H. B. 2147
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegate Michael)
[Introduced February 18, 1997; referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary then Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact sections seven and eight, article two,
chapter fourteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand
nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating generally to the
court of claims; expanding locations where the court may meet;
and increasing compensation to court of claims judges.
Be it enacted by the legislature of West Virginia:
That sections seven and eight, article two, chapter fourteen
of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one,
as amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE.
§14-2-7. Meeting place of the court.
The regular meeting place of the court shall be at the state
capitol, and the joint committee on government and finance shall
provide adequate quarters therefor. When deemed advisable, in
order to facilitate the full hearing of claims arising elsewhere in the state, the court may convene at any county seat location
in the state.
§14-2-8. Compensation of judges; expenses.
Each judge of the court shall receive one hundred forty two-
hundred dollars for each day actually served, and actual expenses
incurred in the performance of his duties. The number of days
served by each judge shall not exceed one hundred in any fiscal
year, except by authority of the joint committee on government
and finance: Provided, That in computing the number of days
served, days utilized solely for the exercise of duties assigned
to judges and commissioners by the provisions of article two-a of
this chapter shall be disregarded. Requisitions for
compensation and expenses shall be accompanied by sworn and
itemized statements, which shall be filed with the auditor and
preserved as public records. For the purpose of this section,
time served shall include time spent in the hearing of claims, in
the consideration of the record, in the preparation of opinions
and in necessary travel.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow the court of claims to
convene in any location within the state and to provide increase
of compensation for the court of claims judges from $140.00 per day to
$200.00 per dqay.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.