ENROLLED

H. B. 2234


(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chambers, and Delegate Rowe)

[Passed April 10, 1993; in effect ninety days from passage]



AN ACT to amend and reenact section seven, article two, chapter fifteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to age qualifications for members of the division of public safety.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section seven, article two, chapter fifteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

§15-2-7. Cadet selection board; qualifications for and appointment to membership in division; civilian employees.

(a) The superintendent shall establish within the division of public safety a cadet selection board which shall be representative of commissioned and noncommissioned officers within the division.
(b) The superintendent shall appoint a member to the position of trooper from among the top three names on the current list of eligible applicants established by the cadet selection board.
(c) Preference in making appointments shall be givenwhenever possible to honorably discharged members of the armed forces of the United States and to residents of West Virginia. Each applicant for appointment shall be a person not less than twenty-one years of age, of sound constitution and good moral character; shall be required to pass any mental and physical examination and meet other requirements as may be provided for in rules promulgated by the cadet selection board:
Provided, That a former member may, at the discretion of the superintendent, be reenlisted.
(d) No person may be barred from becoming a member of the division because of his religious or political convictions.
(e) The superintendent shall adhere to the principles of equal employment opportunity set forth in article eleven, chapter five of this code, and shall take positive steps to encourage applications for division membership from females and minority groups within the state.
(f) Except for the superintendent, no person may be appointed or enlisted to membership in the division at a grade or rank above the grade of trooper.
(g) The superintendent shall appoint such civilian employees as may be necessary, and all such employees may be included in the classified service of the civil service system except those in positions exempt under the provisions of article six, chapter twenty-nine of this code.