H. B. 4800
(By Delegate Overington)
[Introduced February 24, 2006; referred to the
Committee on Government Organization.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §10-1-5 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to clarifying public library board
service areas as determined by the Library Commission; and
providing for appointment of members at large from the service
area.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §10-1-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
§10-1-5. Board of library directors -- Qualifications; term of
office; vacancies; removal; no compensation.
Whenever a public library is established under this article
the governing authority or authorities, shall appoint a board of
five directors, chosen from the citizens at large of
such
governmental division or divisions the library's service area as
determined by the Library Commission, with reference to their
fitness for such office, except that in a regional library the board of directors shall consist of not less than five nor more
than ten members, with a minimum of one member from each county in
the region, the total number of directors and the apportionment of
directors by county to be determined by joint action of the
governing authorities concerned. In either case directors shall
hold office for five years from the first day of July following
their appointment, and until their successors are appointed and
qualified:
Provided, That upon their first appointment under this
article a proportionate number shall be appointed for one year, for
two years, for three years, for four years and for five years; and
thereafter all appointments shall be for terms of five years.
Vacancies in the board shall be immediately reported by the board
to the governing authority and filled by appointment in like
manner, and, if an unexpired term, for the remainder of the term
only. A director may be removed for just cause in the manner
provided by the bylaws of the library board. No compensation shall
be paid or allowed any director.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to clarify public library
board service areas as determined by the Library Commission and
provide for appointment of members at large from the service area.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.