H. B. 4682


(By Delegates Tomblin and Dempsey)
[Introduced February 27, 1998; referred to the
Committee on Education.]




A BILL to amend and reenact section one, article seven, chapter eighteen-b of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to deleting the limitation of one year relative to the application of the subject section; and deleting the limitation that the section applies to classified employees who are "involuntarily transferred to a position in nonclassified status for which he or she did not apply."

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section one, article seven, chapter eighteen-b of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 7. PERSONNEL GENERALLY.

§18B-7-1. Seniority for full-time classified personnel; seniority to be observed in reducing work force; preferred recall list; renewal of listing; notice of vacancies.
(a) Definitions for terms used in this section shall be in accordance with those provided in section two, article nine of this chapter except that the provisions of this section shall apply only to classified employees whose employment, if continued, shall accumulate to a minimum total of one thousand forty hours during a calendar year and extend over at least nine months of a calendar year: Provided, That this section shall also apply for one year to any classified employee. who is involuntarily transferred to a position in nonclassified status for which he or she did not apply.
(b) All decisions by the appropriate governing board or their agents at state institutions of higher education concerning reductions in work force of full-time classified personnel, whether by temporary furlough or permanent termination, shall be made in accordance with this section. For layoffs by classification for reason of lack of funds or work, or abolition of position or material changes in duties or organization and for recall of employees so laid off, consideration shall be given to an employee's seniority as measured by permanent employment in the service of the state system of higher education. In the event that the institution wishes to lay off a more senior employee, the institution must demonstrate that the senior employee cannot perform any other job duties held by less senior employees of that institution in the same job class or any other equivalent or lower job class for which the senior employee is qualified: Provided, That if an employee refuses to accept a position in a lower job class, such employee shall retain all rights of recall hereinafter provided. If two or more employees accumulate identical seniority, the priority shall be determined by a random selection system established by the employees and approved by the institution.
(c) Any employee laid off during a furlough or reduction in work force shall be placed upon a preferred recall list and shall be recalled to employment by the institution on the basis of seniority. An employee's listing with an institution shall remain active for a period of one calendar year from the date of termination or furlough or from the date of the most recent renewal. If an employee fails to renew the listing with the institution, the employee's name may be removed from the list. An employee placed upon the preferred list shall be recalled to any position opening by the institution within the classification(s) in which the employee had previously been employed or to any lateral position for which the employee is qualified. An employee on the preferred recall list shall not forfeit the right to recall by the institution if compelling reasons require such employee to refuse an offer of reemployment by the institution.
The institution shall be required to notify all employees maintaining active listings on the preferred recall list of all position openings that from time to time exist. Such notice shall be sent by certified mail to the last known address of the employee. It shall be the duty of each employee listed to notify the institution of any change in address and to timely renew the listing with the institution. No position openings shall be filled by the institution, whether temporary or permanent, until all employees on the preferred recall list have been properly notified of existing vacancies and have been given an opportunity to accept reemployment.
(d) A nonexempt classified employee, including a nonexempt employee who has not accumulated a minimum total of one thousand forty hours during the calendar year or whose contract does not extend over at least nine months of a calendar year, who meets the minimum qualifications for a job opening at the institution where the employee is currently employed, whether the job be a lateral transfer or a promotion, and applies for same shall be transferred or promoted before a new person is hired unless such hiring is affected by mandates in affirmative action plans or the requirements of Public Law 101-336, The Americans With Disabilities Act. If more than one qualified, nonexempt classified employee applies, the best-qualified nonexempt classified employee shall be awarded the position. In instances where such classified employees are equally qualified, the nonexempt classified employee with the greatest amount of continuous seniority at that state institution of higher education shall be awarded the position. A nonexempt classified employee is one to whom the provisions of the federal fair labor standards act, as amended, apply.
(e) In addition to any other information required, any application for personnel governed by the provisions of this section shall include the applicant's social security number.




NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to make the application of 18B-7-1 applicable to all classified employees without limitations. The bill deletes the language in subsection one that limits applicability for "one year" to a classified employee "who is involuntarily transferred to a position in nonclassified status for which he or she did not apply."

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.