COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

H. B. 4496

(By Delegates DeLong and Ennis)

(Originating in the Committee on Government Organization)

[February 24, 2006]




A BILL to amend and reenact §19-1-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to qualifications of the Commissioner of Agriculture.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §19-1-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
§19-1-2. Commissioner of Agriculture.

The Commissioner of Agriculture shall be elected by the qualified voters of the state at the same time and in the same manner as other state officers are elected, and shall hold office for a term of four years and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
The commissioner shall be must have experience as a practical farmer, learned in the science of agriculture, and shall have has made the industry of agriculture his or her chief business for a period of ten years immediately preceding prior to his or her election.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to remove the requirement that the ten years of experience in agriculture needed to run for Commissioner of Agriculture does not have to be acquired immediately prior to being elected as commissioner.

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