H. B. 2215
(By Delegate Warner)
[Introduced January 14, 2003; referred to the
Committee on Political Subdivisions then Finance.]
A BILL to amend article five, chapter twenty-one of the code of
West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section
seventeen-a, relating to allowing public employees twenty-five
hours of paid leave per calender year to respond as a
volunteer firefighter to emergencies.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article five, chapter twenty-one of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section
seventeen-a, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 5. WAGE PAYMENT AND COLLECTION.
§21-5-17a. Leave of absence for public officials and employees
serving as volunteer firefighters.
Any official or employee of the state, or subdivisions or
municipalities of the state, who is a member of a volunteer fire
department, shall be entitled to leave of absence from his or her
office or employment without loss of pay, status or efficiency
rating, upon notification of the existence of an emergency
occurring during business hours, to which the official or employee
is obligated to respond as the member of a voluntary fire
department. Paid leave of absence granted under this section shall
not exceed twenty-five hours in any calender year: Provided, That,
the phrase "without loss of pay" for purposes of this section means
the official or employee shall continue to receive his or her
normal salary or compensation during the period of the leave of
absence whether or not he or she receives other compensation from
federal or other state governmental sources during this same period
of time.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow state employees
who are members of volunteer fire departments to receive paid leave
of absence during times they are required to respond to emergencies
during their regular work hours. The bill would allow up to 25
hours of paid leave in one calender year.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.