H. B. 2666
(By Mr. Speaker (Mr. Chambers) and Delegate Burk)
(By Request of the Executive)
[Introduced March 23, 1993; referred to the
Committee on Government Organization then Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section five, article one-a, chapter
nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to abolishing the
forestry commission; appointing the director of the division
of forestry.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section five, article one-a, chapter nineteen of the
code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1A. DIVISION OF FORESTRY.
§19-1A-5. Director of division of forestry; appointment;
qualifications.
There is hereby created in the division of forestry in the
department of agriculture a forestry commission composed of three
members who are the commissioner of agriculture, the commissioner
of commerce and the director of the department of natural
resources. The commissioner of agriculture shall be the chairmanof the commission. No business shall be transacted by the
commission in the absence of a quorum which consists of two
members including the chairman. The forestry commission shall
hold meetings quarterly or at the call of the chairman. The
commission shall appoint the director of the division of
forestry. In the event that the commission cannot agree upon the
appointment of a director within sixty days of any vacancy
therein, the appointment shall be made by the governor within
sixty days thereafter, but by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate, in either event. The salary of the director shall be
forty-five thousand dollars a year. The director shall be a
graduate of a school of forestry accredited by the Society of
American Foresters or have a minimum of ten years experience in
forest management and shall serve at the will and pleasure of the
forestry commission. The commission serves as an advisory board
for the director and shall approve the division budget before it
is submitted to the department of finance and administration by
the department.
The director of the division of forestry shall be appointed
by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the
senate, and shall serve at the will and pleasure of the governor.
The director shall be a graduate of a school of forestry
accredited by the society of american foresters or have a minimum
of ten years experience in forest management.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to abolish the forestry
commission and to make the director of the division of forestry
a gubernatorial appointee, subject to Senate confirmation and
serving at the will and pleasure of the Governor.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.