H. B. 2116
(By Delegate Love)
[Introduced February 15, 1993; referred to the
Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
then Finance.]
A BILL to amend article seven, chapter twenty of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended,
by adding thereto a new section, designated section one-d,
relating to natural resources; authorizing the awarding of
his or her service revolver to a conservation officer upon
his or her retirement under specified conditions; and
requiring the division of natural resources to furnish upon
request uniforms for burial of certain deceased conservation
officers.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article seven, chapter twenty of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section one-
d, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 7. LAW ENFORCEMENT, MOTORBOATING, LITTER.
§20-7-1d. Awarding service revolver upon retirement; furnishing
uniform for burial.
(a) Upon the retirement of any full-time salaried
conservation officer, the chief conservation officer shall award
to the retiring conservation officer his or her service revolver,
without charge, upon determining:
(1) That the conservation officer is retiring honorably with
at least twenty-five years of service; or
(2) That such conservation officer is retiring with less
than twenty-five years of service based upon a determination that
he or she is totally physically disabled as a result of service
with the division.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this
section, the chief conservation officer shall not award the
service revolver to any conservation officer whom the chief
conservation officer finds to be mentally incapacitated or who
constitutes a danger to any person or the community.
(c) Upon the death of any current or honorably retired
conservation officer, the chief conservation officer shall, upon
request of the deceased officer's family, furnish a full uniform
for burial of the deceased officer.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit a conservation
officer to be awarded his or her service revolver upon retirement
after at least twenty-five years of service or honorable
disability retirement, regardless of the number of years served.
It also requires the Division of Natural Resources to furnish
uniforms for burial of certain deceased conservation officers,
upon request of the officers' families.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.