.

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