H. B. 2896

                        (By Delegates Skinner, Pasdon, Storch and McCuskey)

                        [Introduced February 24, 2015; referred to the

                        Committee on Industry and Labor then the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-6-4a, relating to discrimination in employment of all public employees; prohibiting discrimination in the appointment, promotion, demotion or dismissal based upon sexual orientation; prohibiting favoritism or discrimination in any aspect of employment based upon sexual orientation.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-6-4a, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 6. CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM.

§29-6-4a. Discrimination based upon sexual orientation prohibited.

            (a) No person may be appointed or promoted to or demoted or dismissed from any position in the classified service or classified-exempt service, and no person employed or seeking to be employed in the classified service or classified-exempt service may be in any way favored or discriminated against with respect to his or her employment, because of his or her sexual orientation, whether actual or perceived.

            NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit discrimination in public employment based upon sexual orientation.

            This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.