HB2434 HFA HUNT & OVERINGTON 2-19 #1

     Delegates Hunt and Overington move to amend the bill following section three of article one on page four at line fifty-one immediately following the word "$57,500." by inserting the following:
" §50-1-4. Qualifications of magistrates; training; oath; continuing education; time devoted to public duties.
     Each magistrate shall be (a) Effective January 1, 2015, a person is qualified to serve as a magistrate if he or she:
_____(1) Is at least twenty-one years of age; and
_____(2) Has any of the following qualifications:
_____(A) An associate's or higher degree from an accredited college or university;
_____(B) A minimum of four years of experience as a magistrate; or __
_____(C) Shall have served for a minimum of four years as a law enforcement officer; or
_____(D) shall have At least a high school education or its equivalent for persons holding the office of magistrate on January 1, 2015;
_____(3) shall not have Has not been convicted of any a felony or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; and
     (4) reside Resides in the county of his or her election.
     (b) No magistrate shall be a member of the immediate family of any other magistrate in the county. In the event more than one member of an immediate family shall be elected in a county, only the member receiving the highest number of votes shall be eligible to serve. For purposes of this section, "immediate family" means the relationship of mother, father, sister, brother, child or spouse. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, each person who held the office of justice of the peace on the fifth day of November, one thousand nine hundred seventy-four, and who served in or performed the functions of such office for at least one year immediately prior thereto shall be deemed qualified to run for the office of magistrate in the county of his residence.
     (c) No person shall assume the duties of magistrate unless he shall have first attended and completed a course of instruction in rudimentary principles of law and procedure which shall be given in accordance with the supervisory rules of the supreme court of appeals.
     (d) All magistrates shall be required to attend such other courses of continuing educational instruction as may be required by supervisory rule of the supreme court of appeals. Failure to attend such courses of continuing educational instruction without good cause shall constitute neglect of duty. Such courses shall be provided at least once every other year. Persons attending such courses outside of the county of their residence shall be reimbursed by the state for expenses actually incurred in accordance with the supervisory rules of the supreme court of appeals.
     (e) Each magistrate shall, before assuming the duties of office, take an oath of office to be administered by the circuit judge of the county, or the chief judge thereof if there is more than one judge of the circuit court. Each magistrate shall maintain the qualifications for office at all times.
     (f) Each magistrate who serves five thousand or less in population shall devote such time to his public duties as shall be required by rule or regulation of the judge of the circuit court, or the chief judge thereof if there is more than one judge of the circuit court. Each magistrate who serves more than five thousand in population shall devote full time to his public duties. As nearly as practicable, the workload and the total number of hours required shall be divided evenly among the magistrates in a county by such judge."




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Adopted Rejected