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SB634 SUB1 Senate Bill 634 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

Senate Bill No. 634

(By Senators Hunter, Helmick, Plymale, Minard, Kessler and Unger)

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[Originating in the Committee on Military;

reported February 20, 2008.]

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A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §15-1J-1, §15-1J-2, §15-1J-3, §15-1J-4 and §15-1J-5, all relating to establishing the West Virginia Military Authority; providing for the receipt of federal and state funds by the West Virginia National Guard; developing and administering security programs; and hiring of employees.

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 article, designated §15-1J-1, §15-1J-2, §15-1J-3, §15-1J-4 and §15-1J-5, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1J. THE WEST VIRGINIA MILITARY AUTHORITY ACT.
§15-1J-1. Short title.
This article shall be known and may be cited as the West Virginia Military Authority Act.
§15-1J-2. Legislative findings.
The Legislature finds that the West Virginia National Guard is a unique entity that has a dual mission for both West Virginia and the United States. In this dual capacity, the West Virginia National Guard receives funds to administer programs, including the hiring of employees, that the federal government, including the Department of Defense, provides to the guard in support of specific activities for various federal agencies for national security and homeland security purposes. These programs fulfill specific agency purposes and necessarily require continued funding by the federal government.
Additionally, the guard continues to receive federal funding to develop and maintain capabilities to house, refurbish, rebuild and maintain military equipment and conduct other tests and operational activities to support national and homeland security objectives. These activities require the guard to hire persons who will be compensated, in whole or in part, with federal funds. It is further determined and declared that it is necessary for the guard to develop and implement a procedure for hiring and management of nonmilitary employees to support its specific missions.
§15-1J-3. Definitions.
As used in this article, unless the content clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) "Authority" means the West Virginia Military Authority.
(b) "BRIM" means the West Virginia Board of Risk Management.
(c) "Guard" means West Virginia National Guard, including its Army and Air components.
(d) "Employee" means any person who, within the at-will employment relationship, is hired, performs duties and is paid a wage or salary.
(e) "PEIA" means Public Employee's Insurance Act.
(f) "PERS" means Public Employee's Retirement System. §15-1J-4. Establishment and general powers of the authority.
(a) The West Virginia Military Authority is hereby established in order to receive funds on behalf of the guard and to administer programs, including hiring of employees, for programs that the federal government provides specifically for the guard for national security, homeland security and other military related purposes.
(b) The programs and employees will require continued funding by the federal and/or state governments.
(c) The authority will be administered by the Adjutant General and the Adjutant General's department.
(d) Funds provided by the federal government and any matching state funds will be transferred to and administered by the Adjutant General.
(e) The authority, as a governmental instrumentality exercising public powers of the state, shall have and may exercise all powers necessary or appropriate to carry out the purpose of this article, except those specifically prohibited by statute, including the authority to:
(1) Execute cooperative agreements between the guard and the federal and/or state governments;
(2) Contract on behalf of the guard with the federal government, its instrumentalities and agencies, the state, its agencies and instrumentalities, municipalities, foreign governments, public bodies, private corporations, partnerships, associations and individuals;
(3) Use operating revenues for the maintenance, construction or reconstruction of capital repair and replacement items as necessary and approved by the authority;
(4) Procure insurance with state funds through BRIM covering property and other assets of the authority in amounts and from insurers that BRIM determines necessary;
(5) Hire employees at an appropriate salary equivalent to a competitive wage rate;
(6) Enroll employees in PERS, PEIA, and workers' compensation and unemployment programs, or their equivalents: Provided, That the authority, through the receipt of federal and/or state funds, pays the required employer contributions;
(7) Cooperate with economic development agencies in efforts to promote the expansion of industry, commerce and manufacturing in the state;
(8) Develop a human resources division that will administer and manage its employees and receive state matching funds as necessary to insure maximum federal funds are secured;
(9) Due to the at-will employment relationship with the authority, its employees may not avail themselves of the state grievance procedure as set forth in article six-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code; and
(10) Have the ability to secure all other bonding, insurance or other liability protections necessary for its employees to fulfill their duties and responsibilities.
§15-1J-5. Employees.
(a) The authority shall have the power to hire, administer and manage employees necessary to fulfill its responsibilities.
(1) All employees will be exempt from both the classified services category and the classified exempt services category as set forth in section four, article six, chapter twenty-nine of this code.
(2) Employee positions are contingent on the receipt of the necessary federal and/or state funds.
(3) Each employee hired shall be deemed an at-will employee who may be discharged or released from his or her respective position without cause or reason.
(4) Employees will participate in the PEIA, PERS and workers' compensation and unemployment compensation programs, or their equivalents. Public safety related positions will continue to require dual status membership as outlined in section twenty-six, article one-b, chapter fifteen of this code.
(b) The Adjutant General will set appropriate salary rates equivalent to a competitive wage rate necessary to support a specific mission.
(c) Security guards and military firefighters hired by the authority under the provisions of this article
will continue to have the same authority and must meet the requirements as set forth in section twenty-two, article one-b of this chapter and section twenty-six of said article.

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(NOTE:
The purpose of this bill is to enable the West Virginia National Guard to receive federal and state funds for national security and homeland security purposes; to develop and administer security programs; and the hiring of employees.

The article is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.)


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FINANCE COMMITTEE AMENDMENT


On page three, section four, line nineteen, after the word "General" by changing the period to a comma and adding the following: subject to appropriation by the Legislature.


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