COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

Senate Bill No. 539

(By Senator Unger)

____________

[Originating in the Committee on Government Organization;

                    reported March 1, 2011.]                                         ____________

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §8-14-3a, relating to allowing police chiefs and deputy chiefs in Class III and Class IV municipalities to be reinstated to previous rank after term as chief or deputy chief is completed.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §8-14-3a, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 14. LAW AND ORDER; POLICE FORCE OR DEPARTMENTS, ETC.

§8-14-3a. Reinstatement of chief or deputy chief of police of a Class III or Class IV municipality.

    An individual appointed chief or deputy chief of police of a Class III or Class IV municipality who held a position as a member of the police department before the appointment as chief or deputy chief of police may be reinstated to the officer’s previous rank following his or her term as chief or deputy chief of police.