§5F-2-1. Transfer and incorporation of agencies and boards; funds.
     (a) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Administration:

     (1) Building Commission provided in article six, chapter five of this code;

     (2) Public Employees Insurance Agency provided in article sixteen, chapter five of this code;

     (3) Governor's Mansion Advisory Committee provided in article five, chapter five-a of this code;

     (4) Commission on Uniform State Laws provided in article one-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

     (5) West Virginia Public Employees Grievance Board provided in article three, chapter six-c of this code;

     (6) Board of Risk and Insurance Management provided in article twelve, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

     (7) Boundary Commission provided in article twenty-three, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

     (8) Public Defender Services provided in article twenty-one, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

     (9) Division of Personnel provided in article six, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

     (10) The West Virginia Ethics Commission provided in article two, chapter six-b of this code;

     (11) Consolidated Public Retirement Board provided in article ten-d, chapter five of this code; and

     (12) Real Estate Division provided in article ten, chapter five-a of this code.

     (b) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Commerce:

     (1) Division of Labor provided in article one, chapter twenty-one of this code, which includes:

     (A) Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission provided in article three-a, chapter twenty-one of this code; and

     (B) Board of Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety provided in article nine, chapter twenty-one of this code;

     (2) Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training provided in article one, chapter twenty-two-a of this code. The following boards are transferred to the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training for purposes of administrative support and liaison with the office of the Governor:

     (A) Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety and Coal Mine Safety and Technical Review Committee provided in article six, chapter twenty-two-a of this code;

     (B) Board of Miner Training, Education and Certification provided in article seven, chapter twenty-two-a of this code; and

     (C) Mine Inspectors' Examining Board provided in article nine, chapter twenty-two-a of this code;

     (3) The West Virginia Development Office provided in article two, chapter five-b of this code;

     (4) Division of Natural Resources and Natural Resources Commission provided in article one, chapter twenty of this code;

     (5) Division of Forestry provided in article one-a, chapter nineteen of this code;

     (6) Geological and Economic Survey provided in article two, chapter twenty-nine of this code; and

     (7) Workforce West Virginia provided in chapter twenty-one-a of this code, which includes:

     (A) Division of Unemployment Compensation;

     (B) Division of Employment Service;

     (C) Division of Workforce Development; and

     (D) Division of Research, Information and Analysis;

     (8) Division of Energy provided in article two-f, chapter five-b of this code; and

     (9) Division of Tourism and the Tourism Commission provided in article two, chapter five-b of this code.

     (c) The Economic Development Authority provided in article fifteen, chapter thirty-one of this code is continued as an independent agency within the executive branch.

     (d) The Water Development Authority and the Water Development Authority Board provided in article one, chapter twenty-two-c of this code is continued as an independent agency within the executive branch.

     (e) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory and affiliated entities, are transferred to the Department of Environmental Protection for purposes of administrative support and liaison with the office of the Governor:

     (1) Air Quality Board provided in article two, chapter twenty-two-b of this code;

     (2) Solid Waste Management Board provided in article three, chapter twenty-two-c of this code;

     (3) Environmental Quality Board, or its successor board, provided in article three, chapter twenty-two-b of this code;

     (4) Surface Mine Board provided in article four, chapter twenty-two-b of this code;

     (5) Oil and Gas Inspectors' Examining Board provided in article seven, chapter twenty-two-c of this code;

     (6) Shallow Gas Well Review Board provided in article eight, chapter twenty-two-c of this code; and

     (7) Oil and Gas Conservation Commission provided in article nine, chapter twenty-two-c of this code.

     (f) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Education and the Arts:

     (1) Library Commission provided in article one, chapter ten of this code;

     (2) Division of Culture and History provided in article one, chapter twenty-nine of this code; and

     (3) Division of Rehabilitation Services provided in article ten-a, chapter eighteen of this code.

     (g) The Educational Broadcasting Authority provided in article five, chapter ten of this code, is part of the Department of Education and the Arts for purposes of administrative support and liaison with the office of the Governor.

     (h) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Health and Human Resources:

     (1) Human Rights Commission provided in article eleven, chapter five of this code;

     (2) Division of Human Services provided in article two, chapter nine of this code;

     (3) Bureau for Public Health provided in article one, chapter sixteen of this code;

     (4) Office of Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Medical Service Advisory Council provided in article four-c, chapter sixteen of this code;

     (5) Health Care Authority provided in article twenty-nine-b, chapter sixteen of this code;

     (6) Commission on Mental Retardation provided in article fifteen, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

     (7) Women's Commission provided in article twenty, chapter twenty-nine of this code; and

     (8) The Child Support Enforcement Division provided in chapter forty-eight of this code.

     (i) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety:

     (1) Adjutant General's Department provided in article one-a, chapter fifteen of this code;

     (2) Armory Board provided in article six, chapter fifteen of this code;

     (3) Military Awards Board provided in article one-g, chapter fifteen of this code;

     (4) West Virginia State Police provided in article two, chapter fifteen of this code;

     (5) Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery Board provided in article five, chapter fifteen of this code and Emergency Response Commission provided in article five-a of said chapter;

     (6) Sheriffs' Bureau provided in article eight, chapter fifteen of this code;

     (7) Division of Justice and Community Services provided in article nine-a, chapter fifteen of this code;

     (8) Division of Corrections provided in chapter twenty-five of this code;

     (9) Fire Commission provided in article three, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

     (10) Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority provided in article twenty, chapter thirty-one of this code;

     (11) Board of Probation and Parole provided in article twelve, chapter sixty-two of this code.

     (j) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Revenue:

     (1) Tax Division provided in chapter eleven of this code;

     (2) Racing Commission provided in article twenty-three, chapter nineteen of this code;

     (3) Lottery Commission and position of Lottery Director provided in article twenty-two, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

     (4) Insurance Commissioner provided in article two, chapter thirty-three of this code;

     (5) West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner provided in article sixteen, chapter eleven of this code and article two, chapter sixty of this code;

     (6) Board of Banking and Financial Institutions provided in article three, chapter thirty-one-a of this code;

     (7) Lending and Credit Rate Board provided in chapter forty-seven-a of this code;

     (8) Division of Banking provided in article two, chapter thirty-one-a of this code;

     (9) The State Budget Office provided in article two of this chapter;

     (10) The Municipal Bond Commission provided in article three, chapter thirteen of this code;

     (11) The Office of Tax Appeals provided in article ten-a, chapter eleven of this code; and

     (12) The State Athletic Commission provided in article five-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code.

     (k) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Transportation:

     (1) Division of Highways provided in article two-a, chapter seventeen of this code;

     (2) Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority provided in article sixteen-a, chapter seventeen of this code;

     (3) Division of Motor Vehicles provided in article two, chapter seventeen-a of this code;

     (4) Driver's Licensing Advisory Board provided in article two, chapter seventeen-b of this code;

     (5) Aeronautics Commission provided in article two-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

     (6) State Rail Authority provided in article eighteen, chapter twenty-nine of this code; and

     (7) Public Port Authority provided in article sixteen-b, chapter seventeen of this code.

     (l) The Veterans' Council provided in article one, chapter nine-a of this code, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with it is, incorporated in and administered as part of the Department of Veterans' Assistance.

     (m) Except for powers, authority and duties that have been delegated to the secretaries of the departments by the provisions of section two of this article, the position of administrator and the powers, authority and duties of each administrator and agency are not affected by the enactment of this chapter.

     (n) Except for powers, authority and duties that have been delegated to the secretaries of the departments by the provisions of section two of this article, the existence, powers, authority and duties of boards and the membership, terms and qualifications of members of the boards are not affected by the enactment of this chapter. All boards that are appellate bodies or are independent decision makers shall not have their appellate or independent decision-making status affected by the enactment of this chapter.

     (o) Any department previously transferred to and incorporated in a department by prior enactment of this section means a division of the appropriate department. Wherever reference is made to any department transferred to and incorporated in a department created in section two, article one of this chapter, the reference means a division of the appropriate department and any reference to a division of a department so transferred and incorporated means a section of the appropriate division of the department.

     (p) When an agency, board or commission is transferred under a bureau or agency other than a department headed by a secretary pursuant to this section, that transfer is solely for purposes of administrative support and liaison with the office of the Governor, a department secretary or a bureau. Nothing in this section extends the powers of department secretaries under section two of this article to any person other than a department secretary and nothing limits or abridges the statutory powers and duties of statutory commissioners or officers pursuant to this code. §5F-2-1. Transfer and incorporation of agencies and boards; funds.
(a) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Administration:

(1) Building Commission provided in article six, chapter five of this code;

(2) Public Employees Insurance Agency provided in article sixteen, chapter five of this code;

(3) Governor's Mansion Advisory Committee provided in article five, chapter five-a of this code;

(4) Commission on Uniform State Laws provided in article one-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

(5) West Virginia Public Employees Grievance Board provided in article three, chapter six-c of this code;

(6) Board of Risk and Insurance Management provided in article twelve, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

(7) Boundary Commission provided in article twenty-three, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

(8) Public Defender Services provided in article twenty-one, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

(9) Division of Personnel provided in article six, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

(10) The West Virginia Ethics Commission provided in article two, chapter six-b of this code;

(11) Consolidated Public Retirement Board provided in article ten-d, chapter five of this code; and

(12) Real Estate Division provided in article ten, chapter five-a of this code.

(b) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Commerce:

(1) Division of Labor provided in article one, chapter twenty-one of this code, which includes:

(A) Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission provided in article three-a, chapter twenty-one of this code; and

(B) Board of Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety provided in article nine, chapter twenty-one of this code;

(2) Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training provided in article one, chapter twenty-two-a of this code. The following boards are transferred to the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training for purposes of administrative support and liaison with the office of the Governor:

(A) Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety and Coal Mine Safety and Technical Review Committee provided in article six, chapter twenty-two-a of this code;

(B) Board of Miner Training, Education and Certification provided in article seven, chapter twenty-two-a of this code; and

(C) Mine Inspectors' Examining Board provided in article nine, chapter twenty-two-a of this code;

(3) The West Virginia Development Office, which includes the Division of Tourism and the Tourism Commission provided in article two, chapter five-b of this code;

(4) Division of Natural Resources and Natural Resources Commission provided in article one, chapter twenty of this code;

(5) Division of Forestry provided in article one-a, chapter nineteen of this code;

(6) Geological and Economic Survey provided in article two, chapter twenty-nine of this code; and

(7) Workforce West Virginia provided in chapter twenty-one-a of this code, which includes:

(A) Division of Unemployment Compensation;

(B) Division of Employment Services;

(C) Division of Workforce Development; and

(D) Division of Research, Information and Analysis; and

(8) Division of Energy provided in article two-f, chapter five-b of this code.

(c) The Economic Development Authority provided in article fifteen, chapter thirty-one of this code is continued as an independent agency within the executive branch.

(d) The Water Development Authority and Board provided in article one, chapter twenty-two-c of this code is continued as an independent agency within the executive branch.

(e) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory and affiliated entities, are transferred to the Department of Environmental Protection for purposes of administrative support and liaison with the office of the Governor:

(1) Air Quality Board provided in article two, chapter twenty-two-b of this code;

(2) Solid Waste Management Board provided in article three, chapter twenty-two-c of this code;

(3) Environmental Quality Board, or its successor board, provided in article three, chapter twenty-two-b of this code;

(4) Surface Mine Board provided in article four, chapter twenty-two-b of this code;

(5) Oil and Gas Inspectors' Examining Board provided in article seven, chapter twenty-two-c of this code;

(6) Shallow Gas Well Review Board provided in article eight, chapter twenty-two-c of this code; and

(7) Oil and Gas Conservation Commission provided in article nine, chapter twenty-two-c of this code.

(f) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Education and the Arts:

(1) Library Commission provided in article one, chapter ten of this code;

(2) Educational Broadcasting Authority provided in article five, chapter ten of this code;

(3) Division of Culture and History provided in article one, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

(4) Division of Rehabilitation Services provided in section two, article ten-a, chapter eighteen of this code.

(g) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Health and Human Resources:

(1) Human Rights Commission provided in article eleven, chapter five of this code;

(2) Division of Human Services provided in article two, chapter nine of this code;

(3) Bureau for Public Health provided in article one, chapter sixteen of this code;

(4) Office of Emergency Medical Services and Advisory Council provided in article four-c, chapter sixteen of this code;

(5) Health Care Authority provided in article twenty-nine-b, chapter sixteen of this code;

(6) Commission on Mental Retardation provided in article fifteen, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

(7) Women's Commission provided in article twenty, chapter twenty-nine of this code; and

(8) The Child Support Enforcement Division provided in chapter forty-eight of this code.

(h) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety:

(1) Adjutant General's Department provided in article one-a, chapter fifteen of this code;

(2) Armory Board provided in article six, chapter fifteen of this code;

(3) Military Awards Board provided in article one-g, chapter fifteen of this code;

(4) West Virginia State Police provided in article two, chapter fifteen of this code;

(5) Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery Board provided in article five, chapter fifteen of this code and Emergency Response Commission provided in article five-a of said chapter;

(6) Sheriffs' Bureau provided in article eight, chapter fifteen of this code;

(7) Division of Justice and Community Services provided in article nine a, chapter fifteen of this code;

(8) Division of Corrections provided in chapter twenty-five of this code;

(9) Fire Commission provided in article three, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

(10) Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority provided in article twenty, chapter thirty-one of this code;

(11) Board of Probation and Parole provided in article twelve, chapter sixty-two of this code; and

(12) Division of Veterans' Affairs and Veterans' Council provided in article one, chapter nine-a of this code.

(i) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Revenue:

(1) Tax Division provided in article one, chapter eleven of this code;

(2) Racing Commission provided in article twenty-three, chapter nineteen of this code;

(3) Lottery Commission and position of Lottery Director provided in article twenty-two, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

(4) Agency of Insurance Commissioner provided in article two, chapter thirty-three of this code;

(5) Office of Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner provided in article sixteen, chapter eleven of this code and article two, chapter sixty of this code;

(6) Board of Banking and Financial Institutions provided in article three, chapter thirty-one-a of this code;

(7) Lending and Credit Rate Board provided in chapter forty-seven-a of this code;

(8) Division of Banking provided in article two, chapter thirty-one-a of this code;

(9) The State Budget Office provided in article two of this chapter;

(10) The Municipal Bond Commission provided in article three, chapter thirteen of this code;

(11) The Office of Tax Appeals provided in article ten-a, chapter eleven of this code; and

(12) The State Athletic Commission provided in article five-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code.

(j) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Transportation:

(1) Division of Highways provided in article two-a, chapter seventeen of this code;

(2) Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority provided in article sixteen-a, chapter seventeen of this code;

(3) Division of Motor Vehicles provided in article two, chapter seventeen-a of this code;

(4) Driver's Licensing Advisory Board provided in article two, chapter seventeen-b of this code;

(5) Aeronautics Commission provided in article two-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code;

(6) State Rail Authority provided in article eighteen, chapter twenty-nine of this code; and

(7) Port Authority provided in article sixteen-b, chapter seventeen of this code.

(k) Except for powers, authority and duties that have been delegated to the secretaries of the departments by the provisions of section two of this article, the position of administrator and the powers, authority and duties of each administrator and agency are not affected by the enactment of this chapter.

(l) Except for powers, authority and duties that have been delegated to the secretaries of the departments by the provisions of section two of this article, the existence, powers, authority and duties of boards and the membership, terms and qualifications of members of the boards are not affected by the enactment of this chapter. All boards that are appellate bodies or are independent decision makers shall not have their appellate or independent decision-making status affected by the enactment of this chapter.

(m) Any department previously transferred to and incorporated in a department by prior enactment of this section means a division of the appropriate department. Wherever reference is made to any department transferred to and incorporated in a department created in section two, article one of this chapter, the reference means a division of the appropriate department and any reference to a division of a department so transferred and incorporated means a section of the appropriate division of the department.

(n) When an agency, board or commission is transferred under a bureau or agency other than a department headed by a secretary pursuant to this section, that transfer is solely for purposes of administrative support and liaison with the Office of the Governor, a department secretary or a bureau. Nothing in this section extends the powers of department secretaries under section two of this article to any person other than a department secretary and nothing limits or abridges the statutory powers and duties of statutory commissioners or officers pursuant to this code.

§5F-2-2. Power and authority of secretary of each department.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the secretary of each department shall have plenary power and authority within and for the department to:

(1) Employ and discharge within the office of the secretary employees as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the secretary, which employees shall serve at the will and pleasure of the secretary;

(2) Cause the various agencies and boards to be operated effectively, efficiently and economically and develop goals, objectives, policies and plans that are necessary or desirable for the effective, efficient and economical operation of the department;

(3) Eliminate or consolidate positions, other than positions of administrators or positions of board members and name a person to fill more than one position;

(4) Transfer permanent state employees between departments in accordance with the provisions of section seven of this article;

(5) Delegate, assign, transfer or combine responsibilities or duties to or among employees, other than administrators or board members;

(6) Reorganize internal functions or operations;

(7) Formulate comprehensive budgets for consideration by the Governor and transfer within the department funds appropriated to the various agencies of the department which are not expended due to cost savings resulting from the implementation of the provisions of this chapter: Provided, That no more than twenty-five percent of the funds appropriated to any one agency or board may be transferred to other agencies or boards within the department: Provided, however, That no funds may be transferred from a special revenue account, dedicated account, capital expenditure account or any other account or funds specifically exempted by the Legislature from transfer, except that the use of appropriations from the State Road Fund transferred to the office of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation is not a use other than the purpose for which the funds were dedicated and is permitted: Provided further, That if the Legislature by subsequent enactment consolidates agencies, boards or functions, the appropriate secretary may transfer the funds formerly appropriated to the agency, board or function in order to implement consolidation. The authority to transfer funds under this section shall expire on June 30, 2010;

(8) Enter into contracts or agreements requiring the expenditure of public funds and authorize the expenditure or obligation of public funds as authorized by law: Provided, That the powers granted to the secretary to enter into contracts or agreements and to make expenditures or obligations of public funds under this provision shall not exceed or be interpreted as authority to exceed the powers granted by the Legislature to the various commissioners, directors or board members of the various departments, agencies or boards that comprise and are incorporated into each secretary's department under this chapter;

(9) Acquire by lease or purchase property of whatever kind or character and convey or dispose of any property of whatever kind or character as authorized by law: Provided, That the powers granted to the secretary to lease, purchase, convey or dispose of such property shall be exercised in accordance with the provisions of articles three, ten and eleven, chapter five-a of this code: Provided, however, That the powers granted to the secretary to lease, purchase, convey or dispose of such property shall not exceed or be interpreted as authority to exceed the powers granted by the Legislature to the various commissioners, directors or board members of the various departments, agencies or boards that comprise and are incorporated into each secretary's department under this chapter;

(10) Conduct internal audits;

(11) Supervise internal management;

(12) Promulgate rules, as defined in section two, article one, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to implement and make effective the powers, authority and duties granted and imposed by the provisions of this chapter in accordance with the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code;

(13) Grant or withhold written consent to the proposal of any rule, as defined in section two, article one, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, by any administrator, agency or board within the department. Without written consent, no proposal for a rule shall have any force or effect;

(14) Delegate to administrators the duties of the secretary as the secretary may deem appropriate, from time to time, to facilitate execution of the powers, authority and duties delegated to the secretary; and

(15) Take any other action involving or relating to internal management not otherwise prohibited by law.

(b) The secretaries of the departments hereby created shall engage in a comprehensive review of the practices, policies and operations of the agencies and boards within their departments to determine the feasibility of cost reductions and increased efficiency which may be achieved therein, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) The elimination, reduction and restriction of the state's vehicle or other transportation fleet;

(2) The elimination, reduction and restriction of state government publications, including annual reports, informational materials and promotional materials;

(3) The termination or rectification of terms contained in lease agreements between the state and private sector for offices, equipment and services;

(4) The adoption of appropriate systems for accounting, including consideration of an accrual basis financial accounting and reporting system;

(5) The adoption of revised procurement practices to facilitate cost-effective purchasing procedures, including consideration of means by which domestic businesses may be assisted to compete for state government purchases; and

(6) The computerization of the functions of the state agencies and boards.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, none of the powers granted to the secretaries herein shall be exercised by the secretary if to do so would violate or be inconsistent with the provisions of any federal law or regulation, any federal-state program or federally delegated program or jeopardize the approval, existence or funding of any program.

(d) The layoff and recall rights of employees within the classified service of the state as provided in subsections (5) and (6), section ten, article six, chapter twenty-nine of this code shall be limited to the organizational unit within the agency or board and within the occupational group established by the classification and compensation plan for the classified service of the agency or board in which the employee was employed prior to the agency or board's transfer or incorporation into the department: Provided, That the employee shall possess the qualifications established for the job class. The duration of recall rights provided in this subsection shall be limited to two years or the length of tenure, whichever is less. Except as provided in this subsection, nothing contained in this section shall be construed to abridge the rights of employees within the classified service of the state as provided in sections ten and ten-a, article six, chapter twenty-nine of this code.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the secretary of each department with authority over programs which have an impact on the delivery of health care services in the state or are payors for health care services or are payors for prescription drugs, including, but not limited to, the Public Employees Insurance Agency, the Department of Health and Human Resources, the Bureau of Senior Services, the Children's Health Insurance Program, the Health Care Authority, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, the Division of Corrections, the Division of Juvenile Services, the Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority, state colleges and universities, public hospitals, state or local institutions including nursing homes and veterans' homes, the Division of Rehabilitation Services, public health departments, the Bureau for Medical Services and other programs, which have an impact on the delivery of health care services or are payors for health care services or are payors for prescription drugs, in West Virginia shall cooperate with the Governor's Office of Health Enhancement and Lifestyle Planning established pursuant to article twenty-nine-h, chapter sixteen of this code for the purpose of improving the health care delivery services in West Virginia for any program over which they have authority.

§5F-2-3. Administrators; appointment; oath; bond; compensation.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code (including subsections (h) and (i), section one of this article) to the contrary, each administrator required by other provisions of this code to be appointed by the governor shall:

(1) Continue to be appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and each such administrator shall serve at the will and pleasure of the governor, and the governor may appoint a person to fill more than one such position of administrator and may appoint a secretary to fill one or more positions of such administrator, but each person appointed as such an administrator must possess whatever qualifications are elsewhere specified in this code as being required for appointment to such position;

(2) Take the oath of office or affirmation prescribed by section five, article four of the constitution, and such oath shall be certified by the person who administers the same and filed in the office of the secretary of state;

(3) Give bond in the penalty of fifteen thousand dollars conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties of the office, which bond shall be approved by the attorney general as to form and by the secretary as to sufficiency. The surety of such bond may be a bonding or surety company, in which case the premium shall be paid out of the appropriation made for the administration of the department; and

(4) Receive an annual salary as shall be fixed from time to time by law or as otherwise provided.

(b) Each administrator required by other provisions of this code to be appointed in any manner other than by the governor shall continue to be appointed, shall take such oath of office, give such bond and receive such salary as shall be so specified by such other provisions of this code.

§5F-2-4. Transfer of records, property and personnel.

All records, assets and property, of whatever kind or character, owned by or utilized in the administration of the agencies and boards and all of the personnel utilized in the administration of such agencies and boards, including the administrators, are hereby transferred to the respective department to and in which such agencies and boards are transferred and incorporated.

§5F-2-5. Independent appeal boards.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that it may be desirable and appropriate for certain boards and commissions created by the Legislature which may be called upon to review, adjudicate or reverse administrative actions and decisions of agencies of the state to be fiscally and functionally independent of the agency or agencies reviewed, to issue rules and manage day-to-day operations independently, and to function as independent and autonomous instrumentalities of the state.

(b) To achieve this purpose, the governor may by executive order provide for the transfer from the departments and agencies of the state of any or all of the following boards or commissions which are appellate bodies or were otherwise established to be independent decisionmakers:

(1) Human rights commission provided for in article eleven, chapter five of this code;

(2) Workers compensation appeals board and office of judges provided for in article five, chapter twenty-three of this code;

(3) Air quality board provided for in article two, chapter twenty-two-b of this code;

(4) Environmental quality board provided for in article three, chapter twenty-two-b of this code;

(5) Surface mine board provided for in article four, chapter twenty-two-b of this code;

(6) Board of appeals provided for in article five, chaptertwenty-two-a of this code; and

(7) Shallow gas well review board provided for in article eight, chapter twenty-two-c of this code.

(c) Upon any transfer by executive action authorized in subsection (b) of this section, the governor may provide for administrative support by a department or agency of the state to the board or commission transferred in the same manner as is provided by a department secretary and for liaison with the office of the governor with respect to budgetary and administrative matters through a department or agency of the state: Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the existence, powers, authority and duties of independent boards and commissions or the membership, terms and qualifications of members of such boards and commissions.

(d) The authority to make transfers as provided in subsection (a) of this section shall expire on the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-five. Upon the exercise of the powers granted in subsection (b) of this section, the governor shall submit to the Legislature a report setting forth the reorganization implemented by executive action pursuant to this section, any recommendations for further reorganization requiring legislative action and drafts of any recommended legislation for consideration by the Legislature during the regular session in the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-five to conform this code to the reorganization implemented by executive action.

(e) Upon transfers as authorized in subsection (a) of this section, the governor may transfer the funds appropriated to the department or agency of the state attributable to the functions of the board or commission transferred in order to implement the transfer: Provided, That the authority to transfer funds under this section shall expire on the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred ninety-five: Provided, however, That no funds may be transferred from a special revenue account, dedicated account, capital expenditure account or any other dedicated account or fund for any use or purpose other than the purpose for which the account or fund is dedicated.

(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the consolidation of legal, technical and support personnel and of procedures of the air quality board, environmental quality board and surface mining board provided for in article one, chapter twenty-two-b of this code.

§5F-2-6. Reorganization of boards issuing or incurring debt.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that boards and commissions empowered to issue bonds, incur indebtedness and provide financing or financial services for a public purpose may in some cases benefit the public interest or operate more efficiently through consolidation of legal, technical and support staff or services, sharing of office space, consolidation of procedures, and cooperation to identify circumstances where one entity may provide services for another, including, but not limited to, circumstances where one board or commission may finance the programs of another. On or after the effective date of this section, the treasurer shall be authorized at the request of the presiding officer of the entity to provide financial services, provide technical staff services, provide support staff and services and provide for the sharing of office space among and between the following entities:

(1) The staff of the municipal bond commission provided for in article three, chapter thirteen of this code: Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the independence and autonomy of the municipal bond commission;

(2) The staff of the hospital finance authority provided for in article twenty-nine-a, chapter sixteen of this code: Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the independence and autonomy of the hospital finance authority; and

(3) The staff of the public energy authority provided for in article one, chapter five-d of this code.

(b) In furtherance of the goal of increased efficiency and cooperation, the director of the debt management division of the board of investments and the secretary of the department of administration are jointly charged with the responsibility of developing and presenting to the boards and commissions, to the board of investments, to the state treasurer, to the governor and to the Legislature recommendations for administrative and statutory change.

(c) On the effective date of this section, any funds, equipment, personnel or office facilities associated with those responsibilities that are transferred from the board of investments or any other agency, to the treasurer's office shall be transferred within thirty days of the transfer of those responsibilities.

§5F-2-7. Interdepartmental transfer of permanent state employees.
(a) A department secretary may enter into a memorandum of understanding with another department secretary to transfer a permanent state employee from a position that is to be consolidated or eliminated, to a funded vacant position in another Department, in accordance with the provisions of this section and the law. To support the transfer of the employee, a department secretary may also transfer furniture and equipment, except motor vehicles and any assets purchased by designated funds for specific uses and purposes, the removal of which is prohibited by law or would jeopardize federal funds, grants or other funding sources.

(b) The transferred employee shall receive the same level of benefits and rate of compensation or higher, and shall retain the same level of seniority.

(c) An employee shall be given notice of the proposed transfer at least fifteen days prior to the transfer. During the notice period, an affected employee may agree to be voluntarily transferred.

(d) If an employee does not volunteer to be transferred, then an involuntary transfer may be ordered. An involuntary transfer shall begin with the least senior permanent employee who qualifies for the position.

(e) A classified employee who is transferred shall retain his or her classified status: Provided, That any transfer shall be made in accordance with the law.

(f) An involuntary transfer may be rejected by an employee if the involuntary transfer would require the employee to travel thirty miles or more, one way, than the distance the employee currently travels from his or her current job site.

(g) An employee who qualifies for and chooses to reject a transfer shall be laid off in accordance with the law.

(h) Nothing in this section shall abridge any other rights provided by law.

(i) Prior to the thirty-first day of December, two thousand five, the Division of Personnel shall promulgate an emergency rule in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to effectuate the provisions of this section.

(j) The Division of Personnel is authorized to promulgate legislative rules in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to effectuate the provisions of this section.

(k) Annually, on or before the first day of January, the Division of Personnel shall report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, on all interdepartmental employee transfers, including but not limited to, voluntary and involuntary transfers, furniture and equipment transfers, and the Departments involved in the transfers.