
H. B. 2478















(By Delegates Spencer and Mahan)



[Introduced January 21, 2003
; referred to the



Committee on Education then Finance.]
A BILL to amend chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding
thereto a new article, designated article nine, relating to
state employees; extended leave of absence for state
employees; and rehiring upon return to service; providing that
employees shall be reinstated without loss of rights.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That chapter five of the code of West Virginia, one thousand
nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto
a new article, designated article nine, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 9. STATE EMPLOYEES.
§5-9-1. Extended leave of absence for state employees.
With the approval of his or her immediate supervisor, any
employee of the state, its departments or agencies may take an
extended leave of absence from employment without pay for any period of time not exceeding one year for purposes of education,
pregnancy, childbirth, adoptive infant bonding, any medical
condition or any other reason approved by the immediate supervisor.
Any employee who returns from an approved leave of absence
which lasted for a period of less than one year shall be reemployed
by the state department or agency by which he or she was employed
at the time leave was granted, with the right to be restored to the
same assignment of position or duties held prior to the approved
leave of absence. The employee shall retain all seniority, rights
and privileges which had accrued at the time of the approved leave
of absence and shall have all rights and privileges generally
accorded employees at the time of the reemployment.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to extend leave of absence
for state employees; and rehiring upon return to service; and that
employees shall be reinstated without loss of rights.
This article is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.